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MacWorld Expo is a wonderful place to shop for a new Mac, peripheral, or to check out new software, or to just spend some enjoyable hours looking at what's new in the Mac orbit. Based on my years attending trade shows as a looker, dreamer, and exhibitor (sometimes a bit of all three at once!), here are some tips on how to get the most out of your Expo experience, as well as a few notes on showgoing etiquette. • Wear or bring some comfortable, soft-soled shoes. Several hours walking and standing in footware designed for style rather than comfort can make your feet, legs, and back pretty tired. • If you're seriously shopping for a computer or other item, go to the show with and a plan of what you intend to concentrate on -- say a list of models in the categories you're interested in. • Don't forget to bring along a notebook and pen (or a PDA), and perhaps a pocket calculator. • If you're not seriously shopping, don't be bashful about asking questions or about inspecting the exhibits inside and out. It is a trade show and exhibitors will be proud to tell you about their products and let you have a good look whether you're buying or not. However, if you have no intention of making a purchase in the foreseeable future, please don't lead the sales rep to believe you're a serious prospect. It's not fair ball to take up more than a few minutes of their time if you are not a serious shopper. By wasting their time you may literally be taking money out of their pockets by distracting them from serving real customers. • On the flip side, if you really are a serious shopper and you want to be taken seriously by the sales personnel, it's probably best not to arrive at carrying a grocery bag full of brochures from every display at the show. • Of course, if you're a brochure and free sample collector, that's OK too. It is nevertheless a courtesy to ask the exhibitor if he/she is running short of sales literature, et al. before loading up -- especially if it's getting toward the end of the show. • If you are a serious collector, bringing along some sort of carry bag or packsack is a good idea. • By all means bring the kids. Computing is a family affair, and exhibitors will welcome welcome well-behaved children to their displays. On the other hand, if little Johnny or Jane decides to torture-test the mouse and keyboard, or stage impromptu Bugs Bunny races through the display don't be surprised if the exhibitor gets a bit twitchy. It's also not a good idea to bring food or other potentially messy materials, if you want to make a favourable impression. • Use the show to comparison-shop. It's an ideal opportunity to get a good, thorough look at products you're interested in, with motivated and knowledgeable people at hand to answer your questions. If you're considering two competitive products represented at the show, it'll never be more convenient to shuttle back and forth comparing features and prices. • Have fun, and enjoy MacWorld Expo New Youk 2001! The Macworld World Conference & Expo is scheduled to run July 17 through July 20 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. For more information about the Macworld Conference & Expo, go to
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Cool Mac Gear• iPod 1G-2G • iPod 3G • iPod 4G • iPod Mini • PowerBook-iBook • Keyboard Skins • Garageband
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