The Wonderland of Macworld

Well, this is my second year at Macworld and it’s great to be here to hook up with other MyMac members, and to finally meet in person our publisher, Tim Robinson.

I’m not very good about making predictions, so I won’t even try. But I do plan to keep MyMac readers up -to-date on the happenings during the week of the conference.

While Macworld has a long list of excellent feature presentations, Power Tool and regular user workshops, the wonderland of the event to me is the Exhibit Hall. If you only had a few bucks to attend Macworld, it would be well worth the early bird $25 (regular $45) fee to spend a day or two roaming the Exhibit Hall.

For someone who has never attended Macworld or its Exhibit Hall, you’ll quickly discover that many of the most well known software and hardware developers provide presentations and workshops right on the Exhibit Hall floor, which means you can not only get your hands on thousands of different computer and media gadgets, but you can actually sit in on presentations given by representatives of Macworld magazine, Adobe Systems, Nike and Canon, Lynda.com, MYOB, Lacie, Berklee College, iStockphoto, Inc. and hundreds and hundreds of other large, small, and independent exhibitors.

Visiting the exhibitor booths in the Exhibit Hall, you also get numerous discounts and freebies on various goods and services. You’ll definitely walk away with a nice bag full of brochures, free software, and fresh ideas and tools for all types of computer and media projects, entertainment, and home and business needs or desires.

With the advent of podcasts and streaming video, you can participate in Macworld’s virtual world, but there’s nothing like actually physically roaming the Exhibit Hall experiencing the rush you get with wall to wall exhibitors eager to show you their new or updated wares.

When I’m not meeting with MyMac staff members or attending a few workshops, you’ll find me on the Exhibit floor. I’ll probably spend more time on the floor this week than I do at a shopping mall all year.

If you’re a regular MyMac.com reader, I hope to see you there. Tap me on the shoulder and say hi.