Aug 98 Newsbits
Volume Number: 14
Issue Number: 8
Column Tag: Newsbits
by Jessica Courtney, managing_ed@mactech.com
New Products and Silicon Alley Attendees at
Macworld Expo Demonstrate Mac-Market's High
Energy and Innovation
Attendees invigorated by Steve Jobs' In-person Keynote,
iMac showcase and Apple's Announcement of Third
Consecutive Quarterly Profits
Over 34,000 consumers, educators, creative professionals, and sales and support
staff jammed New York's Jacob K. Javits Center for IDG's Macworld Expo '98 last
week. Attendees to this year's East Coast show tested an array of innovative, new
Mac-based products, heard from the best-known names in educational technology and
digital artistry, and participated in the first-ever gaming contest.
Throughout the three-day show, held July 8-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Center, a
number of welcomed announcements were made. Attendees clearly rallied around Apple
Computer, Inc. when interim CEO Steve Jobs announced during the keynote -- in
person rather than via satellite -- that the computer maker expected to post net
profits for the third straight quarter. This week, Apple announced that the last quarter
was its best in three years, with reported net income of $101 million. For the last two
quarters, revenues have stabilizing at about $1.4 billion. Keynote Highlights Jobs
joined by Phil Schiller, Apple's Vice President of worldwide product marketing also
announced that Apple's new $1,299 iMac personal computer would hit the stores
August 15 installed with 56K modems rather than 36.6K ones, as originally planned.
Jobs also told the enthralled Macworld Expo audience that 177 new Macintosh
programs had been announced in the 63 days leading up to the conference a clear
indication of market support. He bolstered the good news from Apple with a live
demonstration of the iMac computer, Apple's latest entrant into the competitive
personal computer realm.
Significant announcements from Microsoft and Disney OnLine executives further
reinforced Job's positive predictions for Apple's future.
Consumer Appeal
Apple Computer featured its new iMac and its complete line of PowerBook G3 and
Power Macintosh G3 computers, as well as QuickTime 3 and WebObjects software
products.
Gaming developers, major entertainment companies, broadcasters, personal finance
and productivity application developers and hardware manufacturers provided
consumers hands-on experience with their latest products in a new "Content @ Home
pavilion.
Additionally, the competitive types participated in the first-ever National Macintosh
Gaming Championship, which highlighted the latest games for the Macintosh platform.
Education Appeal
The Education District Building on its education community support, Apple Computer
sponsored the Education District pavilion, which featured software and Internet tools,
curriculum building solutions and multimedia for schools, training and home learning.
Professional Appeal
The Macworld/Pro Conference Professionals attending this year's Macworld Expo --
the Creative World, participated in the highly regarded Macworld/Pro conference,
Macworld Users conference and day-long pre-conference workshops.
Attendance Demographics
According to an on-site survey of Macworld Expo attendees: more than 96 percent
came to Macworld Expo to see the new products; 87 percent to keep up-to-date on
industry trends; and, 68 percent to compare products with current vendors. Nearly
50 percent of all attendees were their organization's final product-purchasing
decision makers. Seventy-four percent said they believed the event is important in
determining their upcoming computer and peripherals, and software purchases.
Seventy-eight percent said the show was "well worth their time and money" and 82
percent would recommend Macworld Expo to a colleague.
Exhibitor and Attendee Figures
More than 230 exhibitors set up shop at Macworld Expo. The number of attendees at
this year's Macworld Expo -- New York was 34,200. Thirty percent of the attendees
worked in the creative industry, 25 percent were from the education community, and
20 percent were from the reseller, value added service and support community
representing a significant industry interest in supporting the latest Mac products. In
addition to the business audience almost 20 percent of the attendees were general
consumers drawn to see Apple's new iMac computer and the new range of iMac-related
products.
http://www.macworldexpo.com
http://www.comnetexpo.com
http://www.idgexpos.com