Seasought said:
Has anyone who has gone to the MacWorld Expo have any impressions they wouldn't mind sharing here? I watched Steve Jobs keynote presentation from last year and based on the description sounds like quite a blast.
I figure with the next one around the corner it might be interesting to read other people's impressions of past ones.
Macworlds are a lot of fun... last year was kinda boring though. It was the smallest exhibition floor I have seen in a long time. Having said that, it all depends on what level of ticket you purchase. Read more here for the types of passes you can get:
http://www.macworldexpo.com/live/20/
Anyway, last year I went on the exhibitor's pass, which means that I didn't have access to actually being in the keynote. No big deal I thought, as there is often a feed into the M$ booth that you can watch it on. Well, not last year. So, I was on the show floor during the keynote, with no ability to watch it. For people who just get the free show floor passes, they are just lined up outside with no keynote info either (you aren't allowed in until the keynote is over and all the black cloth comes off the apple booth). I ended up watching one of the feeds on the internet (it might have even been this site).
Now, as to the convention floor. Picture one large stadium floor (it used to be 2, or more a long time ago). On one end is a large stage where various shows and lessons go on. There are tons of booths (some tiny kiosks, some huge like adobe's and M$ where they put on free lessons), Apple's booth center of course, and then a large gaming area on the other side (G5's with 30" monitors!!!).
So, if you are just there on the show floor pass than you can do the free lessons (FCP, PS, etc), talk to the vendors, look at Apple's latest toys (which last year was really just the iShuffle and the mini), etc.
It is when you have a good package, which costs $$$, that you get a much better experience. Here is package info:
http://www.macworldexpo.com/live/20/register///CC471311
Now, even more important than the Moscone center show in my opinion is the wonderful city of San Francisco. We drive down from Vancouver, BC, Canada (15 hour pull), and stay at 5th and Market a block from the Apple store. We usually do 2 full, or 3 partial, days at the show. We ride the trolley car to the wharf and go to Alcatraz, we eat like fiends, we drive down to cupertino and go to the Apple corporate store where you can by branded logo clothing and other such toys, go see the Winchester mansion, etc. I am into photography, and SF rocks for that. The view from the Twin Peaks is amazing at night.
If you go on the free pass, think of it as a 5 day trip... a couple of days to do the free stuff at Moscone, and a few days to tour SF. If you buy one of the good packages you can spend a lot more time at the show.
Cheers,
James
p.s. If you go, it is either San Francisco, or the city. DO NOT call it San Fran or the locals will hang you!
