Surprise: What Apple Will Bring To Macworld 2007.

Christmas really comes to Mac users in early January with Macworld, new products, and rumor balloon popping.

I know what’s coming from Apple (at least some of it). I just don’t know when it’s coming.

What’s on your rumor list this year? Steve Jobs has a list. Mac360 has a list. So do many other Mac sites, pundits, and tech-know-it-all’s.

2007 is no different than 2006. We all have a list of expectations, wants, desires, dreams, and a little extra room on the credit card balance.

What will Apple bring to the Mac faithful during next week’s Macworld Expo in San Francisco? Looks. We know Apple will show us “looks.”

What Apple actually delivers, ready for sale, or with a future date for shipment, is anybody’s guess. Such is the nature of Macworld and Steve Jobs.

We can prognosticate all we want, but Jobs is known for surprises, and Apple is known for shipping what we want, much later than we want it.

So, here’s what Apple will bring to Macworld 2007. This is a list you can bank on. Or not. It depends on where you bank.

First, we’ll get an update to the iLife suite, circa 2007 version. That’s iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, and iWeb. Please note that Windows Vista now has a few similar applications, so expect Apple’s latest to be greater.

Second, we’ll see an update to the iWork suite, circa ‘07 version, but I’m expecting a spreadsheet to be added to Pages and Keynote.

Third, it’s a bankable estimate that we’ll also see a more detailed look into Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Duh.

Obviously, one doesn’t need much experience or intellect to guess what Apple will show us at Macworld this year, huh?

Fourth, we’ll also see more detail and a full blown demonstration of iTV next week. Apple’s already announced that it’s coming this year, but probably not yet. That’s how Apple does these things.

Was that so hard? Predictions are easy if you keep the list lean and tight. It’s also important to note that Apple does not typically shoot the whole wad on one show, but has learned to spread the good news around to other months in the year.

Almost everyone who can spell AAPL is expecting Apple to introduce a cell phone in 2007, and the biggest bang for the buck is Macworld. Is that where it will happen? After all, Macworld is already crowded with eye candy and we’re not even half way through the list.

Also expected in 2007 is an ultra small, super lightweight MacBook Pro. The list above is a good mix of hardware and software, so would Apple release a new laptop during Macworld?

Laptops are hot right now, especially at the low end, so look for the smaller MacBook Pro to price slightly higher than a MacBook.

The PowerPC Macs are history, but not Tim-The-Toolman-Taylor’s version of More Power!! How about a set of quad core Intel chips in the Mac Pro models?

The answer is yes, but in announcement form only-- no shipping until we’re salivating for new hardware, probably in March.

Hardware. Software. Delayed shipping. What’s left? If Apple’s cell phone doesn’t show up at Macworld, when will it be announced? Spring 2007 looks promising.

Most pundits are not expecting a cell phone to be much more than an iPod with a cell phone inside and great Mac and Windows synchronization capability.

Two other hardware items have begun to make the cut among Mac rumor monger elite sites-- a true video iPod and a new Cinema Display. The latter isn’t worthy of a Macworld announcement, the former is.

I don’t think we’ll see either at Macworld next week. After all, the iPod just got an entire line revamped, and squashed the latest iPod killer from Microsoft. Why worry? Why bother?

What’s left? Software. Other than OS X Leopard and the iLife ‘07 and iWork ‘07 facelifts, what’s the latest and greatest new software from Apple? See? Apple has room for a surprise or two.

Finally, do you plan to be at Macworld? Bambi and I will meet up in San Francisco the day of the keynote, travel the exhibit floor after lunch, and report on all that’s new and newsworthy. See you there.

Oh, one more thing. Surprise. What’s left to surprise the Mac faithful next Tuesday? What’s on your list of expectations? What are the sure things and the possibles and the “no way, Jose” items on your list? Share in the Comments section below.

Check out the daily list of our 9 Word mini-Reviews at NoodleMac, and Kate's daily in-depth Mac software reviews at PixoBebo.

Off Topic #23 & #18 - Want to speed up your Mac? Try Kate MacKenzie’s approach to the $7.99 speed increase. Do you have a back up system for your Mac? Kate’s PixoBebo shows you how to use Time Machine with SuperDuper! for the ultimate Mac back up. And she doesn’t even charge Mac360 readers to visit her site.

Off Topic #58 - Do politicians use personal computers? Of course. We’ve heard Barack Obama prefers a Mac, while Hillary Clinton uses a Dell, though, apparently neither of the candidates can bowl. Does Obama’s potential vice president use a Mac? Even Clinton acknowledges Apple’s brand power but says she can’t afford a Mac. Maybe she’d win if she used a Mac.