Apple drops to No. 5 in laptop sales--are cheaper MacBooks the answer?
According to research firm IDC, Apple has dropped from the No. 4 purveyor of laptops in the U.S. last year to No. 5 this spring. The firm estimates that Apple has shipped 12.5 percent fewer laptops than the same time last year, even as it maintained its 7.6 percent market share.
Leapfrogging Apple to take the No. 4 spot is Toshiba, now estimated to be shipping 7.7 percent of all laptops in the U.S., thanks to system such as the Mini NB205 Netbook. If you're keeping score, IDG estimates that Dell remains No. 1, with 26.3 percent of the market, closely followed by HP, with Acer showing strong year-over-year growth to hit 12.6 percent of the American market. It looks as if all those $299 Aspire One Netbooks are starting to pay off.
Naturally, this has tongues wagging over whether Apple will release a less-expensive product, such as a Netbook-style laptop, in order to regain some market share (not that it ever takes much to get the chattering classes predicting cheaper MacBooks).
We've seen plenty of rumors about Apple mini-notebooks and tablets, but will a few quarters of recession-addled shoppers really force Apple to go back on their long-stated desire to stay out of the bottom rungs of the market? What do you think? Sound off below!
(Credit:
IDC)
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-The Recession is getting people to think more about cost when they choose their Laptop for College
-The Laptop Hunter Ads are working as well!
Market shares means nothing (almost) if it doesn't generate more profit (not revenue). Just look at GM.
People need to remember that outside the US, Apple's share is much lower and that they are a small player in the PC market (in contrast to the MP3 player market, which they have a firm stronghold).
Everyone writes code for Windows (sony, apple, you name it), evey single media player is compatible with it, millions of software options from where to choose, millions of hardware configurations in which their OSs will run on; compare this to a nice but mostly overpriced hardware, an OS that will only run on this overpriced hardware, general incompatibility with other platforms, extremely expensive software in comparison, and the list goes on. I'm not saying that I'm a Microsft supporter when I'm in general against all this monopolies. Still, when you compare Apple's take on business with Microsoft's, you realise they are not that different.
I'm an open-source supporter and tend to use Linux for my personal machines and when I'm not using specialized software packages only avalible on Windows.
re: "I read on a blog that I wrote that MAC's have 183% market share!"
LO freakin' L
Maybe you shouldn't read your own written blog, eh?
1: Screens - there is no anti-glare option now - lots of people are being put off by that (me too).
2. Microsoft ads...
Not a fan of control freek Jobs either. With that attitude Apple will not go too far...
As many people have mentioned, even I would love to have Apple products, not because I hate Microsoft, but Apple makes things really good with some exceptions and the biggest one being "control freak" and not listening to users.
But prices of Apple products are just jokes. In every 100 people, u will find 8 or 9 which are just weired and go against the normal flow of things and that's your market share Apple.
How ironic is it that those Apple fans buy the Apple brand and not the a product that is "value for money", e.g. they don't even think about "value for money". So they definately fit in those 8 or 9 out of 100.
There is definately value to Apple products that "normal" people appriciate and love to have, it is just price that is just unbelievable. Even if it is not recession, I wouldn't buy apple products, only and only because of price.
I bet with the arrogance that Apple (uhmm Jobs) has, they will not lower the prices. They don't create products for users, they create products for their arrogance, well, no wonder they don't listen to users.
Dhaval
Also, consider the extra cost of owning a PC. Macbooks often lasts years longer than a PC laptop. A Macbook also doesn't need yearly anti-virus subscriptions. Consider too the new Macbook Pro with a battery rated for 1000 charge cycles. IF your PC is even functioning well enough to consider replacing the battery in a couple years, that's another ~$100.
Plus, remember you have to sit in front of your notebook for years. A stable OS, seven hour battery, illuminated keyboard--and even a modicum of style are certainly valuable specs.
In the mean time Apple is working on improving their sales well... the Apple way: by bringing new and innovative products to the market and succeeding where others failed due to better implementation and quality control.
Dhaval
Oh and please don't bring up the BMW are more expensive cars for a reason tripe, mac's use the same parts as any linux or microsoft machine.
Uh, alot of people care about battery power. Talk to those people that travel constantly. And isn't the battery under the hood too???
- by wmyinzer July 16, 2009 2:20 PM PDT
- I never understand why Apple charges so much. It's linux- and unix-based right?
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- by Shaun822 July 16, 2009 5:05 PM PDT
- HAHAHAHA oh sorry I laugh because the entire basis for graphical user interfaces was stolen from Xerox I believe it was.
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- by yahoo!!! July 16, 2009 10:06 PM PDT
- lol its unix based
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Showing 1 of 4 pages (135 Comments)...If both are free and open source, how could any company profit off it justifiably? Screw Apple for selling work that isn't their own and kudos to Microsoft for actually selling their own hard work.