Apple's Mac market share rise is good for consumers

According to a recent study by research firm ChangeWave, Apple's Macintosh line of computers is well on its way to gaining a sizable portion of the computing market in the coming months.

Polling customers about their computer buying preferences over the next 90 days, ChangeWave Research found that 29 percent of respondents claimed they would be buying a Mac over that period, while 24 percent will buy HP desktops and 31 percent will buy Dell desktops.

Amazingly, just two years ago, only 16 percent of respondents indicated that they would plan on buying a Mac notebook, while 11 percent claimed they would buy a Mac desktop.

But perhaps most important, Tobin Smith, founder of ChangeWave pointed out that, "these are not just the Mac-heads who are buying." And most consumers (24 percent) are choosing Macs because of Leopard and their distaste for Vista.

And while there are still quite a few fanatics out there who wouldn't buy a Mac just because it's made by Apple, I firmly believe an increase in Apple market share is not just good for Apple, it's good for all consumers too.

After all, if Apple brings innovation and progress to the industry, wouldn't it force other companies to do the same?

Suffice it to say, Apple is the world's best trend setter. And a world where Apple is commanding such a large portion of the market could be quite appealing to all of us.

Do you remember the days of ugly computers and downright ridiculous hardware? You know the products I'm talking about: beige towers sitting under your desk while a 13-inch monitor with a crappy resolution stares back at you. Even better, do you remember how vanilla most cell phones were? More often than not, technology wasn't a fashionable item--it was a necessity or a toy for geeks.

The iPhone under glass.

(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET News.com)

And while most of the change cannot be attributed to Apple, I truly believe that Apple was a major reason why technology has become "cool." Think about it: before Apple started changing the way products were designed and it finally realized that technology goes far beyond specs, most companies were content with homely devices. Nowadays, if a product is downright ugly (did someone say "Kindle"?), most people will laugh and move along. After all, would anyone have bought an iPhone if it looked like the old Motorola StarTac?

But beyond looks, Apple's gain in market share is extremely important for the industry. Apple not only knows how to be successful in this ever-changing industry, it has forced other companies like Dell, HP and now Motorola, Nokia and LG to find new and innovative ways to bring customers to their doorsteps.

Sure, there is little chance of Apple overtaking HP or Dell next year in overall computer market share, but the company certainly has the possibility to do it in five years. A long shot you say? Think again: people are becoming more and more enticed by Apple products and with the perfect storm developing with Dell's outright tailspin and Microsoft's costly Vista blunder, the next decade could be Apple's.

But as Apple's market share continues to rise and its dominance over the MP3 player market continues to soar, how can other companies combat it? Certainly the company's competitors cannot maintain status quo, so a new endeavor of market research and gaining customer loyalty through downright fantastic products should evolve out of Apple's success.

And if and when we hit that critical point, perhaps finally there won't be just one Apple--there will be dozens. And if this industry follows Apple's path of innovative products that look good, the real victors will be you and I.

So regardless of whether you love Apple or not, realize one thing: greater consumer happiness hinges on Apple's success.

[john55440]

According to IDC, the Mac's USA market share has "skyrocketed" all the way to 6.3%.

The Mac's worldwide market share is in the Others category, behind at least five other companies.

In contrast, HP has a 19.6% worldwide market share, with 33.0% growth.

ChangeWave's silly marketing poll isn't the same as actual sales.

[cyclelogicpress.com]

Apple is looking great. First time buyers are amazed with the products.

[cprender]

According to NetApplications, Windows XP remains the dominant operating system in the world in November 2007, followed by Windows Vista with 9.19%.

OS market share in November 2007
OS Share
Windows XP 78.37%
Windows Vista 9.19%
MacIntel 3.59%
Mac OS 3.22%
Windows 2000 2.97%
Windows 98 0.76%

[swift2--2008]

Add up MacOS and MacIntel, fella. That makes almost 7% of the market. Which represents a tripling of Mac's share over the last few years. Tell you what, have Microsoft give new machines with Vista to all those Windows 98 people, 'kay? 'Cause most of them are grandma's computer, and it's been taken over by bots and has sent out about a billion pieces of spam and viruses since them.

[HaloZero]

All Apple's success will do is give Steve Jobs a few hundred thousand new turtleneck sweaters.

[revry]

Windows PCs still have a commanding share of the market because "the market" is overwhelmingly businesses buying enterprise level machines, the choice of which is generally determined by IT personnel.

Apple is making HUGE inroads in the consumer market, especially in the casual buyer who may not own a computer. When most home users own Macs (and this is a highly realistic goal), then the enterprise will gradually follow suit...

-=-Ron-=-

[swift2--2008]

I've certainly noticed a huge shift in calls to the local computer shows. PC-only shows are rapidly including a lot of Mac calls. People phone in asking the "which computer should I buy" question, and they most often indicate that at least they're thinking about a Mac. Face it, you buy a Mac, you get a very good Windows machine and Leopard, altogether. Who else can say that?

[William Crow]

I switched from Windows/IBM to an iMac in January 2007. I love it. I had way too much trouble with Windows.
Now if they'll just dump the idiot Al Gore from its board.

[David Turner]

How does Al Gore being on Apple's board affect your computer experience??

[gregweld]

One comment was that the poll wasn't relevant -- that SALES were relevant. Well ---- as an "X" Windows / Dell purchaser -- I've bought my 4th Apple Mac -- beginning with a iMac G5 for fun - then liking that so much I bought a Mac Book Pro - and this month alone have bought an iPhone and two Mac Books! So to me the poll is very relevant! We = as a family - now have several iPods - 2 iPhones - and 4 PC's.... all of this within the last year or so.... and I've done my level headed best to convince my friends as well!

[OhSayCanYouSee1]

This article is so right-on-the-money, all should pay attention. The only nay-sayers left regarding the quality of Apple products are those too stubborn to at least investigate them. How many hours of your life do you plan to waste while your PCs boot up and down? Once you own a Mac, those precious wasted moments are virtually over. Just spend one hour in an Apple store and you will see that it isn't just hype, it's a movement.

Apple is so far ahead of the curve in both computers and consumer electronics right now, any company that wants to compete with them down the line has already been forced to quickly invest in R&D. This will absolutely spur unpredictable and wonderful innovation in so many product areas. Welcome this innovation; discard your ignorance. Take the politics out and look at the technology.

[gregweld]

A "PS" - to my earlier comment about relevancy. The MAJOR reason I bought MORE APPLE MAC'S.... After the first purchase -- and having that iMac G5 for a year - and NEVER having to mess or even learn any of the "settings" -- never having to spend the day solving this issue or another.... I bought the MacBook Pro -- for myself ---- and once again - ZERO issues == no hang ups == it just WORKS! Open it up - turn it on - it boots in 34 seconds - is on the wifi -- and working perfectly until I log off. THAT is what I want in a computer. I'm fed up with having to be the "tech guru" for all my friends and family.... I just use my Mac and enjoy it. I'm willing to pay for that.... rather than buy another cheaply priced Dell with Windows or Vista (which all my friends are having trouble with) --- and then fight with it day in and day out.

[ljump12]

Did anyone else notice this...????
"ChangeWave found that 29 percent of respondents claimed they would be buying a Mac over that period, while 24 percent will buy HP desktops and 31 percent will buy Dell desktops."

So that means Apple has 29%

"Amazingly, just two years ago, only 16 percent of respondents indicated that they would plan on buying a Mac notebook, while 11 percent claimed they would buy a Mac desktop."

Amazingly they ONLY had (16+11)=27% two years ago?

Isn't that ONLY a two percent increase?!?

[swift2--2008]

Go back to school on the math. That's a 69% increase in the number of people answering this poll, year-to-year. "Market share" means new and old machines. Future buys means, if that trend is real (29% will buy Macs), then if the trend continues, within a few years 29% of computers on people's desks will be Macs. Or maybe 29% of home computers. I'm not sure that business is being included here.

[aconsolati]

I just bought my first Mac - a 24" iMac. It is a beautiful device and a revelation after using Vista.

Apple's consumer market share is certain to grow dramatically as others encounter these products, it is beyond question.

[ljump12]

Did anyone else notice this...????
"ChangeWave found that 29 percent of respondents claimed they would be buying a Mac over that period, while 24 percent will buy HP desktops and 31 percent will buy Dell desktops."

So that means Apple has 29%

"Amazingly, just two years ago, only 16 percent of respondents indicated that they would plan on buying a Mac notebook, while 11 percent claimed they would buy a Mac desktop."

Amazingly they ONLY had (16+11)=27% two years ago?

Isn't that ONLY a two percent increase?!?

[HaloZero]

The 16 + 11 are not mutually exlusive. It could mean that like 10% of the ones who buy Mac Desktops will also buy a laptop. My Girlfriend's mom bought both...... don't know why....... but she did.

[Dango517]

From Fortune

78.37 Windows XP
1.19 Windows Vista
3.59 Mac Intel (?)
3.22 Mac OS
2.97 Windows 2000
1.97 Other (Linux ?)
.78 Windows 98


Link to Source:

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/category/market-share/

[Nicholas Buenk]

Yes, Apple has had explosive growth recently and if this stays up for 5 years apple could get really high in market share, this story seems correct to me.
However, I don't think it's really good for the macintosh platform.
Smaller market share and a more fussy user base, benefits the platform immensely.
There's always some blog, news site paying very close attention, ready to report on any malware or misbehaving app for example.
I don't think more than about 10% share would be good for macintosh users.

[billmosby]

I've enjoyed Apple products ever since switching from a Heath H8 to an Apple II. Nothing against Windows machines, used a Dell for quite a few years at work. But the Macs are more fun and less hassle.

[exhaust_fan]

It is probably premature to claim that the next decade may be Apple's. However, I'm very glad to see such a stable and full featured alternative to Windows. When I look at my MacBook, I don't just see another pretty face...I see a Unix box with all the professional apps one could need. (Adobe, Office, Video, Music) I just hope others will try it out. It really is a solid and productive experience compared to the security compromised and unintuitive one on Windows. The innovations from MS may come from Office and Xbox, but not from the OS. Of course, much of their lack of innovation comes from the notorious past of burning partnerships by taking the partners technology under the guise of helping them. (IBM, Apple, Real Networks, Novell, etc.) Maybe the past is finally catching up with them?

[mdude85]

It makes no sense that this story would report that 29% of computer shoppers are "planning to buy" a Mac and yet Mac still has only a 6% market share (As one user already stated, last year Mac's "planning to buy" market share was 27%, meaning a 2% rise in a year).

This story says Apple's market share rise is good for consumers. I agree, but only up to a point. I do believe, whole heartedly, that Apple WILL lose its edge in design, manufacturing, and marketing when it becomes "complacent" in its market share. It will also become increasingly greedy -- we have already seen this with it iPhone hack debacle.

As much as would like to think of Apple as a furry little white ball of fun with nothing to lose and everything to gain, it's not. Apple is a corporation -- a very large one in fact -- and there is nothing stopping Apple from becoming the next big box retailer we all love to hate.

[SWBBPhil]

This sounds like an opinion poll or a survey about attitudes to speeding - what they say to the researcher is not what they do in practice.

[mdude85]

Dango517, Mac Intel refers to Mac OS running on the Intel chipset; Mac OS seems to refer to Mac OS running on the older PowerPC chipset. The 1.97% "Other" includes Linux (something like 0.5%) but also includes people running on mobile devices and gaming consoles like Wii and PS3.

In your copy/paste job, you forgot a "9" in the Vista figure -- it is 19.19% not 1.19%. It's striking that despite Vista's apparent failure in tech-savvy circles, it enjoys much larger early adoption than new Intel-based Macs. It will be interesting to see what affect Leopard has over the next year.

[Backspace23]

"Do you remember the days of ugly computers and downright ridiculous hardware? You know the products I'm talking about: beige towers sitting under your desk while a 13-inch monitor with a crappy resolution stares back at you. Even better, do you remember how vanilla most cell phones were? More often than not, technology wasn't a fashionable item--it was a necessity or a toy for geeks. And while most of the change cannot be attributed to Apple"

Bahaha, Apple, the company that shipped computers with monocrome 5" screens while everyone else was getting colour 13" monitors.

Also I'd hardly say the cell phone industry was "vanilla" before apple showed up