On the eve of Macworld 2009, I wanted to put out my predictions for both Macworld and Apple for the year 2009. Now, I have to preface these predictions with the fact that I am in no way qualified to make any of these assertions, but this is just my observations.

1. Steve Jobs will resign this year. For months, I believe some of the best minds in the world have been planning the transition, which has had as much time and energy invested as the Obama administration transition. The successor is going to be tapped to be a luminary torchbearer with passion and insight, so that Apple will not suffer the same fate as the previous departure.

2. Macworld is going to be as sensational if not more than usual this year. Apple is going to strive harder than ever to prove that they are independent of Steve. This Macworld has been rumored to be lackluster. I disagree. I believe that it is going to hold some major surprises.

3. Apple will introduce a media center solution with DVR. Yes there are third party TV Tuners that offer DVR, and Apple TV can for the most part fill the rest, but Apple learned the power of the singular device phenomena with the iPhone and the App Store. They are going to present a unified entertainment solution for the home that offers easy access to all aspects of the store. This device will integrate with iPhone and other Macs in the home, and it will allow “sling” functionality to watch recorded programs from the road.

4. Apple will release a touchscreen interface that is priced around $800. This device will primarily be an Internet console and will resemble the iPhone, but it will offer a bluetooth/detachable/external keyboard. This keyboard will also be usable on the iPhone.

5. 2009 will be the first year that Apple’s OS vulnerabilities will be exploited catching users totally off guard.

Yes, Apple will probably introduce an alternative input that is going to be revolutionary, but its buy-in and adoption is not going to be longterm. Apple is going to continue to cater a line of products to its high-end loyal constituency, but the company is going to focus on developing products that are hot, sensational, and digestable by the mainstream. This approach will continue to inch up their marketshare. We’ll see.

…doesn’t spoil the bunch, necessarily.

I wouldn’t call it complaining. But, I am over Mac problems:

Not sure next steps. I am thinking about making the “Pro” an “Air.”

I was sweating, a little.  I walked into make a big presentation, plugged in the Macbook Pro to the projector and the screen flickered like a filtered cinemax channel, I could barely see my presentation (much like I could barely see the soft porn on the filtered cinemax). Ugh, the projector was zapped my head was pumping, sweat glistening, and I was working on v10 of my resume in my mind. Fortunately, I brought another projector, which is why I make the big bucks. I plugged it in and it was better but not perfect. The presentation went on, and everything was okay.

Turns out that the problem was with the DVI port on the old Macbook Pro.  I called Apple Care and they told me that I could send it to the repair center, or I could take it to the Apple Store.  I decided on the latter, but even the genius said that I was going to have to get the DVI port replaced. Boo.

This is the point were I immediately liked Dell better than Apple.  For the repair to take place, I had to ship the whole computer back to the Apple repair center.  Granted, the shipping is overnight, but at a minimum, I was looking at 3 days of being without my computer.  Dell, on the other hand, with gold care would ship the parts to a field technician overnight and come to meet me at Starbucks to replace the part.

Anyway, I shipped the computer back on a Thursday; received it back on Monday.  Everything in the world was right. Or, was it? The DVI port was still screwed up, so that when I plugged in my monitor I had digital relics all over my screen.  AND my MBP was “spongy.” They didn’t put it together well and the whole case was like my 5 year old had put it back together.  Another call to Apple Care. Another overnight waybill, and another three days without my computer.  Boo.

This time I was smarter. I shipped on a Wednesday thinking I would get it on Friday. I watched the repair status page with frequent refresh. Within a 15 minute span, it was repaired and queued to be shipped. Everything was going to be alright, but it didn’t ship out that night.  I didn’t get it Friday, and there may have been a minor scene on Saturday at the DHL hub where I was disrobing and crying “for the love of God, I just want my Shiny Apple.”

In the end, I got what I asked for. A shiny apple. Well…the very outer shell is the old shell, but all of the guts are new. Life is good.

Ryan has offered free tech support for life “to switchers.”

People are giving me cartoons:

I have to admit that the tangential benefits are good so far.

What was I thinking today? I don’t know, but I am typing this post on my new mac.