I don't think anyone is bull****ing here MacWorld as a trade-show was a waste of money for Apple. They were spending tens of millions of pounds on preaching to the choir - made no sense in terms of a business point of view. As much sense as Apple putting out Switcher ads on MacWorld magazine.

Now I know how you all "Apple hippies" who follow it as a cult loved to go on this 'pilgrim' each year - but sometimes you forget Apple is a business first and foremost. This Apple cult would not exist if the business side is not looked after first.

Now CES - CES would not be a wast of money for Apple as that same- if not less - amount of money Apple spends on MacWorld would go further as it would open up to a much bigger and a different crowed, a crowed that would never of gone to an Apple only trade show let alone an Apple Store. It would be like Apple saying to them, "Come have a look at what we have to offer too - it wont cost you anything nor do you have to go out your way. See what all the fuss is about"

However this will only work well if Apple is given it own section. As that would also give the Mac Faithful a new pilgrimage to go to as well as fanatically benefit Apple as a business. A meeting in the middle.

there's a big difference between being the keynote presenter at Macworld and a booth/exhibit at an industry-wide consumer fair. it's kinda like comparing apples to... nevermind.

Last year, Apple stopped or limited exhibition space at all of the large education technology conferences, NECC, FETC, and TCEA. They reduced floor space in the exhibit hall to near zero, or not at all. All of the Apple sales people said that new Apple policy said no trade shows form now on..

BUT, and this is a big but...they still participate in teh shows, They still rent large spaces in exhibit hotels and throw tons of workshops.

So, perhaps, they are pulling out of EXHIBITING at large conferences, not participating...

The Expo's also keep us synched and alert about Apple products.

Well, bring on the Special Events.

Bert
There are not AppleStores everywhere, you know.

Just because someone at Apple says trade shows aren't worth the effort and money doesn't mean it's true. If Apple moves to CES, they will get a bigger stage with even MORE press than they got at MacWorld. Plus, as Apple expands into more and more markets and market categories it makes sense to reach a larger audience than just the Mac faithful. Apple is no longer just a computer company. It is an electronics company.

I think this rumor is true. It makes a LOT of sense.

CES is a zoo. Apple wants to be front and center on a stage dedicated to it. They had it at Macworld and are leaving it because it's not worth the money for what the show brings in.

They would NEVER, EVER EVER go to CES where they have to share the spotlight with so many other companies.

They now have the best of both worlds. Their SDK event and iMac event pulled in press from all over to come to Apple HQ and cover their release of the new products. It cost Apple the price of printing the invitations.

Combined with the amount of influence they have with their retail stores, they can dictate their own policy now.

To the first comment. Some people, Apple fanboys or not, might have an issue with lying. Not telling the truth is generally frowned upon, as petty as that might seem. You'll do well on Wall Street.

Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers.