The Last Macworld Expo (With Apple, Anyway)

Apple announced yesterday that this January’s Macworld will be Apple’s last. This, coupled with the news that Steve Jobs won’t be delivering the keynote, has led people to speculate that the CEO’s health is failing. The press release gives little explanation for Apple’s exit:

Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers.

Apple has been steadily scaling back on trade shows in recent years, including NAB, Macworld New York, Macworld Tokyo and Apple Expo in Paris.

Apropos to to that, Apple Insider notes that the company is tired of announcing products on someone else’s schedule. It is our guess that they sure aren’t ditching the Mac centric shows for CES!

Regarding Jobs’ absence at the keynote, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster thinks that it’s not due to health concerns, but a step towards Apple’s eventual change in management structure.  Could this mean that they’re about to remove Jobs CEO mantle again? Whatever happens, we will be there at Apple’s last MacWorld on January 6 reporting on the annoucements and putting those netbook rumors to rest in one way or another.