Neff said in his note that Apple may use the show to introduce new servers that contain the beefier G5 chip that now powers its top-of-the-line desktops. Neff also speculated that Apple may update its line of Cinema Displays, which currently come in 17-inch, 20-inch and 23-inch varieties. "Speculation revolves around a new 30-inch high-definition display and a refresh to the 20-inch and 23-inch display offerings to include USB 2.0 ports, sharper graphics and faster refresh rates," he said in the research note.
Apple, of course, has said little about what it will do on Tuesday, although the company did announce that it has added Jim Lawrence, chief financial officer of General Mills, to its board of directors.
"Apple is clearly the most innovative company in its industry," Lawrence said in a statement. "My family and I have been Mac users for many years, so I am really looking forward to working directly with such a talented group of people."
Lawrence becomes the company's seventh director. Former vice president Al Gore joined Apple's board last March, filling a vacancy created when Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison stepped down in September 2002. At about the time Gore joined the board, Apple said it hoped to add another independent director to its board.
Although Apple has shifted from making the twice-yearly Macworld events the focus of its new product introductions, the show remains the company's most visible stage from which to tout its vision and new wares. The flat-screen iMac, as well as both the titanium and aluminium PowerBooks, all made their debuts at San Francisco Macworlds.
Along with whatever Jobs says inside the show, there is the possibility of some protests outside the event, with some Mac users complaining about the iPod's battery life and others complaining of reliability issues with the iBook laptop.
Even as most enthusiasts were preparing for the current show, one group was already looking ahead to the next Macworld. The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau was to drum up interest among exhibitors and attendees for this summer's Macworld Expo in Boston.
