[DeathToWindows]

Ok, so seeing as I had the money this year (and I was so utterly disgusted with the Macworld shows in Boston these past two years) I've decided to fly out over my winter break to SF and go to Macworld!

No, i'm not paying for Keynote access - too damn expensive. I'm just going to enjoy the show and a couple of days (more like a day and a half) in SF.

So, who else is going to be there?

[KeriVit]

Cool. Good for you, can't do the same (Boston side). Enjoy.

[Kenneth]

Planned to, but just got a job.

[Cubeoid]

Cue the BADGE MAKING!

[ApplCmptrDood]

I may, I live just in South Bay, that would be pretty awesome if i went.

[Lateralus]

I've been wanting to go on a Macworld road trip with my friends for the past few years. And now that I finally have a reliable car, I'm seriously thinking about making it happen.

How long do you have to register?

[Volks]

seriously, driving or flying across the country to attend a promotional event for a computer company whose products you buy is a little weird.

you all know what is going to happen: apple will release something slightly faster or smaller, or they'll update or introduce a new software program. The crowd will either have a huge reaction or no reaction at all. Everyone will agree that Apple fell short of everyone's expectations.

[Demonhood]

i'll be there. and at the keynote too, if anyone wants a place in line (or for me to cut, like i did last year).

[Stogieman]

I'll be in the keynote line early Tuesday morning. Let's hope it doesn't rain like it did last year.

[DeathMan]

I'm not going, but I'm looking forward to seeing what is released. I must say I'm a little weary of iPod stuff all the time, though. I hope its MacWorld, not iPodWorld.

[James L]

I will be there, as usual.

For people who are only going to get the exhibit hall pass, NEVER pay the $25, or $45, or whatever they say it costs to get the pass. There are always freebies out there.

Other World Computing is currently sponsoring one I think.

EDIT: Here is the free pass link:

http://eshop.macsales.com/Macworld/owc_mw06_pass.pdf

Cheers,

James

p.s. If you are just there to hang and check out the exhibitor hall, plan on a day or two at the show, and be sure to hang in SF for at least 3 days.... great city!

[Salty]

Dang I wish I could go to a Macworld.

[Oneota]

Meh...WWDC's more fun.

[jcadam]

meh, I don't like large crowds.

[James L]

Originally Posted by Oneota

Meh...WWDC's more fun.

Only for developers... basically lame for non developers.

[Demonhood]

and a hell of a lot more expensive.

i'll make badges for whoever comes and dares to meetup with other NN'ers face to face.

[goMac]

I'm going to be in the Bay Area the week before but I won't be there for MWSF.

[DeathToWindows]

Demonhood, count me in.

[wdlove]

I dream of going to MWSF. I'm a MAC member and so would get the 15% discount. Just don't have that kind of money, maybe some day.

[Lateralus]

Originally Posted by wdlove

...I'm a MAC member...

Mothers Against Canada?

*Snickers*

[production_coordinator]

While I would like to go, I prefer hearing about all the cool stuff from the comfort of my home. I think it's creepy seeing all those Mac users hovering around the new products in the photos people post from the event.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Oneota

Meh...WWDC's more fun.

WWDC isn't quite as relaxed. It's fun, but not see the town relaxed. My WWDC experience has been trying to grab as much lab time as possible to get compatible code working, i.e. this year's WWDC.

[Demonhood]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

While I would like to go, I prefer hearing about all the cool stuff from the comfort of my home. I think it's creepy seeing all those Mac users hovering around the new products in the photos people post from the event.

stogieman, i think he's calling us creepy...

[Salty]

Let's see what will you guys get to see?

New Shuffles,
iWork and iLife 06
Maybe a video shuffle
Probably new Mac minis and iBooks.
Potentially new FCE
What else could they intro that'll be brand new?

[James L]

Originally Posted by wdlove

I dream of going to MWSF. I'm a MAC member and so would get the 15% discount. Just don't have that kind of money, maybe some day.

It isn't that bad actually. I usually spend:

Airfare: $400 Canadian
Hotel: $350 Canadian
Travel Medical Insurance: $50 Canadian or less
Sights and touristy stuff (i.e. Alcatraz): $50 Canadian

So... about $850 Canadian for the trip, plus food money of course. Call it $1200 Canadian in total for a week. That is what, about $800 or $900 US? You could do it cheaper too if you got a cheaper hotel and had shorter flights or drove.

San Francisco is worth it! My second favourite place in the US to visit, after NYC.

[Brien]

I'd planned on it, but can't get the week off.

[Stogieman]

Originally Posted by Demonhood

stogieman, i think he's calling us creepy...

Nope, I think he's calling Juan creepy.

Originally Posted by Brien

I'd planned on it, but can't get the week off.

Dang Brien, you're missing out on another MacWorld? That sucks.

[juanvaldes]

Originally Posted by Stogieman

Nope, I think he's calling Juan creepy.

Now where did that card go?

[Montanan]

I'll be there ... third year in a row!

So Demonhood, will there be an official MacNN luncheon again this year?

[production_coordinator]

Just to clarify, I don't think people there with a reason are creepy, I just find the people hovering around... with no good reason a little creepy.

Person A: "So, what do you do?
Person B: "I'm a truck driver, but can't wait to see if we get x86 iBooks!!! Woot!"

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Just to clarify, I don't think people there with a reason are creepy, I just find the people hovering around... with no good reason a little creepy.

By that logic, though, anyone who ever attends any event that they have an avocational interest in is creepy. Football fans, people who attend music concerts ... and on and on.

And it would also mean that non-computer professionals who hover about on Internet Mac discussion boards are creeps! So this sounds like a case of someone in a glass house throwing stones. :-p

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by Montanan

By that logic, though, anyone who ever attends any event that they have an avocational interest in is creepy. Football fans, people who attend music concerts ... and on and on.

And it would also mean that non-computer professionals who hover about on Internet Mac discussion boards are creeps! So this sounds like a case of someone in a glass house throwing stones. :-p

Hmmmm... good points, but I still think it's creepy.

[mac-at-kearsarge]

Well I've been wanting to go for the past 3 years, and have never had the ability. I have a lot of vacation time saved up at work which I need to use or loose, so I'm going to see if I can take few days off the week and fly out.

Before deciding on whether or not I should try to attempt this, I did some initial research, and it looks like the stars are in my favor for this, because here's what I came up with:

- I wanted to keep my travel/lodging expenses below $500, expedia found me flights from MHT to SFO with 3 night hotel stay for $430.

-Knowing that I wanted to be close as possible to Moscone from where I was staying (as I would not have a car and wanted to do this as economicaly as possible) looked to see how close expedia had getton me... well whadda ya know, It has me within walking distance. Excellentmap

-Also I wanted to know about my options about getting to/from SFO to the neighborhood where my choosen hotel/Moscone is. Sweet, there's a BART station right in between. see

So I have the will. the means, and the way. So it looklike in a month, I'm going to MWSF '06

As it's being stated by many that the first consumer 'Mactel' is going to be announced (which I think is going to be a hugely positive thing in the history of Apple), I would love to be there in person when it's announced.

I'd also like to to point out that by having a a person from the east coast who's used to getting up at 6AM EST could make an excellent early line holder (As that means I'll natuarually be waking up at 3AM PST when I'm out there). Heck I could even sleep in an extra hour and still probably be one of the first folks in line.

And the thought of meeting Demonhood and the rest of the 'NN gang' and partaking in the fun (maybe even having a 'demonpic' with hilarious caption taken of me. That would be sweet.) makes me kinda giddy.

[macintologist]

I went '98, '99 and 2000. I was 11, 12 and 13, years old respectively. Good times

[CharlesS]

It sounds fun, but I think I'll never be able to attend because of the price.

Why does it have to be so expensive, anyway? It seems like the choice is that I could either go and watch the Intel iBooks get unveiled, or... I could actually buy one of the Intel iBooks...

[Demonhood]

just bought my airfare/hotel/registration.

now it's time for nametags.
who wants one?

[James L]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

It sounds fun, but I think I'll never be able to attend because of the price.

Why does it have to be so expensive, anyway? It seems like the choice is that I could either go and watch the Intel iBooks get unveiled, or... I could actually buy one of the Intel iBooks...

Well, to be fair, you can go to the show for free.... you just have to pay the big bucks for the keynote.

[Montanan]

Well, I'll be there ... all day Tuesday (sans keynote), and possibly part of Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully a few MacNN people will be able to meet up along the way.

[DeathToWindows]

I'll be there Tues afternoon and Wed morning

[The Godfather]

Are there going to be patdowns before entering the Keynote?

[11011001]

Originally Posted by Oneota

Meh...WWDC's more fun.

Yes! Especially with free beer, wine, and food! Those last 2 days were terrific. Oh and I learned a lot.

[Demonhood]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

Are there going to be patdowns before entering the Keynote?

you could walk into the Moscone in a costume made entirely of cameras and razorblades and they'd probably let you in. just make sure your badge is showing.

[Stogieman]

Yeah, as long as your badge isn't green and says "Exhibit Only." I tried that a couple of years ago... almost worked.

[The Godfather]

Originally Posted by Demonhood

you could walk into the Moscone in a costume made entirely of cameras and razorblades and they'd probably let you in. just make sure your badge is showing.

Good. Please someone bring an HD camera and make a downloadable keynote video.

[tikki]

I just found out the other day that I am going to Macworld (and getting paid for it to boot!), so be on the lookout for some loser in a MacZealots t-shirt. :-)

[Demonhood]

so, shall we meet for lunch on tuesday?
out in front of the Moscone South at 1pm ?

[ambush]

I know my coworker and friend Phillip Ryu (phillryu on these forums) is going to MWSF to work at the MacUpdate.com booth and promoting our software (WidgetMachine.com and soon MenuetApp.com). We're also launching a Mac sweepstakes site.

Screenshots of Menuet (product we'll unveil during the expo)
Screen 1

Screen 2

Screen 3

Screen 4

Screen 5

Screen 6

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Demonhood

so, shall we meet for lunch on tuesday?
out in front of the Moscone South at 1pm ?

I'll be there.

[DeathToWindows]

Ach, probably can't make it - I'll be landing at Oakland at 12:30 or so and I don't know how long it'll take me on the BART to get there.

[tikki]

I may or may not be there. Depends on how busy I am with covering the expo floor for the site.