The MacWorld 2010 that commenced at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, on Thursday marked the absence of Apple – for the first time in years - from the event; with the keynote this time round being delivered by New York Times’ David Pogue, instead of the thus-far customary keynote by Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

The considerably scaled back Apple-less event has now become more of a “how do you use them Apples” event, rather than an Apple-centric “how about them Apples” show.

According to Mike Romo, senior product manager in Mac Products unit of Symantec, without Apple there to anchor the show, MacWorld 2010 obviously is less of a product showcase. Romo stated that Apple’s absence made “the event is going back to its roots as a user conference, rather than as this celebration of the Apple platform.”

However, though Apple was distinctly missing from the proceedings, there show still had an exhibition floor exclusively for iPhone-accessories makers, Mac-friendly software, home audio systems and a host of other vendors comprising the eclectic ecosystem of the Cupertino, California-based company.

Moreover, the show this year exuded a new sense of energy and freedom – while Pogue’s keynote was interspersed with punches at Apple and Jobs; a one-act play witnessed a surprising applause when it described Jobs, role-played by LaVar Burton of Star Trek, as a “creepy vegan megalomaniac”!