My view is that MW will live or die based on the strength of the technical program. There are a number of technical conferences held each year around the country. It is always the technical program that draws the crowd, the commercial exhibits piggyback on that.

There is a great need for continuing education and for professional development. If IDG can find a way to satisfy that need at a reasonable price they will deliver enough attendees for the vendors to justify the expense of the exhibits.

Beyond that IDG needs to look at revamping the whole notion of MW. Physical presence is still the best way for people to meet and to learn. Perhaps they can find less expensive ways for vendors to attend. Perhaps they could have ways for people to “attend” courses via streaming video. Not as nice as being there but cheaper. This is uncharted territory.

I’d like to see opportunities for the average user to present. Perhaps on Friday they could have a hall or two set aside for anyone to give a five or ten minute presentation about what they do. Show us your videos, your Keynotes, PDFs of your layouts, your art or just describe how you use technology at work, home or in the classroom.

NYC was used for Macworld East for a few years (1998-2003) but it was hardly the original East coast location. Macworld Boston was held every year from 1985 through 1997. As a matter of fact, Macworld Boston was held before the first West coast version–probably because Macworld was a Boston area publication.