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Apple Poised to Become World's Top-Selling PC Vendor with Tablets Included

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Apr 12, 2001
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Research firm Canalys today noted that Apple appears set to become the world's largest PC manufacturer by volume if the iPad and other tablets are included in the figures. The company already ranks second behind HP by that measure, but Canalys is unsure whether Apple will take the lead in the fourth quarter of this year or if it will require a boost from the iPad 3 launch early next year in order to surpass HP.
"Apple has seen its PC market share expand from 9% to 15% in just four quarters, though iPad shipments in its core market - the United States - are likely to come under pressure in Q4 due to the launch of the Fire and Nook at extremely competitive price points," said Canalys Analyst Tim Coulling. "HP and Apple will fight for top position in Q4, but Apple may have to wait for the release of iPad 3 before it passes HP."
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Apple already ranks as the #1 mobile PC vendor when the iPad is included, but HP's lead over Apple in desktop sales has been enough to hold off Apple in the overall market.

Apple's iPad actually carries a higher average selling price than Windows PCs, resulting in some comparisons between the two in consumers' minds when making purchasing decisions. Apple has acknowledged that the iPad is cannibalizing Mac sales to some extent, but notes that it is happy to make that tradeoff given that PC users in general are undoubtedly making similar decisions to opt for the iPad. Consequently, Apple's relatively small share of the PC market indicates that significantly more Windows PCs than Macs are being left on the shelves in favor of iPads.

Article Link: Apple Poised to Become World's Top-Selling PC Vendor with Tablets Included
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/21/apple-poised-to-become-worlds-top-selling-pc-vendor-with-tablets-included/
We keep coming back to this issue. Who would have thought, only a few years ago, that we would be considering these things? It was barely (if at all) in our collective (consumer?) consciousness: A tablet as the next-gen platform for computing. In this era a device succeeds not just on quantity of features, but rather on what has been taken away, and the drive to perfect (almost obsessively) what remains. We're looking at the the Art of The Interface - not megahertz, clock speeds and soulless numbers - as the basis for success in this next phase of computing. Software. Which is a key element (if not the primary element) in creating a competitive User Experience. The hardware form factor has been reduced to absolute minimalism with as much power (and not a shred more) as that form factor will allow.

Canalys and DisplaySearch are already lumping the iPad in with conventional PC numbers. Who's next? It's only a matter of time before all tablets and "computers" (desktops, notebooks, dying/dead netbooks, the new wave of ultrabooks) are, in terms of shipments, unit sales and market share, indistinguishable on paper.

There's an interesting aspect to all this that's worth noting: It would appear that in terms of next-gen computing, the iPad is currently king. However, as we have seen with the iPod and its particular impact on the market, there really is no demand for tablets other than the iPad. Granted, this might change, but the competition's efforts suggest they're unable or uninterested in bringing their A-Game (if they even have one) to the table.

Does the next generation of general consumer computing belong almost solely to the iPad (with whatever the competition can churn out following far behind)? If so, that is an absolutely huge shift in terms of the industry at large, and especially if we consider what the consequences would be for the competition.
 
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How is this a rumour .. Tell me when I can buy the iPad 3!
 
Personally - these types of things don't matter to me or most consumers. Sure it's great marketing and PR - but at the end of the day - it's what tool is right for the job. If you're light on content creation - pads (whoever is making them) are great. But for workhorse type of things the offerings just aren't there yet and will no doubt take awhile.
 
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Hint:

iPad =/= PC

/thread
 
I would be interested, and I am sure this has been researched, as to how many people are opting for or replacing an iPad or tablet over a desktop or laptop. I've heard enough stories where people are doing this but would be nice to see some data.
 
roadbloc said:
As much as I liked my iPad, I certainly do not class it as a computer. The tablet market should be classed as something separate in my mind.
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Hum... the tablet market is classed as the tablet market. The Tablet market is a market of computers, just in a tablet form factor.

This makes this article pure bunk and just a speculative, what if, piece. Tablet market is the tablet market, it's separate from the Desktop/laptop market which in turn is different from the Server market, which in turn is separate from the Mainframe market.

Doesn't change the fact that all of these are computers though.
 
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DrJohnnyN said:
Cool. Glad to be an AAPL stockholder.
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I bet you have < 10 shares, "stockholder".

Many of us do own shares but don't brag about it on random online forums.
 
roadbloc said:
As much as I liked my iPad, I certainly do not class it as a computer. The tablet market should be classed as something separate in my mind.
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They are just a much a type of computer as a desktop, a laptop, a netbook are all types of computers. If a laptop can be bunched in with desktop, then why not tablets.

Smartphones I can understand not being lumped in with computers since their primary function is supposed to be a "phone". Something like the iPod Touch is tricky though.
 
roadbloc said:
As much as I liked my iPad, I certainly do not class it as a computer. The tablet market should be classed as something separate in my mind.
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At it's core it is a computer it just has a different form factor than what most are accustomed to. When one says "computer" people automatically think desktop/notebook and don't even bother taking into account other non consumer computers. If the iPad came with a physical keyboard would you then classify it as a computer?
 
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azentropy said:
They are just a much a type of computer as a desktop, a laptop, a netbook are all types of computers. If a laptop can be bunched in with desktop, then why not tablets.
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Laptops and desktops follow the same paradigm of computing and run the same software. Tablets mostly use a new input paradigm completely and require software to be rewritten (yes, even those Windows tablets that required Windows XP Tablet edition and a couple of tweaks to input for applications).

As such, I would not class tablets with laptops and desktops. They are a separate class. I would lump them in with Smartphones though.

And yes, Smartphones are computers too.
 
So Steve Jobs creates its own brand spanking new category for the iPad, claims it's post PC, compares iPads as cars to PCs as trucks (separate categories) and then people go and make Apple top selling PC vendor after bundling tablets with PCs?
 
Oletros said:
Not at all, a Vespa is a motorcycle like any other motorcycle.
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It's a moped. It's a different class. Most Vespa's can't even legally ride on the highway here.

To class them in with motorcycles is wrong, even our DMV doesn't for licenses and plates.

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parapup said:
So Steve Jobs creates its own brand spanking new category for the iPad, claims it's post PC, compares iPads as cars to PCs as trucks (separate categories) and then people go and make Apple top selling PC vendor after bundling tablets with PCs?
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Best just ignore those people. This is just an ego stroking piece.
 
It's a computer if it computes, accesses data, and is programmable enough to be readily adapted to a very diverse set of applications. It's a personal computer if it's a computer and it's personal.

iPads fit.
 
parapup said:
So Steve Jobs creates its own brand spanking new category for the iPad, claims it's post PC, compares iPads as cars to PCs as trucks (separate categories) and then people go and make Apple top selling PC vendor after bundling tablets with PCs?
Click to expand...

Sometimes major shifts happen via a collective effort or as part of a natural, slow evolution. Sometimes one brilliant person ignites the spark, unexpected, completely out of left field, and changes everything. Change and revolution can come from anywhere, and can take on many forms.

And here we are.
 
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