Apple's absence having minimal impact?

Macworld 2010 should have just as many attendees as the 2009 event, IDG has announced. The expo organizer says that over 30,000 people have pre-registered so far, along with over 300 companies. Potential visitors can still register, although only a few weeks remain before the February 9th beginning of the event. The expo will run at the Moscone Center in San Francisco through February 13th.

This year will mark the first Macworld that Apple has not attended in some time. The company has in fact withdrawn from all major third-party tradeshows, citing their obsolescence given the opening of hundreds of Apple Stores and the ability of executives to organize ad hoc press gatherings. Observers had worried that Apple's absence would effectively kill Macworld, which previously drew people in through the anticipation of product debuts.

Apple may be continuing a trend of January announcements however, as it is widely expected to unveil a tablet device in an event at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco, on January 26th or the 27th. The month has in the past been used to reveal some of the company's most radical products, including the iPhone and the MacBook Air. January 2009 was comparatively tame, mostly featuring new productivity software and unibody notebooks.

Presentations at Macworld 2010 will include ones from director Kevin Smith, New York Times writer David Pogue, and this WEEK in TECH host Leo Laporte.

by MacNN Staff