This week I'll be in New York to attend the Macworld Expo (no, I
didn't get the press pass, so I don't have to worry about whether
my site is a rumor site
or not, or if LEM is a rumor site or not). This will be my first
Macworld Expo.
I have the freebie pass for all the booths, but I do plan on
watching the keynote on our satellite
dish. I'll be bringing my iBook (hopefully), so I can keep all my
readers updated on what's going on.
I think that Apple's moved away from product introductions during
Macworld - especially New York. Why did they update the TiBook and the
iBook in between trade shows? Why did they introduce Xserve after WWDC?
I think the reason is pressure.
Rumor Sites
When the rumor sites start talking about a G5 tower or a G4 iBook,
people get in a frenzy - and when no such thing is introduced, we're
all disappointed. I don't think Apple wants to deal with this, so
instead they introduce things in the "off-season" so that nobody knows
when they will come out. Of course, certain things are still rumored,
and people still expect certain things, but this seems a little less
disappointing when Apple doesn't update your favorite Mac model.
Of course, people need to realize that the rumor sites are somewhat
"for entertainment only." What is on there is usually not what the
final product will be anyway, so it might be better for everyone to
wait for Apple's next gizmo.
Apple
The rumor sites also help in generating propaganda, and Apple
doesn't seem to like it, even when it benefits Apple.
Apple needs to get in gear and start upping the power of their Mac
lineup. PC users don't understand the Megahertz Myth, and lots of
professionals want faster G4s. I think Apple should drop the 14" iBook
and create a lower cost TiBook model that sells for around $2,000. It's
also time for the G3 iMac to go the way of the Performas. This will cut
down product lines. Apple then needs to release a headless eMac for
anyone who already has a monitor they want to use. This will become the
new low end.
They also need to come out with a few other peripherals, similar to
the iPod, but I'm not sure exactly which. Hey, I'm not the one who
works for Apple....
Mac Community
People should still go to the rumor sites - they're fun to read, but
readers should take what they read lightly. What's predicted there is
simply that - a prediction. Just as the weatherman says it "might
rain", and sometimes it doesn't, the rumors sites may say Power Mac G5
or iBook G4, but there aren't any. People need to also remember that
Apple sometimes waits until the last minute to release something, so we
might see something entirely unexpected during Steve's famous "one more
thing..." ending. 
