Reporter’s Notebook: A few last thoughts

I’m back home today and it was great to see my wife and kids (Laura, Matt, and Katie) again. Macworld San Francisco was a long, tiring, but energizing show.

In fact, it was probably the most high-level Macworld I’ve ever attended. The feeling among the developers and users that I spoke with is that this is going to be a great year for the Mac platform. I know the analysts are mixed in their feelings. But I don’t understand analysts and I don’t think they understand the Mac.

I’m also worried about my colleague, Brad Gibson. As he, ad/marketing guru Dave Moser, and I headed to the airport Saturday morning, Brad had about 20 bags. Dave and I have decided that Brad has no home, but roams from trade show to trade show, carrying his clothes and PowerBook with him. Guess that, as Brad said, makes him a bagavond.

Anyway, Friday, the last day of MWSF, was a great day. I actually got a decent amount of sleep the night before, the sun was out, and I had a bit of time to just browse the floor of the expo. The day started off with a fine breakfast at the ANZU restaurant in the Nikkon Hotel on Mason Street. I dined and conversed with the guys at Atimi — and I thank them for the food and conversation.

While we’re talking about food, kudos to fellow writer, Happi McQuirk, for convincing me to try sushi and miso soup for lunch at a sushi bar. I’m usually an adventurous eater, but sushi never appealed to me. But surprise! — it was pretty good.

Some final rambling thoughts before I conclude the Reporter’s Notebooks for Macworld San Francisco 2001:

There were very few freebies (pens, t-shirts, trinkets) at this year’s expo.

You can get good mocha at Café Madeline on Powell and Coffee Choice on 3rd.

They make fine steak sandwiches at the 4th Street Bar and Deli.

Why are there practically no female taxi drivers?

Is titanium bulletproof?

And that’s all for now. Next stop: Macworld Tokyo.