The good news is that Macworld Boston is now in the brand-new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). Unfortunately, that's the bad news too. Talk about a facility you can grow into. This place is huge.
 This way to the conference. BCEC is so big it takes you a while to find the action. But once you're there... oh boy! Photos by Derrick Story. |
During past conferences, this building might resonate with energy from one end of the Expo Hall to the other. But in 2004, when the East Coast version of Macworld is redefining itself in the post-Apple era, holding the conference in Boston's booming new facility seemed to be a tough sell. That is until you got here.
Reports of Macworld East's demise are somewhat premature. The Tuesday morning feature presentation was filled to capacity. David Pogue hosted a panel of original Mac engineers including Bill Atkinson, Andy Hertzfeld, Jerry Mannock, and Jef Raskin. I found Bill, Andy, and Jerry illuminating and entertaining. I thought Jef's "I really invented the Mac" speech about as compelling as Al Gore's bid for the Internet. Come to think of it, Al is easier to endure. Setting Jef's comments aside, however, the kickoff was a legitimate launch to a major conference and was well received by the audience.
Rick Smolan took the stage Wednesday morning and gave us a peek behind the scenes of his New York Times bestseller, America 24/7. Once again, the turnout was strong and the crowd enthusiastic as Rick showed us American life captured through the eyes of its citizens.
 Tuesday's feature presentation with original Mac engineers included Andy Hertzfeld (left) and Jerry Mannock. (Andy is working on an upcoming book for O'Reilly titled, Revolutionaries in The Valley: Their Amazing Stories of How the Mac was Made. Due to release in late 2004.) |
The expo floor is the soft spot of this event. We knew it going in, and that's the way it has panned out. I think the media is focusing on this aspect because everyone is used to bigger and better Macworld exhibitions.
At the upcoming O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference, we would be thrilled with this kind of vendor turnout. But we don't have a track record of filling up the entire Javits Conference Center or Moscone North and South tradeshow floors with exhibitors. Macworld does.
 Lots of room to grow. BCEC can accommodate a much bigger expo. Apple's presence would be a nice addition. |
I walked the floor here at BCEC and talked to a number of exhibitors. It took about 90 minutes. I enjoyed visiting with vendors such as Radtech, Harmon Multimedia, O'Reilly, Peachpit, Software MacKiev, Guitar Center, and Spymac. But it's not the type of floor that takes you two days to absorb. And this is where I think you have to look at things differently to appreciate this event.
What I'm driving at is this: Macworld Boston 2004 might not be as beautiful as we're used to, but it's just as smart.
While I was in the Speaker Lounge, I saw David Pogue, Rick Smolan, Andy Ihnatko, Ted Landau, Adam Engst, Bob LeVitus, Christopher Breen, and a host of other top-tier Mac minds. Both the User and Pro Conference programs are excellent with a wide variety of interesting topics capable of satisfying the most demanding Mac enthusiast.
 David Pogue moderated Tuesday morning's feature presentation, then led a Panther tips and tricks talk in the O'Reilly booth. |
So, while the Expo floor is a letdown, the conference program is as solid as ever. Possibly better.
And I think this will be one of the traits of a post-Apple Macworld. Since you don't have the magnificent mothership on the tradeshow floor attracting minions from all over the world, you have to go with what's in your control. And that's content.
It's the classic brains over beauty scenario. O'Reilly has been at it for years. Macworld's organizer, IDG can play that game too. And in my opinion, is doing so quite well.
|
Speaking of brains, the Geeks & Gadgets presentations in the back corner of the Expo Hall were terrific. I strolled by this area a number of times to enjoy them with big audiences who appreciated the comfortable chairs and entertaining talks.
My favorite on Tuesday was Andy Ihnatko's Mac Aquarium session. Any man willing to hacksaw an original Mac on stage in front of masses of people wins my vote. And I wasn't the only one having a good time. I could tell that the audience was there with him every quip of the way.
 The Geeks & Gadgets presentations on the Expo floor were a big hit with attendees. |
I also thought the wireless coverage (WiFi) was as good as I've experienced at a Macworld. Of course, we had fewer people pounding the network. But for once I could actually get an IP address and load pages. Macworld featured Wi-Fi in all of the common areas and in the classrooms. Nice touch.
Finally, it's a small thing, but I really like the new design of the conference Show Guide. Instead of the typical unwieldy letter-size booklet that never fits anywhere, this year's guide is half the size and fits nicely in my back jeans pocket. Other conferences, please take note. This is a good idea.
When it's all said and done, I think it's important to have a big Mac show on the East Coast. I'm leery of Apple becoming too West Coast centric. Macworld San Francisco and Apple's World Wide Developers Conference are terrific events that I enjoy tremendously.
But not everyone has the luxury of traveling across the continent to attend a major Mac event. Boston is a good location for the East Coast show. The cabbies are more friendly than in New York City, the restaurants are more reasonable, rooms are more available, and you can stroll through downtown without clutching to all of your belongings for their dear life.
 In addition to friendly cabbies and great seafood, Boston is the cradle of much American history, such as Faneuil Hall. |
Don't get me wrong: I love NY. Nothing like it in the world. What I'm saying is that Macworld doesn't have to be in NYC to be legitimate. I think most of the folks visiting Boston would agree that this is a premier U.S. locale. I really can't say enough good things about this city. Take an afternoon off and walk the Freedom Trail. Stop in an old pub originally built in the 1800s for a beer. Step inside Faneuil Hall where Sam Adams decried the Stamp Act in the late 1700s. This place is an American treasure.
I also thing we should give the East Coast show a chance to redefine itself. Sure, it's not the same old Macworld. But what remains static in the world of technology? If this show fails to find its new voice after a few attempts, well, then maybe it would be time for someone else to step up to the plate and give it a try.
But right now, we're having this discussion after only the third day in a new location without Apple's apron strings to hold on to. Let's see what happens. I think it's only fair to give Macworld Boston some time to find its path.
 In the end, Macworld Boston will need to find its own path. If history is an indication, the Mac community will most likely hold steady during this transition. |
Oh, and just one more thing. I'm not so interested in what went on between IDG World Expo and Apple Computer that led to Apple not participating in this show. Just like I don't really care why the hostess wants to sit me at a crummy table in the middle of the room when a perfectly nice seat is available by the window.
At this moment in personal computing history, I don't think Apple has the luxury of not tending to a major customer base here in the U.S., or anywhere else. If market share were 10 percent and growing, well, maybe. But it's 3 percent and shrinking. Maybe next year Apple will consider staffing a booth on the expo floor. I think it'd be a nice addition to the show.
As for this year... I rate this show "G"--for gutty performance. And that includes the attendees and vendors as well.
Copyright © 2009 O'Reilly Media, Inc.