WWDC

I went to WWDC in 2010, and it was good, but looking back, it wasn't invaluable.

Last year I kept debating whether to go but it sold out before I even was awake, and this year I wasn't going to even try.

People like Marco who went to WWDC for years before the iPhone came out have a very different experience.  It was smaller, and they got to know each other and have connections.  I had the same thing for the far-smaller SIC conference back on Windows.  You'd see the same people year after year, catching up and re-making connections.


By the time I got to WWDC, it was massive.  I didn't even see people from Seattle that I knew were there.  There's a different vibe for newcomers, with so many people it's hard to really meet anyone.  Even if you do, you're lucky to bump into them again in the crowds.

I far preferred the Tech Talk that was in Seattle.  Much smaller, and thanks to finding out about the NSCoder Night and Seattle XCoders, I've been able to really connect with other developers.

Hopefully they have it here again and send me an invitation!

Loyalty

Lots of Apple's Mac growth over the years has been people switching from Windows.  I wonder what percent of people switch from Windows to Mac, and also what percent switch from Mac to Windows.  I'd guess it is a much lower percent leaving Mac for Windows.

I'm a Windows -> Mac switcher, but even if I have to go back to Windows in the future, I'm sure I'll buy a Mac and run Windows on it.  Every PC, especially laptop, I've ever had feels like giant plastic wiggly crap compared to the sleek little Air that's 2+ years old now.

Like many things, once you try a higher quality, it's harder to go back.  After drinking an espresso, who wants to go back to instant coffee?

Sounds like exactly the same thing will happen with the iPhone.

It might be different if the price was vastly different.  But all the top end phones cost about the same.