What practical difference does it make if they are making the announcement with a bunch of journos in front of them physically, or if they are making the announcement with a bunch of journos watching online? The story still gets written! It is not like they were going to let people get hands on a 3080Ti or something like that.
Yep, I agree. It just hardens the OP point of these events being a free vacation for journalists. Sure, they have to write the stuff they hear there, but after that it is what it is, a vacation.
OP was clearly trolling here - but while a lot of journalists work long hours with little/no downtime at conferences (and even then, the "downtime" you get means coming off of the disorienting high of pure artificial lighting and conditioned air) - there are DEFINITELY more than a few non-journalist attendees at some major conferences that are basically on a work-sponsored drinks cruise.
It really isn't a free vacation, and none of it "harden's the OP point" as he never had one. Having no idea what you're talking about is not a prerequisite for a good comment.
I DO have every bit of idea of what these conferences are about because I've been to them and I've spent time with some of the journos. Don't try to make this a serious matter, because we not talking about exceptions here, which the guys from Anandtech might very well be, we are talking about the rule. And the rule is that this is usually just a paid vacation where you have to document some stuff.
Yeah, I'd be all for cancelling these big events and just announce products as you go. I mean really, what difference does it make if you have your CEO on a stage?
I wouldn't be surprised if their products are actually delayed. A lot of their engineers are working from home or not working at all. I can imagine a lot of them might want to be extremely cautious about COVID-19 probably because they can.
Yeah but mass production certainly could take a hit. Anyhow I don't see any issue being cautious especially since the US has a rather pathetic pandemic response team due to the current administration. It's the same reason the stock market is tanking as most are having to assume worst case scenarios due to the lack of preparation of the US.
To be 100% fair, the CDC pandemic response team was just one part of many very large (and interconnected) machines. The US has frequently been a kind of slumbering giant with these kinds of issues - slow to get started but powerful once moving, partly because the US response is so distributed: There's the CDC, various other federal agencies, then there's state and local health agencies (which tend to have more independent power than their equivalents in other countries), not to mention major health systems.
This administration has definitely bungled the response at the federal level (and the FDA's delay in rolling out testing is a huge misstep), but there are a lot of other very competent players in the country. (As one example: Thinking what's now nCoV-19 could be a major issue, researchers at the University of Washington started developing tests months ago.)
I agree that we should expect some delays in new product releases this year. Most fabs are likely not running at full capacity at this point, same goes to factories that assembles the products.
Would not have guessed so at the time of the cancellation, but the event was slated for San Jose, which is in Santa Clara County, one of several Bay Area counties under mandatory Shelter-At-Home orders. What a difference a few weeks makes. Ugh.
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nandnandnand - Monday, March 9, 2020 - link
Soon, no paid vacations to tech conferences. Coof.kulareddy - Monday, March 9, 2020 - link
by vacations you mean work overtime and jet lag?Spunjji - Thursday, March 12, 2020 - link
He'd crumble within ten minutes.Valantar - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
Apparently you have zero idea what working as a journalist is like.nandnandnand - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
Does it involve sloppy editing, or sipping martinis?FreckledTrout - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
Every now and then someone gets lost and I am here to help. I think you meant to be over at wccftech.com.Spunjji - Thursday, March 12, 2020 - link
I remember a time when most jackasses at least had the decency to try to pretend they weren't a total jackass.AshlayW - Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - link
Shut up and troll somewhere else, buffoon.RobJoy - Friday, March 20, 2020 - link
DAFUQ. Anandtech has jopurnalists? :oSttm - Monday, March 9, 2020 - link
What practical difference does it make if they are making the announcement with a bunch of journos in front of them physically, or if they are making the announcement with a bunch of journos watching online? The story still gets written! It is not like they were going to let people get hands on a 3080Ti or something like that.nandnandnand - Monday, March 9, 2020 - link
With a physical event, they can let Dr. Ian Cutress spread the "flu" by putting the products in his mouth.yeeeeman - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
Yep, I agree. It just hardens the OP point of these events being a free vacation for journalists. Sure, they have to write the stuff they hear there, but after that it is what it is, a vacation.sing_electric - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
OP was clearly trolling here - but while a lot of journalists work long hours with little/no downtime at conferences (and even then, the "downtime" you get means coming off of the disorienting high of pure artificial lighting and conditioned air) - there are DEFINITELY more than a few non-journalist attendees at some major conferences that are basically on a work-sponsored drinks cruise.Spunjji - Thursday, March 12, 2020 - link
It really isn't a free vacation, and none of it "harden's the OP point" as he never had one. Having no idea what you're talking about is not a prerequisite for a good comment.yeeeeman - Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - link
I DO have every bit of idea of what these conferences are about because I've been to them and I've spent time with some of the journos. Don't try to make this a serious matter, because we not talking about exceptions here, which the guys from Anandtech might very well be, we are talking about the rule. And the rule is that this is usually just a paid vacation where you have to document some stuff.bug77 - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
Yeah, I'd be all for cancelling these big events and just announce products as you go. I mean really, what difference does it make if you have your CEO on a stage?Threska - Monday, March 16, 2020 - link
Watching Jobs on stage. Love him/hate him, history still wouldn't have been the same dialing it out.azfacea - Monday, March 9, 2020 - link
I wouldn't be surprised if their products are actually delayed. A lot of their engineers are working from home or not working at all. I can imagine a lot of them might want to be extremely cautious about COVID-19 probably because they can.imaheadcase - Monday, March 9, 2020 - link
Its not delayed :) Products are already being shared to select partners for the week of the web announcements.FreckledTrout - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
Yeah but mass production certainly could take a hit. Anyhow I don't see any issue being cautious especially since the US has a rather pathetic pandemic response team due to the current administration. It's the same reason the stock market is tanking as most are having to assume worst case scenarios due to the lack of preparation of the US.sing_electric - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
To be 100% fair, the CDC pandemic response team was just one part of many very large (and interconnected) machines. The US has frequently been a kind of slumbering giant with these kinds of issues - slow to get started but powerful once moving, partly because the US response is so distributed: There's the CDC, various other federal agencies, then there's state and local health agencies (which tend to have more independent power than their equivalents in other countries), not to mention major health systems.This administration has definitely bungled the response at the federal level (and the FDA's delay in rolling out testing is a huge misstep), but there are a lot of other very competent players in the country. (As one example: Thinking what's now nCoV-19 could be a major issue, researchers at the University of Washington started developing tests months ago.)
watzupken - Monday, March 16, 2020 - link
I agree that we should expect some delays in new product releases this year. Most fabs are likely not running at full capacity at this point, same goes to factories that assembles the products.edzieba - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
Jensen: "Well if I don't get to leather up in front of everyone, then what's the point of it all?!"Dragonstongue - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - link
HA ha ha haAshlayW - Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - link
Lots of snowflakes in the comments here.catavalon21 - Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - link
Would not have guessed so at the time of the cancellation, but the event was slated for San Jose, which is in Santa Clara County, one of several Bay Area counties under mandatory Shelter-At-Home orders. What a difference a few weeks makes. Ugh.