Macworld Boston Set To Go On Without Apple

The convention is the first major event scheduled for that city's new waterfront convention center and, in a way, represents something of a homecoming: the first Macworld event, by IDG World Expo, was held in Boston. When the decision was made to move the show from its New York location, however, it didn't sit well with Apple's chief, Steve Jobs. The company is boycotting the event in the Bay State.

Nevertheless, the event will feature a presentation by the original team that developed the Macintosh computer 20 years ago. No longer employed at Apple, the team members will discuss what they see in store for future versions of Mac software and hardware.

Warwick Davies, an IDG World Group vice president, said the event organizers have strived to develop a "grass-roots oriented" program that will appeal to die-hard Apple users, as well as to the Apple business community. New this year is the Apple Specialist Marketing Co-op (ASMC) program. "It's a business to business way for dealers and VARs and vendors to meet," said Davies in an interview Friday. "The ASMC booth will be the largest on the floor."

Earlier this week, Macworld signed up Hewlett-Packard to participate in the ASMC booth. Before that, HP had been among prominent holdouts who gave every appearance of dropping out of the show. Hugh Amick, vice president of HP's Mac-connect program, said HP will demonstrate the company's solutions for graphics, education, and business.

Davies said 63 exhibitors have agreed to participate in the show, and he expects more will sign up. He expects the final number of exhibitors to be down from the 131 who appeared at Macworld at the Javits Center in New York, however. Davies is looking for slightly less than 10,000 Apple aficionados this year; and while that number represents a decline from previous Apple East Coast events, he says the attendee headcount will be certified by an outside verification agency.

"New England is the big draw, although they will come from all over the world," Davies said, noting that computer trade shows typically attract mostly users from nearby regions. "At Macworld West in San Francisco, 88 percent [of attendees] come from California."

In an attempt to emphasis the grass-roots interest of die-hard Apple users, Davies noted that a broad program consisting of scores of user-oriented presentations have been prepared. They range from sessions on graphics and video editing to networking and operating systems.

He says there is already a small buzz developing around the scheduled appearance of the team that originally developed the Macintosh, led by Jef Raskin and Andy Hertzfeld. The session is expected to critique Apple's new "Tiger" operating system release, which will be previewed a few days before by Apple's Jobs at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference. "The original team will play off of the Worldwide Developers Conference," said Davies, noting that interest in Tiger is expected to be intense by then.

As for holding an event in which the guest of honor--Apple Computer--won't attend, Davies was asked about the status of Macworld's sometimes shaky relationship with the company.

"In the past we didn't get along so well," he concedes. "But we've been working to develop a level playing field of respect. Now we work very well together." Davies said that in recent visits to Apple's facilities in California, the spirit of cooperation for the next Macworld show in San Francisco has been growing.

Even so, the show must go on in Boston without the main attraction.

*This story courtesy of Techweb.com.