U.S. Mac Sales Flat in April as iPod Sales Continue to Slide

MacRumors · May 20, 2013

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster today released a brief report highlighting April data from market research firm NPD looking at Apple's U.S. Mac and iPod sales. The data shows Apple's Mac sales coming in flat year-over-year, and while Munster acknowledges that it has become increasingly difficult to extrapolate NPD's numbers to Apple's global sales performance, he views the latest data as "neutral to slight positive" relative to expectations for the company.

Based on the differences between NPD data and Apple reported Mac sales over the past few quarters, we note it is becoming more difficult to draw conclusions from NPD data (see table below). We note that some of the more recent supply issues with the redesigned Macs have impacted the Apple reported numbers over the past two quarters. At the end of the day, we believe this April data point is likely a neutral to slight positive given our expectation that iPads will continue to cannibalize Macs over the next few years.

Munster stands by his predictions of 5% year-over-year decline in Mac sales for the second quarter as customers await updated models and the PC market remains weak.

On the iPod side, Munster only briefly cites NPD data showing sales sliding 36% year-over-year, compared to the Piper Jaffray estimate of a 23% decline for the entire quarter on a worldwide basis. But with iPod sales now representing only about 2% of Apple's revenue, the impact of the continued decline in iPod sales as customers shift increasingly to smartphones will be negligible.

Article Link: U.S. Mac Sales Flat in April as iPod Sales Continue to Slide

Oletros · May 20, 2013

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster

Nuff said

Four oF NINE · May 20, 2013

Mac computers remain the benchmark for computers. Nothing else comes close.

nicmr · May 20, 2013

iPod is doomed

dugbug · May 20, 2013

Wonder if the mac 5% decline prediction (if it holds) will beat out the overall PC north american market

chirpie · May 20, 2013

I think the iPod's road will be harder and harder as time marches on. Everyone and their dog has a phone that, once they upgrade, you could hand it off to someone else, and even if that person doesn't use the functionality of the phone, they're still left with something that's essentially a top of the line iPod Touch.

Can you say nearing point of device saturation? ^_^;

Ryth · May 20, 2013

Oletros said:
Nuff said

Yep...

MrNomNoms · May 20, 2013

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster today released a brief report highlighting April data from market research firm NPD looking at Apple's U.S. Mac and iPod sales.

1) When you say 'analyst' aren't you really saying '******** artist'?
2) When over half of Apple's revenue comes from outside of the US with the emerging market being the growth centre - pray tell why is there still this US-centric outlook on Apple or in fact any other business?
3) iPod sales were always going to decline - the idea of it being 'shocking' dumb founds me given that Apple has never made it a secret that there is a transition occurring.
4) Who the hell is Piper Jaffray and why should I take what they have over what some random drunk on the corner says about 'the world is coming to an end'? at least the guy in the corner is trying to dress up his ranting behind the pretentious charade of a business suit!

gnasher729 · May 20, 2013

dugbug said:
Wonder if the mac 5% decline prediction (if it holds) will beat out the overall PC north american market

For example, latest numbers from Europe should that Mac sales were flat, while PC sales were down 15% to 25% in major countries (Germany, UK, France). The incredible news from the UK was that tablets actually outsold PCs! So you can assume that Apple's market share is growing (nice for Apple) while sales are flat (not so nice for Apple), but since iPads have taken off, Apple doesn't really mind about that. iPads are cannibalising Mac sales, but they are much more cannibalising PC sales.

lilo777 · May 20, 2013

Four oF NINE said:
Mac computers remain the benchmark for computers. Nothing else comes close.

There is one problem with this statement: Mac computers always lag behind PCs in benchmarks.

cclloyd · May 20, 2013

I know nobody who bought an iPod new in the last 3 years.

Tankmaze · May 20, 2013

wonder if it's because the iPhone that eats the iPod market.
and more cheap iPhone offering such as the 4.

samcraig · May 20, 2013

lilo777 said:
There is one problem with this statement: Mac computers always lag behind PCs in benchmarks.

There's another problem with that comment. It's irrelevant to the subject of the thread. But if it helps him sleep better believing it - then so be it.

MultiMediaWill · May 20, 2013

Death of apple sounds imminent.

lilo777 · May 20, 2013

MultiMediaWill said:
Death of apple sounds imminent.

Probably not. But Mac fans definitely have been sounding very scared lately.

Mad Mac Maniac · May 20, 2013

Oletros said:
Nuff said

This story is obviously a fabrication. No way Gene Munster actually said these things.... There is no mention of an Apple tv!!

samcraig · May 20, 2013

gnasher729 said:
For example, latest numbers from Europe should that Mac sales were flat, while PC sales were down 15% to 25% in major countries (Germany, UK, France). The incredible news from the UK was that tablets actually outsold PCs! So you can assume that Apple's market share is growing (nice for Apple) while sales are flat (not so nice for Apple), but since iPads have taken off, Apple doesn't really mind about that. iPads are cannibalising Mac sales, but they are much more cannibalising PC sales.

Yes. But sadly - there could come a time when Apple drops the line altogether if the trend keeps going. Not saying they will. Afterall - we're still talking about millions of machines.

But I wouldn't rejoice too much that iPad sales are eroding Mac PC sales.

Zachari · May 20, 2013

cclloyd said:
I know nobody who bought an iPod new in the last 3 years.

Do you have children? Are you a child? All of my little siblings including all of there friends have iPod touches. Parents buy them for there kids instead of having to fork out the cash for a contract. As long as little children are around and apple keeps creating them, there will be a demand.

MasterHowl · May 20, 2013

Four oF NINE said:
Mac computers remain the benchmark for computers. Nothing else comes close.

If you're talking about specs, then no, Mac computers have always been miles behind.

If you're talking about build quality, yes, nothing comes close to the build quality of Mac computers (for now, anyway)

gnasher729 · May 20, 2013

lilo777 said:
There is one problem with this statement: Mac computers always lag behind PCs in benchmarks.

I'm probably repeating myself...

As usual, lilo tries putting a negative spin on things, and as usual, she fails. Most cheap laptops that are sold come with the absolute bottom line of Intel or worse AMD processors. For example, Dell doesn't sell anything with quad core processors that is cheaper than a MacBook Pro with Retina display.

----------

lilo777 said:
Probably not. But Mac fans definitely have been sounding very scared lately.

Huh? And I thought you were totally scared, and that was why you post rubbish about Macs at every opportunity.

Mr.damien · May 20, 2013

Based on the differences between NPD data and Apple reported Mac sales over the past few quarters, we note it is becoming more difficult to draw conclusions from NPD data (but we will still tell you our **** about it anyway).

cclloyd · May 20, 2013

Zachari said:
Do you have children? Are you a child? All of my little siblings including all of there friends have iPod touches. Parents buy them for there kids instead of having to fork out the cash for a contract. As long as little children are around and apple keeps creating them, there will be a demand.

I don't even know any kids in my area who have iPod touches. They either use their parents' iPads or have an iPhone (usually the former).

daneoni · May 20, 2013

Well yeah, people are buying tablets/iPads now. And no one buys MP3 players anymore because they're now integrated to pretty much every single mobile device out there

OllyW · May 20, 2013

gnasher729 said:
For example, Dell doesn't sell anything with quad core processors that is cheaper than a MacBook Pro with Retina display.

What about this one?

Smearbrick · May 20, 2013

Mad Mac Maniac said:
This story is obviously a fabrication. No way Gene Munster actually said these things.... There is no mention of an Apple tv!!

Ha! Silly man. It's not Gene Munster, it's Herman Munster.

I don't think Herman Munster can even operate a computer, let alone a Macbook.

I think the brain transplant limits his digital dexterity.

U.S. Mac Sales Flat in April as iPod Sales Continue to Slide

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