Apple Again Trails U.S. PC Market in Key Back-to-School Quarter as Tablets Continue to Eat Into PC Sales

[Elijahg]

Not having a "budget" Mac has really not done Apple any favours. My friends and family used to say "ooh, a Mac isn't much more than a PC really is it, when you factor in the Windows upgrade and antivirus costs etc". But that argument no longer holds water as most people get free antivirus, and the Mac's entry level price has gradually risen. Now people steer away as the base price is just too high, students especially. IMO, Apple has pushed their prices too high once again, like they did in the mid 1990s. People have again stopped considering them due to the price, like they wouldn't consider a Ferrari when looking in the range of base BMWs.

Take the iMac as comparison. Back when they were 17" white plastic and when they were first made from aluminum at 20", they started at £799. Now they start at £1149. Yes the screen is 1.5" bigger, but we now miss a DVD drive and can't upgrade the RAM. Oh and it's thinner, great, everyone wants that in a desktop. Is that worth an extra £350 which pushes it well over that £999 magic number? I think not.

The MacBooks have had the same treatment. The base plastic ones were £719, now the base Air (which is the spiritual successor of the MB) is £849 with a pokey 11" screen. The same size screen as the old Macbooks will set you back £949.

And of course, there's the lack of updates for a year.

 

[Renzatic]

Android sells back to school PCs?????

I'm talking about foreign emerging markets!!!!!!!!!

Though Google has been selling a ton of Chomebooks to schools recently.

 

[flux73]

Why is this a surprise? In the last quarter anyone interested in an Apple computer knew that Haswell updates were coming up for the iMac (just now arrived), the rMBP (still to come), and also that the Mac Pro is on the way (yes, many college students CAN afford one). Also: Mavericks.

Let's see what happens to their desktop/notebook sales this quarter and next.

 

[LeandrodaFL]

Also, one third of the mac users have no plan of upgrading their Snow Leopard hardware...

 

[Adelphos33]

Apple needs a more affordable 13" option. Those were the computers (Macbook and Macbook Pro) that sold the most. The "regular" Macbook Pro 13 inch hasn't really been updated in years.

iMac and retina Macbooks are luxury products, and the Macbook Airs, while good, are a bit expensive for some, especially in the 13" range.

Apple really should sell an affordable Mac Mini + Thunderbolt Combo

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I think you're right on this, it makes a lot of sense.

I've been thinking lately about how it would be challenging for Apple to release any kind of Retina Cinema Display until the MacBook Pro is able to also drive it.

Apple are great at marketing, but it would be pretty tough to market a cinema display that can't be used by their flagship laptops, given that so many people would opt for this setup over an iMac or a (new) Mac Pro + Display.

It also just makes sense from a timing point of view. I can't see any good reason why Haswell hasn't made it into the MBP by now apart from waiting for Thunderbolt 2.

Prediction for October 22: Apple will release the new Mac Pro, a new Retina Cinema Display (I half expect them to call this the "Apple Retina Display"), and new MBPs with Haswell / Thunderbolt 2 which can also drive these displays. Please?

It's doubtful Apple has retina display panels at that size...

 

[HenryDJP]

My mom's 2011 27" iMac has had its hard drive fail twice within 6 months. My friend's 2011 27" iMac was recalled for hard drive problems, and the hard drive was also failing on that. There have been graphical problems on 2011 27" iMacs.

I happen to have a 2011 27" i7 iMac, completely problem free and I'm a power user. I do a lot of editing and encoding without failure. Isn't that interesting considering your mom had problems. Sorry, that recall was just that, a recall. A recall is a company's quality control, doesn't mean something WILL go wrong, it's a precaution so you're friend's iMac getting a hard drive recall replacement doesn't count as the iMac being defective, and especially since the hard drive was not manufactured by Apple nor does that count as Macs not having a long shelf life. It could affect any computer it was installed in.
I'm not discounting your issues but you're making it sound widespread that Macs are problem prone which simply isn't true. You've only stated one actual problem.

 

[Michael Scrip]

No one should even think Apple will catch up or surpass the PC market. Not when you can buy PC/Windows for 200 bucks or even less... Apple isn't even trying to compete anyway. No need to. Windows Monopoly early on is still going strong coupled with low cost cheap PCs, it will always lead in sales vs Apple Macs.

Exactly. Apple will never win the "we sold the most computers" contest.

And it's not a surprise either... it's Apple versus a dozen other companies. It's a rather silly contest if you ask me.

Burger King will never sell as many hamburgers as McDonald's... nobody is shocked by that either.

 

[kustardking]

I don't believe this report is true. Apple is number one when it comes to computers in the US and has consistently outperformed the market. I'm betting Mac sales are up.

Before you put your money down, I advise not betting after the race on a horse that lost.

 

[joshdammit]

Students may bring their laptop to some classes, but please don't believe the commercials/advertising that they are actively using them for notetaking and such.

Adding to this, there are many professors out there (I don't have a number, just speaking on experience) who specifically ask you not to have your computers on and open in class.

So for those of us who would prefer to type our notes out rather than write them, we don't get a choice in classes like these. One of my history teachers was like this. However, he would also put every single presentation and notes he shared in class online for us to download later, so we didn't need our computers out, anyway.

But yeah, you're absolutely right.

 

[Zellio]

everyone is just waiting for the gold MBA to come out

lol

 

[BashBrannigan]

It is interesting to realize, if tablets are taking over from PCs, just how little the average consumer actually does with a laptop/desktop.

Exactly! The only people who truly need computers are programmers, mathematicians, etc.

 

[RMferrer]

I beg to differ... my mac mini is my media machine and never gets turned off. I have had it for 7 years so far, the worst thing about it is it can't do HD movies, that will change when I swop out the CPU. It's a workhorse.

My laptop is bruised n battered beyond repair, but still functions, still turns on. and I use it every week for sounds in live music scenarios.

In that same amount of time, both my sisters have owned multiple laptops. (The younger had 3 laptops in fact, the elder of the 2 gave up on laptops n got an Alienware desktop, because, surprise surprise, she has an iPhone 3GS, n iPad 2)

The old adagé comes to mind-"you get what you pay for"

I compare it to a 200 quid keyboard, which sure, has sounds and makes noise, got speakers and can play toons, but its plastic, will fall apart eventually and break up n disintegrate quite quickly. That and the 1 grands worth of music making workstation which I have in my bedroom, which you can literally make an entire album on (including vocals, and guitars) and will last 15-20 years before faltering.

There's always one that thinks they are the exception to the rule.

 

[flux73]

Apple needs a more affordable 13" option.

That may be the point of the rumored iPad 12.9".

 

[Silvereel]

I honestly believe that OS X has a very short remaining life span. Upgrading the A7 to 64-bit was the first step towards replacing OS X with iOS. 13" tablet coming next year and increasingly powerful chips will mean that iOS tablets will soon been laptop replacements. They will need to get iCloud into shape before this can fully happen.

If this is the case, Apple wasted a lot of effort on a new naming scheme for the 'next ten years.' OS X isn't going anywhere. Heck, when you get right down to it, iOS is OS X. Different interface, same guts. Apple's just smart enough to tailor the UI to the input method.

 

[RMferrer]

LOL it's not rocket science. The PC sells more...plain and simple. All these tin foil hat theories on why Mac sales are lacking are hilarious. I have a MBP that I've had for 4 years and it's still running strong. I don't feel the need to buy every single new idevice released. I'm sure there are millions who think so as well.

 

[BvizioN]

In fact, I disagree with headline in the fact that they seem to be implying that it's because of the iPad.

And I disagree with you. Until tablets, most people used to buy laptops or desktops for their day to day internet use. I know myself so many that quit buying PC's and instead went for tablets. Nothing beats the tablets for internet browsing or email use! The minority who rely ob heavy programs that run on PC's, obviously will continue to buy PC's.

The only reason I still have my iMac is because of FCP x, Adobe Aftereffects and Adobe Lightroom. Can't remember the last time I did internet browsing or used email on it though.

 

[Zerilos]

If this is the case, Apple wasted a lot of effort on a new naming scheme for the 'next ten years.' OS X isn't going anywhere. Heck, when you get right down to it, iOS is OS X. Different interface, same guts. Apple's just smart enough to tailor the UI to the input method.

They are still years from this sort of transformation, and Macs are still profitable.

 

[Yamcha]

I don't know why people are so obsessed with tablets, not that I don't own one, but It's not like you can get much work done on those..

I'm waiting on the new Mac Mini, and really hoping the price remains the same.

I wish Apple would focus on lowering prices like they have done in the past, these days it seems the pricing is going higher, the iMac as an example, in Canada starts at $1349 now =/

 

[topper24hours]

I'm talking about foreign emerging markets!!!!!!!!!

Though Google has been selling a ton of Chomebooks to schools recently.

Oh......
Did they run Android?

 

[MH01]

Aren't the new rMBPs waiting for Thunderbolt 2?

I hope not. Thunderbolt 1 has not really changed our lives, and all I can see with TB2 is even more expansive accessories.

I thinks the rMBPs being one of the last laptops to move to haswell is a major issue here . Apple really have to sport out the CPU bumps....

 

[Michael Scrip]

It is interesting to realize, if tablets are taking over from PCs, just how little the average consumer actually does with a laptop/desktop.

Exactly! The only people who truly need computers are programmers, mathematicians, etc.

Yep. And here's why:

For years the only way to do any "computer stuff" was to use a desktop/laptop. That's all their was.

Moms, dads, programmers and mathematicians all used the same type of device. Whether you're simply checking your email or doing complicated 3D modelling or data crunching... you used a PC/Mac running a desktop OS.

Nowadays... you can do a lot of stuff on tablets and smartphones. The average consumer doesn't NEED a full PC to do simple things like check their email.

The PC isn't going away anytime soon, though. There are still plenty of tasks geared towards them.

 

[rasputin1969]

Combination of the laptops not being updated and their being too high.

 

[srusty05]

A couple of things...

1) The graph still shows Apple trending upward over the last several years. One can't look at just one or two data points. Let's see what happens in a few more quarters.

2) I wonder how Apple's revenue compares with the revenues of the other PC makers.

first off, kudos to this person! Someone who probably actually went to school and used his computer for what it was meant for.

For the banter going back and forth bashing college kids for not using their beautiful macbooks for actual work, Unless you walk the halls, sit in the classrooms, stay up late in the library, and sit in the nooks; you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. It is like critiquing how Japan's metro works or how flocks of birds migrate, you don't know, you just use prejudice and bark nonsense.

Yes, college students use their laptops for a number of things. Goofing off in class is but one of them. Ever heard of blackboard? It's how most colleges assign homework, tests, and readings. For us graduate students, we get PDF's of articles. Which I use my macbook and acrobat reader to add notes, print, and write papers. When I am not doing that, like other college students I may get on facebook, surf the web, use jump or SPSS for stats and research, or photoshop for my photography when I have 5 seconds to spare.

Why we college kids like Macbooks? Because, they are trendy. When people can't afford a 1,200 macbook or a 2,300 pro you get a ipad and a cheap PC. You are part of an elite club when you pull out your macbook at the coffee shop, almost like the other computers aren't welcome. I don't see many people in coffee shops, library, or study sections in halls using their ipads/tablets. Why one may ask, because ease of use for doing actual work, not just entertainment.

Rant over, finish your argument, or skip because post is long.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

The stupid researchers are releasing their study results too early.

Almost everyone here knows that as soon as the new iPads and Macs are released later this month, everything is going to change.

Even if it didn't change, Apple had a great year so far, considering how bad the economy is getting.

So for accurate results, let's wait until December who see who's where in the "charts".

 

[blackmondo]

It's doubtful Apple has retina display panels at that size...

I disagree, I'd bet they're in the labs somewhere:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/13...hunderbolt-displays-and-imacs-later-this-year

Also, I'm wondering why you think it's doubtful. I'm not an expert in LCD tech by any means, but I've never read anything to suggest that cutting larger size displays is a major hurdle when producing high resolution displays.

Perhaps illumination is more of a challenge, but the problems around that seem more about power draw, which was a problem for the first retina iPad (needs a big battery that takes aaaaages to charge). Power draw isn't so much an issue for a mains-powered display, thankfully

Anyway, it may not happen in a few weeks, or maybe they'll start off with a 21 inch retina display first, who knows. It sure would make a great show if they could release Mavericks with full support for a new 27 inch retina display.