Apple seeing strong sales of iMac Core Duo, MacBook Pro
Contrary to recent and unsubstantiated rumors, sales of Apple's new Intel-based iMac Core Duo desktops and MacBook Pro portables both appear to be strong, reports research and investment firm American Technology Research.
In a research note sent to clients on Wednesday morning, analyst Shaw Wu said both of Apple's new Intel Macs are selling well. The analyst believes the strong sales may be fueled by customers who had been holding off their Mac purchases until the Intel models made their debut.
Specifically, Wu said his firm is seeing particular strength in sales to education (K-12 and higher education), content creation, and consumer end markets.
Commenting on the MacBook Pro, the analyst noted that Apple is not expected to ramp production of the new portables until early- to mid-February. "We believe Apple is having some difficulty building enough to meet demand, but we are not too concerned as we believe this is a good problem to have instead of building too many for no demand," Wu wrote.
On the other hand, sales of Apple's PowerPC Macs, including the iMac G5, PowerBook G4, iBook G4, and Mac mini appear to be lagging. "We believe this may be due in part to Apple's marketing message that Intel is much better than PowerPC, and so far price points are comparable with no discounts offered [on the PowerPC Macs]," the analyst added.
Apple's decision to simultaneously market both PowerPC and Intel Macs has caused some customer confusion in the field, Wu said, but he isn't too concerned. "We do not anticipate this to last that long as inventories of PowerPC Macs appear fairly lean at around 3-4 weeks, which is likely the primary reason why Apple hasn't offered discounts."
Additionally, the analyst expects Apple will migrate the remainder of its PowerPC product line to Intel processors within the next two quarters. "Selling two processor families and marketing one as superior to another adds to customer confusion and isn't a sound long-term strategy, in our opinion," Wu wrote.
According to AmTech Research's proprietary checks, Apple's fifth-generation video iPod sales also remain strong and have been met with the least seasonal decline of the entire iPod product family. The firm sees this as a favorable trend for iPod average selling prices, which it is modeling at $210 this quarter (compared to $207 last quarter).
Given all of the above, AmTech believes investors may not be appreciating that Apple still provided guidance to what will likely its second best quarter in the company's near 30-year history. "We remain comfortable with out above guidance March quarter estimates of $4.4B in revenue and 42 cents in earnings-per-share (EPS), above Apple's guidance of $4.3B and 38 cents."
American Technology Research maintains a 'Buy' rating on Apple shares with a price target of $101.
In a research note sent to clients on Wednesday morning, analyst Shaw Wu said both of Apple's new Intel Macs are selling well. The analyst believes the strong sales may be fueled by customers who had been holding off their Mac purchases until the Intel models made their debut.
Specifically, Wu said his firm is seeing particular strength in sales to education (K-12 and higher education), content creation, and consumer end markets.
Commenting on the MacBook Pro, the analyst noted that Apple is not expected to ramp production of the new portables until early- to mid-February. "We believe Apple is having some difficulty building enough to meet demand, but we are not too concerned as we believe this is a good problem to have instead of building too many for no demand," Wu wrote.
On the other hand, sales of Apple's PowerPC Macs, including the iMac G5, PowerBook G4, iBook G4, and Mac mini appear to be lagging. "We believe this may be due in part to Apple's marketing message that Intel is much better than PowerPC, and so far price points are comparable with no discounts offered [on the PowerPC Macs]," the analyst added.
Apple's decision to simultaneously market both PowerPC and Intel Macs has caused some customer confusion in the field, Wu said, but he isn't too concerned. "We do not anticipate this to last that long as inventories of PowerPC Macs appear fairly lean at around 3-4 weeks, which is likely the primary reason why Apple hasn't offered discounts."
Additionally, the analyst expects Apple will migrate the remainder of its PowerPC product line to Intel processors within the next two quarters. "Selling two processor families and marketing one as superior to another adds to customer confusion and isn't a sound long-term strategy, in our opinion," Wu wrote.
According to AmTech Research's proprietary checks, Apple's fifth-generation video iPod sales also remain strong and have been met with the least seasonal decline of the entire iPod product family. The firm sees this as a favorable trend for iPod average selling prices, which it is modeling at $210 this quarter (compared to $207 last quarter).
Given all of the above, AmTech believes investors may not be appreciating that Apple still provided guidance to what will likely its second best quarter in the company's near 30-year history. "We remain comfortable with out above guidance March quarter estimates of $4.4B in revenue and 42 cents in earnings-per-share (EPS), above Apple's guidance of $4.3B and 38 cents."
American Technology Research maintains a 'Buy' rating on Apple shares with a price target of $101.
Comments
Putting it into perspective: Ts reported on low Nano sales,low IWork sales....
so I call BS on their "sources" and "reports".
Originally posted by Anders
Is this one of those "the Apple Store has a 4 weeks delivery time of Intel iMacs so they have strong sales while they can deliver iBooks today so they are not in strong demand"-analysis?
You know, it's hard to understand where all of this comes from, sometimes. They all seem to have their own way of calculating it.
I've heard that sales of the Intel iMac are good, from the manager of the Apple store here in SoHo, and that sales of the older models are "ok".
I know him because I'm on the board of the MUG that meets there every month.
Originally posted by melgross
We should put those nasty rumormongers "up against the wall" along with those people from marketing, when the revolution comes!
But....what will become of this board??
Originally posted by atari
But....what will become of this board??
No, no, no!
we're not NASTY rumormongers!
Originally posted by melgross
No, no, no!
we're not NASTY rumormongers!
Ahhh...that´s comforting to know.
So I guess I will not be put in a Gulag then.
Originally posted by atari
Ahhh...that´s comforting to know.
So I guess I will not be put in a Gulag then.
When I get out, I'll let you know.
Originally posted by aegisdesign
It's a pity they aren't discounting the PowerPC iMac though. I quite fancy one still. It'll still be the fastest iMac for me for the next year.
It seems that with just 3-4 weeks of channel left, they will sell them all, even if somewhat slowly.
Why not check out a refurbished one? Several people I know have done that over the past couple years, or so. They haven't had any problems.
I also think it's why the retail channel (including Apple Stores) is getting very little insight from Apple into what's coming next. I think Apple believes many of the leaks come from that channel.
I wonder if any other OEM are able to sell out of their Intel Core computers?
Originally posted by TenoBell
Intel has to divide its current yield of Core processors amongst OEM's. Even though we may never know exactly how many they are alotting Apple. Given Apples's marketshare if all or even the majority of Intel Core Mac's are sold before they go on sale can only be viewed as good news.
I wonder if any other OEM are able to sell out of their Intel Core computers?
It's been said that PC companies were ticked that Apple got their cpu's first. As far as I know, no other models from anyone else are selling in large numbers yet.
Originally posted by TenoBell
Intel has to divide its current yield of Core processors amongst OEM's. Even though we may never know exactly how many they are alotting Apple. Given Apple's marketshare if all or even the majority of Intel Core Mac's are sold before they are delivered can only be viewed as good news.
I wonder if any other OEM are able to sell out of their Intel Core computers?
Are Toshiba or Acer having supply issues on the Core? They're of similar market share to Apple as a customer to Intel though a lot less high profile should things go badly for Intel in delivering.
I don't think anyone is actually shipping a Core Duo system other than the Apple iMac. IBM/Lenovo, Dell, and Gateway all show Feb shipments; Fujitsu said first half - doesn't appear in their store; Acer says they were first-to-market but they sell through resellers so can't tell.
Originally posted by aegisdesign
Are Toshiba or Acer having supply issues on the Core? They're of similar market share to Apple as a customer to Intel though a lot less high profile should things go badly for Intel in delivering.
Right, but I think the idea is that Toshiba and Acer, which have half a million models between them, are likely to sell far fewer Core Duo equipped machines, as a percentage of their total offerings.
Here's where things might get interesting: with it's huge installed user base and massive deployment in fiscally conservative institutional settings, the PC world isn't anything like the Apple market, where new tech has a very rapid uptake.
Remember, while Apple's market share is dwarfed by the PC market as a whole, when you're talking about specific manufactures (and that's who Intel does business with, they don't sell chips to some aggregate "PC market", but specific manufactures), Apple is much closer to being on an equal footing.
And I would guess for the near term, at least, among specific manufactures Apple will be an excellent customer for Intel's latest.
(edit) Huh. I'm not sure what I thought I was responding to here, now that I reread it. Oh well, more or less what I think.....
Originally posted by melgross
No, no, no!
we're not NASTY rumormongers!
Where's ROLO when you need him?
Originally posted by mark2005
During the week of CES, I think Intel said it had shipped its one millionth Core Duo chip. But again, have no idea how they were alloted.
Apparently not.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01..._65nm_dualies/
Intel today announced they shipped their 1 millionth 65nm part but that includes the Pentium also.
Originally posted by aegisdesign
Apparently not.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01..._65nm_dualies/
Intel today announced they shipped their 1 millionth 65nm part but that includes the Pentium also.
That sounds about right. It was probably reached just a few days ago.
Originally posted by AppleInsider
[B]Specifically, Wu said his firm is seeing particular strength in sales to education (K-12 and higher education), content creation, and consumer end markets.
Oh my god! Who would think that apple would end up selling mostly to schools, content creators, and consumers. That's groundbreaking.
And by content creators I assume they mean content creators who don't use Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut, Motion, DVD Studio, Soundtrack, Pro-Tools, Avid, Premiere, After Effects, and/or Maya.