No one but Apple can estimate their shipments to four significant digits.
The headline is just WRONG. These are estimated shipments. A change from an estimated 2033 to an estimated 2030 is FLAT within the margin of error!
"APPLE MAC SALES FLAT IN US WHILE OTHERS LOSE as PC MARKET SLOWS" is the correct conclusion. The Subhead is "Mac market share grows as PC-makers sales decline"
People are slowing spending for a variety of reasons... For one, there is the widespread belief that we may be headed for another financial crash, brought on by the irresponsible spending of our government (and the insistence of the public that no cuts are acceptable). Most economists I'm aware of (who are not Keynesians) are very pessimistic about the state of the economy in the near and long-term future in the US.
Most economists who are Keynesians are pessimistic too, not because government is "spending irresponsibly", but because certain factions in Congress are governing irresponsibly, or not governing, depending on how you look at it.
Most economists who are Keynesians are pessimistic too, not because government is "spending irresponsibly", but because certain factions in Congress are governing irresponsibly, or not governing, depending on how you look at it.
People are not spending when they don't need it. Very little to do with politics.
There's really no need for another computer when most families have more than 2 per household.
Computers have a longer useful lifespan today. For most people, a computer with a Core 2 duo or better is plenty fast enough. In fact, a Power Mac G5 is more than fast enough for 90% of people and is only limited since you can't upgrade later than OS X 10.5 and older apps especially no newer flash, silverlight or even Apple apps like Safari or iTunes. There is just a lot less reason to upgrade so often anymore for Macs or PC's since older computers can do everything that is required and are not slow at doing it.
That's quite a bad result. I know the iDevices are naturally the focus these days but it would be nice if they could walk and chew gum at the same time.
For a whole month they sold no imacs.. Not as a result of lack of demand but because they did not have and to sell. So if one looks at actual demand side..and if supply was there..... there would have in be en a gain yoy.
You should have no trouble, then, explaining why Apple performed so relatively well despite having the most reliable, long lasting computers (according to every reliability study) out there. Go!
There's some truth to a_greer's comment.
He said that the market is down because computers last longer. I believe that's a true statement. Several factors are involved:
1. Even older hardware is more than fast enough for what most people do with their computers. I used my Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro for 6 years - roughly twice as long as I used previous Macs.
2. Long, drawn-out economic problems with fears for the future. While we've had recessions before, this one is notable for its length. At some point, people start saying "maybe I shouldn't splurge on expensive items".
3. Current versions of operating systems are better. While WIndows 95 became nearly unusable after a year or two due to 'bit rot', that's not as true for Windows 7.
Combine those things and it's not surprising that the total market is down.
However, your statement is true, as well. Even in a down market, Apple is gaining share due to the things you cite - reliability, service, and longevity.
I seriously hope they terminate production of cMBP, current Mac pro and maybe even the mini, so they can focus everything on Airs and rMBP. Better screens and Haswell for Airs, cheaper rMBP (400$ at least), dGPU for 13" rMBP, updated dGPU for 15", Haswell for rMBP, mavbe a 17" model with something special. New desktop model to substitute the Mac Pro.
Then, more focus on the software side of things, please. Better iWork, true quicktime pro replacement. A new OS or 10.8.x updates to address skeoumorphism (?) and to focus on speed and stability, not features.
p.s: We are talking about Apple. Making an Office suite that's more user/friendly, good looking and more stable than MSoffice isn't enough. Making a better OS than Windows isn't enough. Apple is huge, they must focus more on OSX. They always had the best OS, but they have to be "much better", as OSX was against XP and vista.
Apple is a hardware company. It doesn't care if you use MS office on a Mac. It cares that you got the Mac in the first place.
In addition, it is always working on a new OS version, hence the yearly updates.
Computers have a longer useful lifespan today. For most people, a computer with a Core 2 duo or better is plenty fast enough. In fact, a Power Mac G5 is more than fast enough for 90% of people and is only limited since you can't upgrade later than OS X 10.5 and older apps especially no newer flash, silverlight or even Apple apps like Safari or iTunes. There is just a lot less reason to upgrade so often anymore for Macs or PC's since older computers can do everything that is required and are not slow at doing it.
You do recognize that despite your impeccable logic, the fact that reality doesn't fit your description of what is fast enough for most people means that you are wrong... right?
Computers have a longer useful lifespan today. For most people, a computer with a Core 2 duo or better is plenty fast enough. In fact, a Power Mac G5 is more than fast enough for 90% of people and is only limited since you can't upgrade later than OS X 10.5 and older apps especially no newer flash, silverlight or even Apple apps like Safari or iTunes. There is just a lot less reason to upgrade so often anymore for Macs or PC's since older computers can do everything that is required and are not slow at doing it.
Yup, I'm still running a home built Core 2 Duo with Ubuntu Linux that doubles as my server and likely will for the next five years. With it's new-ish graphics card it even runs modern games quite well. And this is a great point - there simply isn't a compelling reason for most people to upgrade right now.
Comments
Which also witnessed a rise in iPad shipments.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Junkyard Dawg
Yes, there are consequences to mediocre products.
http://bgr.com/2012/09/18/apple-computers-top-acsi-survey/
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/20/apple-tops-u-s-pc-customer-satisfaction-survey-for-eighth-consecutive-time/
"Ever since Steve died..." /s
No one but Apple can estimate their shipments to four significant digits.
The headline is just WRONG. These are estimated shipments. A change from an estimated 2033 to an estimated 2030 is FLAT within the margin of error!
"APPLE MAC SALES FLAT IN US WHILE OTHERS LOSE as PC MARKET SLOWS" is the correct conclusion. The Subhead is "Mac market share grows as PC-makers sales decline"
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamSandwich
People are slowing spending for a variety of reasons... For one, there is the widespread belief that we may be headed for another financial crash, brought on by the irresponsible spending of our government (and the insistence of the public that no cuts are acceptable). Most economists I'm aware of (who are not Keynesians) are very pessimistic about the state of the economy in the near and long-term future in the US.
Most economists who are Keynesians are pessimistic too, not because government is "spending irresponsibly", but because certain factions in Congress are governing irresponsibly, or not governing, depending on how you look at it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by anonymouse
Most economists who are Keynesians are pessimistic too, not because government is "spending irresponsibly", but because certain factions in Congress are governing irresponsibly, or not governing, depending on how you look at it.
People are not spending when they don't need it. Very little to do with politics.
There's really no need for another computer when most families have more than 2 per household.
Originally Posted by drobforever
People are not spending when they don't need it.
You're sure?
Computers have a longer useful lifespan today. For most people, a computer with a Core 2 duo or better is plenty fast enough. In fact, a Power Mac G5 is more than fast enough for 90% of people and is only limited since you can't upgrade later than OS X 10.5 and older apps especially no newer flash, silverlight or even Apple apps like Safari or iTunes. There is just a lot less reason to upgrade so often anymore for Macs or PC's since older computers can do everything that is required and are not slow at doing it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by drblank
And Apple can't make their iMacs fast enough. Hmmmm... Oh OK. So how does IDC get these numbers when Apple hasn't released their final numbers>?
IDC is the greatest employer of psychics. I thought everyone knew that.
So if one looks at actual demand side..and if supply was there..... there would have in be en a gain yoy.
"NEGATIVE GROWTH"... wth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Macky the Macky
IDC is the greatest employer of psychics. I thought everyone knew that.
Or maybe they asked?
There's some truth to a_greer's comment.
He said that the market is down because computers last longer. I believe that's a true statement. Several factors are involved:
1. Even older hardware is more than fast enough for what most people do with their computers. I used my Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro for 6 years - roughly twice as long as I used previous Macs.
2. Long, drawn-out economic problems with fears for the future. While we've had recessions before, this one is notable for its length. At some point, people start saying "maybe I shouldn't splurge on expensive items".
3. Current versions of operating systems are better. While WIndows 95 became nearly unusable after a year or two due to 'bit rot', that's not as true for Windows 7.
Combine those things and it's not surprising that the total market is down.
However, your statement is true, as well. Even in a down market, Apple is gaining share due to the things you cite - reliability, service, and longevity.
Apple is a hardware company. It doesn't care if you use MS office on a Mac. It cares that you got the Mac in the first place.
In addition, it is always working on a new OS version, hence the yearly updates.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwmac
Computers have a longer useful lifespan today. For most people, a computer with a Core 2 duo or better is plenty fast enough. In fact, a Power Mac G5 is more than fast enough for 90% of people and is only limited since you can't upgrade later than OS X 10.5 and older apps especially no newer flash, silverlight or even Apple apps like Safari or iTunes. There is just a lot less reason to upgrade so often anymore for Macs or PC's since older computers can do everything that is required and are not slow at doing it.
You do recognize that despite your impeccable logic, the fact that reality doesn't fit your description of what is fast enough for most people means that you are wrong... right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwmac
Computers have a longer useful lifespan today. For most people, a computer with a Core 2 duo or better is plenty fast enough. In fact, a Power Mac G5 is more than fast enough for 90% of people and is only limited since you can't upgrade later than OS X 10.5 and older apps especially no newer flash, silverlight or even Apple apps like Safari or iTunes. There is just a lot less reason to upgrade so often anymore for Macs or PC's since older computers can do everything that is required and are not slow at doing it.
Yup, I'm still running a home built Core 2 Duo with Ubuntu Linux that doubles as my server and likely will for the next five years. With it's new-ish graphics card it even runs modern games quite well. And this is a great point - there simply isn't a compelling reason for most people to upgrade right now.