The second annual MacBowl is slated to happen once again at the Yerba Buena Bowling Center, which sits atop the Moscone Center where the January Macworld Conference & Expo event is held. The MacBowl drew more than a dozen teams culled from various hardware and software vendors in the Macintosh market, who donated cash or the equivalent in Mac hardware. The money and computers were used to set up an iMac lab at the school.
“We’re thrilled at being able to sponsor the second annual MacBowl at this January’s Macworld Expo,” said Macworld CEO Colin Crawford. “It represents a great opportunity for Mac Publishing and the Mac industry to donate much needed cash and technology resources to a San Francisco school that would not otherwise be able to give its pupils access to computers.”
Aspyr Media vice president of marketing Jeff Baietto told MacCentral that the MacBowl is one of the best things his company has done in the last few years. “We’re all looking forward to this year’s MacBowl,” said Baietto. “It’s a great time for all involved, and it’s for a great cause.”
MacBowl-sponsored additions made to the Starr King Elementary School included more than a dozen iMacs, 7 Hewlett-Packard printers and 2 digital cameras. The event caused a “trickle down” effect that put computers in each classroom at the school, too.
Last year’s MacBowl drew teams from Apple, Microsoft, ATI, MacPlay, MacSoft, Nextag, Nvidia, Powerlogix, Starr King Elementary and, of course, the event’s sponsors, Aspyr Media and Macworld Magazine. The MacBowl even drew the attention of San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who stopped by to offer a few words of thanks and encouragement to the sponsors and participants. Microsoft was the champion of MacBowl — their team drew an impressive score of 867, beating MacPlay’s second place finish of 761.
Microsoft is returning to defend its crown this year. Also on the roster are veterans Nvidia, MacPlay, MacSoft, ATI, and newcomers Power On Software, among others. Once again, Mayor Brown is expected to drop by. The cash and hardware donations raised by this year’s MacBowl will be given to another under-funded elementary school in the San Francisco area.
If you’re a vendor and you plan to participate in this year’s Macworld Conference & Expo, there are still a few slots for teams left. If you’d like to participate, you’re encouraged to get in touch with Macworld’s Joanna Colombo either by e-mail or by phone at 415.243.3585.