Apple thrives under Vista onslaught, steady on iPods
An expert at Morgan Stanley has reasoned that of all the major computer makers in play during the release of Windows Vista, the only one to avoid taking a hit in sales was the one company that chose not to run the software at all: Apple.
In a research note issued to investors, Morgan Stanley analyst Kathryn Huberty advised readers that Apple was the healthiest PC vendor during the first two months of the new year, seeing virtually no damage to its rapid growth compared to Windows-using rivals.
"[Apple] is the only vendor that appears unscathed by the Vista transition," Huberty said.
Most system builders predictably suffered from the combination of both the post-holiday seasonal slump and the wait for Microsoft's long-delayed OS. Buyers at retail and in smaller-scale businesses repeatedly showed hesitation in buying a new Windows PC throughout most of January knowing that Vista loomed near.
Companies such as Lenovo were especially hurt, seeing a virtually flat 3 percent growth from one year to the next compared to a much healthier 29 percent during the same period in 2006. Even current industry champion Hewlett-Packard saw a slight dip, according to the note.
But while virtually every vendor of Windows PCs depended on the Vista-related sales surge in February to make up for a lackluster first month, Apple continued its march forward seemingly untouched by Vista's presence: the number of Macs shipped to the same business and retail buyers grew by 71 percent year-over-year in January and a nearly identical 72 percent in February.
Apple also took an 8 percent share of this particular market, compared to 6 percent a year ago -- boding especially well for the still modestly sized Mac maker in the face of resurgent competition. Some assumed the company would lose ground to Vista as it had with prior Windows updates.
A consistently strong showing was also the hallmark of the California firm's other core business, the iPod. Apple showed no signs of letting go of its by now well-entrenched marketshare, holding over 73 percent of the music player sales through the early part of the year and growing 30 percent between the same two months in 2006 and 2007. Would-be challengers had to largely be content with taking each other's business, the report noted.
The combined effect was to position Apple as one of the strongest computer companies heading into the spring, pulling ahead not only of the 23 percent average jump in PC sales during the 12-month span but also having an extremely resilient digital media player share to boost its finances. Huberty was clearly impressed by the outlook for the company's short-term future.
"Continued Mac momentum and strong double-digit iPod growth... give us confidence that [Apple] will beat expectations in the March [quarter]," she said.
In a research note issued to investors, Morgan Stanley analyst Kathryn Huberty advised readers that Apple was the healthiest PC vendor during the first two months of the new year, seeing virtually no damage to its rapid growth compared to Windows-using rivals.
"[Apple] is the only vendor that appears unscathed by the Vista transition," Huberty said.
Most system builders predictably suffered from the combination of both the post-holiday seasonal slump and the wait for Microsoft's long-delayed OS. Buyers at retail and in smaller-scale businesses repeatedly showed hesitation in buying a new Windows PC throughout most of January knowing that Vista loomed near.
Companies such as Lenovo were especially hurt, seeing a virtually flat 3 percent growth from one year to the next compared to a much healthier 29 percent during the same period in 2006. Even current industry champion Hewlett-Packard saw a slight dip, according to the note.
But while virtually every vendor of Windows PCs depended on the Vista-related sales surge in February to make up for a lackluster first month, Apple continued its march forward seemingly untouched by Vista's presence: the number of Macs shipped to the same business and retail buyers grew by 71 percent year-over-year in January and a nearly identical 72 percent in February.
Apple also took an 8 percent share of this particular market, compared to 6 percent a year ago -- boding especially well for the still modestly sized Mac maker in the face of resurgent competition. Some assumed the company would lose ground to Vista as it had with prior Windows updates.
A consistently strong showing was also the hallmark of the California firm's other core business, the iPod. Apple showed no signs of letting go of its by now well-entrenched marketshare, holding over 73 percent of the music player sales through the early part of the year and growing 30 percent between the same two months in 2006 and 2007. Would-be challengers had to largely be content with taking each other's business, the report noted.
The combined effect was to position Apple as one of the strongest computer companies heading into the spring, pulling ahead not only of the 23 percent average jump in PC sales during the 12-month span but also having an extremely resilient digital media player share to boost its finances. Huberty was clearly impressed by the outlook for the company's short-term future.
"Continued Mac momentum and strong double-digit iPod growth... give us confidence that [Apple] will beat expectations in the March [quarter]," she said.
Comments
not.
friday.
-=|Mgkwho
Unless I overlooked it, there is no mention of OS X in the article. That said, your average user, and possibly even this "analyst", might think Apple runs Windows as it's only OS. It certainly seems like it is indirectly implied.
At the time I read the AI post, it states clearly that Apple is a vendor that does not sell computers running Windows.
It's Friday somewhere.
At any given moment, you should be able to find some place in the universe where it is Friday.
it's.
not.
friday.
-=|Mgkwho
I've already experience 13 hours of Firiday.
The world is not entirely US Centric
I've already experience 13 hours of Firiday.
The world is not entirely US Centric
AppleInsider is.
-=|Mgkwho
it's.
not.
friday.
-=|Mgkwho
It is now.
Unless I overlooked it, there is no mention of OS X in the article. That said, your average user, and possibly even this "analyst", might think Apple runs Windows as it's only OS. It certainly seems like it is indirectly implied.
Is reading a problem? Or are you saying that they changed it?
First sentence:
An expert at Morgan Stanley has reasoned that of all the major computer makers in play during the release of Windows Vista, the only one to avoid taking a hit in sales was the one company that chose not to run the software at all: Apple.
AppleInsider is.
-=|Mgkwho
You do your country no favours with that kind of attitude.
You do your country no favours with that kind of attitude.
It's a US-based website. They're perfectly entitled to be US-centric.
And no, I'm not a US citizen.
AppleInsider is.
-=|Mgkwho
No its not ...
Mgwk-whatever...
It's a US-based website. They're perfectly entitled to be US-centric.
And no, I'm not a US citizen.
I'm sure they can defend themselves.
Why don't we all try and get back on topic. The real point here is that Vista isn't make Apple look bad, and that's a win for Apple. We all want Leopard to be done properly and not rushed, but if we had that Time Machine now we'd all use it
AI is beginning a new habit of showing you articles from THE FUTURE.
If they could only do that with the Powerball or Mega millions numbers.
Microsoft announced a new version of the Xbox but I highly doubt it will affect sales of the Nintendo Wii, Sony's PS3 or toasters. Can I get my analyst pay for that obvious conclusion?
If Apple announced a release date for Leopard, I bet we'd see a similar slow down in Mac sales. They'll probably be one as the "late Spring" launch deadline draws near and people anticipate Leopard's arrival.
At any given moment, you should be able to find some place in the universe where it is Friday.
I never got the hang of Thursdays