I’ll try to give a brief overview of what makes Macworld so exciting for those Windows users out there. First, Macworld is one of the two really major times of the year when Mac users can safely assume they will get new products. Apple doesn’t play by other companies rules. There is hardly ever any product announcements before the product is ready. It’s not like other companies. You get it on Apple’s terms, with a veil of secrecy until then. So, this show is a big time of the year because we get new products, a reward to the Mac faithful per se.

What makes this Macworld exciting? Here is a brief list of rumors that float around on the internet. First, the switch from PPC processors to Intel is expected in some shape or form at Macworld. I won’t argue over which machine will be the first to get Intel, but it’s agreed that one will.

New iLife ’06 and possible spreadsheet application of iWorks. This is exciting especially for me for a few reasons. First, the iLife is rumored to bring Apple’s Frontrow interface (like a Media Center done better) to all computers, not just the iMac. Even though I have an iBook, I use it as my DVD player and hook it up to my TV for watching movies, etc. I would love to have Frontrow and a remote to make my life easier. Any addidition to iWork would be good. Keynote is the best presentation app out there, but the others need help.

Mac Mini. An updated Mac Mini with possible Intel chips and Frontrow with other advanced media capabilities. Ponder on that one.

I’m sure there are other rumors out there, but I don’t know which ones are really that credible. I would bet that we’ll get some kind of Intel Mac and maybe the iLife, but I don’t know about a media center Mac just yet. But then, the rumors for the video iPod were unbelievable until it happened this last fall, so anything is possible with Apple. Just look forward to January 9!