Apple Boosts Market Share in Slumping U.S. PC Market

[firewood]

Believe me, the current internals on a thin client are barely more than a barebones ATI Rage 128 level GPU, DDR2 RAM, an ethernet controller, and some USB 2.0 ports. You'd get more computing power out of the smartphone to be honest.

Thin client companies are really selling a service, not just cheap hardware or performance. The enterprises buying these things are more concerned with how many minutes (or seconds!) per device it takes IT to configure and secure the things, and install OS patches and application updates.

 

[lilo777]

I have to ask, what "incentives" are causing colleges to "push Macs"?



That's amazing reasoning. Of course it assumes that 100% of college graduates are going to a job that requires significant computer skills. And that the computer skills for the 95% are unique to Windows. And that because you use a Mac as your primary computer, you can't use Windows.

Do you know of any college graduates that are being prepared for a job that does not require a computer? If there are such students, then I have to ask why would they need a computer at college? Or the courses that require a computer? While not all computer skills are OS specific, some of them are. And to that extent, why to teach students something that they will not need (OS/X) instead of something that they will need (Windows)? And make students to pay more in the process?

 

[Eddyisgreat]

my guess is that all laptops will go with big SSD's to justify the price.

Hahaha good one.

Apple or not, 256/512 GB SSDs WILL drive up the price of the machine, atleast if profit is to be made. Besides, Why is it that practically every year is the year when Apple will need to justify it's prices for whatever reason. They've always been high, and they've always sold. The 15" tiBook came out on the scene @ $2600 (freaking) dollars in 2k1. Then in 2k3 they dropped the price of the base to $2000 and it's wavered little ever since (except that weird shakeup period in, what, 2k9 I think).

 

[SandynJosh]

Actually it's 1 in 10 computers SOLD that are using OSX. - but way to go Apple.

From my experience MacOS is slowly making it's way in cooperate. Most of my colleges bought over the last couple of years macs for at home (thanks to Intel Chip people figure that worst case they install Windows) - but they all loved MacOS and how much easier their life became. Now whenever one of them gets a new machine, they ask for a MacBook (with exceptions of those who have to do windows development).

I swear, in the 1980s people wrote internal applications in machine code so they only functioned on specific computers. Now, with more robust computers, internal applications are less computer specific.

There was resistance from IT department at first, but after the CEO wanted one, there are getting approved more and more.

Since Macs require far less futzing with to keep running, it takes a smaller IT department. Smaller department means smaller kingdom which immerses the IT department further into the corporate structure, which is a bad thing for the IT head. Hence the resistance.

 

[Mattsasa]

well apple is about 20% for retail in US...

and as we know Apple's computers are expensive high end, so Marketshare by $ in retail in US must be around 30% plus?

retail means everything but business orders right? and maybe education?

 

[nylonsteel]

good work aapl - keep chipping away at msft win pc

 

[alent1234]

Hahaha good one.

Apple or not, 256/512 GB SSDs WILL drive up the price of the machine, atleast if profit is to be made. Besides, Why is it that practically every year is the year when Apple will need to justify it's prices for whatever reason. They've always been high, and they've always sold. The 15" tiBook came out on the scene @ $2600 (freaking) dollars in 2k1. Then in 2k3 they dropped the price of the base to $2000 and it's wavered little ever since (except that weird shakeup period in, what, 2k9 I think).

when an MBP first comes out the price is always competitive with wintel. but with sandy bridge and cheap laptops having 6 hour battery and LED screens apple needs to find something else to justify a $300 premium at the start of their MBP model cycle

 

[Dr McKay]

I swear, in the 1980s people wrote internal applications in machine code so they only functioned on specific computers. Now, with more robust computers, internal applications are less computer specific.



Since Macs require far less futzing with to keep running, it takes a smaller IT department. Smaller department means smaller kingdom which immerses the IT department further into the corporate structure, which is a bad thing for the IT head. Hence the resistance.

The company where I used to work, we had the opposite story, I worked for a Magazine company, and the IT dept was always bitching when they came to sort our iMacs out, claiming that our suite of 30 iMacs caused more problems than the 300 PC's.

 

[SandynJosh]

Do you know of any college graduates that are being prepared for a job that does not require a computer? If there are such students, then I have to ask why would they need a computer at college? Or the courses that require a computer? While not all computer skills are OS specific, some of them are. And to that extent, why to teach students something that they will not need (OS/X) instead of something that they will need (Windows)? And make students to pay more in the process?

Colleges are preparing the students for a world as it will become, not as it is or was.

When the offices were full of Royal typebar typerwriters in the 60s and early 70s, the schools were teaching students how to use IBM Selectric typewriters. When they emerged, lo, that's what they used.

That colleges have been favoring Macs for the last decade or so, is either foretelling the future, or making it so. Go to any coffee shop that have a lot of students in there studying, and you will see that the percentage of Apple laptops is far greater than 10%. You are there seeing the future.

 

[SandynJosh]

The company where I used to work, we had the opposite story, I worked for a Magazine company, and the IT dept was always bitching when they came to sort our iMacs out, claiming that our suite of 30 iMacs caused more problems than the 300 PC's.

That's not the opposite story... it only confirms what I said: IT hates Macs for what they threaten. However, the group at your site sound mentally lazy as well.

 

[BaldiMac]

Do you know of any college graduates that are being prepared for a job that does not require a computer?

Yep. Art. Music. Languages. Philosophy. Psychology. Sociology. Political Science. History. Exercise and Sport Science. Literature. Religious Studies. Recreation and Leisure Studies. Military. Linguistics. Of course, any of these majors can make use of computers. A lot of non-corporate jobs don't require any significant computer knowledge and allow you to use the OS of your choice.

If there are such students, then I have to ask why would they need a computer at college? Or the courses that require a computer?

Write papers. Check email. Access student information systems. Research. And many, many other things.

While not all computer skills are OS specific, some of them are.

Sure, but not 95%.

And to that extent, why to teach students something that they will not need (OS/X) instead of something that they will need (Windows)?

How is "offering for sale" equivalent to "teaching"? And why would someone that "needs" Windows purchase a Mac (and not run Windows on it.)

And make students to pay more in the process?

Again, how is "offering for sale" the same as "making students pay more".

But back to the most interesting question to me:

Originally Posted by lilo777
That's actually a funny thing. Colleges are pushing Macs because of incentives but are they serving their students well?

What "incentives" are causing colleges to "push Macs"?

 

[Winni]

Apple selling 1 out of 10 computers in the USA in the last quarter doesn't mean that 1 out of 10 computers are now using OSX.

True. I had to turn a brand-new 27" iMac into a Windows-only machine for a colleague two weeks ago because he didn't get a grip on OS X. He really likes the Apple hardware (except for the wireless mouse and keyboard), but not the software. Now he's a happy farmer with 64-Bit Win7 on his Mac and a PC mouse and keyboard. He really likes the design of his Apple-labeled... PC.

 

[Winni]

The company where I used to work, we had the opposite story, I worked for a Magazine company, and the IT dept was always bitching when they came to sort our iMacs out, claiming that our suite of 30 iMacs caused more problems than the 300 PC's.

I'm in IT myself, and that statement doesn't surprise me. At all. It's a Windows world out there and OS X is even less business-ready than the average Linux desktop distribution.

 

[Eidorian]

True. I had to turn a brand-new 27" iMac into a Windows-only machine for a colleague two weeks ago because he didn't get a grip on OS X. He really likes the Apple hardware (except for the wireless mouse and keyboard), but not the software. Now he's a happy farmer with 64-Bit Win7 on his Mac and a PC mouse and keyboard. He really likes the design of his Apple-labeled... PC.

It is an annoyance that I have to factor in the price of a Windows 7 license in addition to the price of my Mac.

 

[farmboy]

Do you know of any college graduates that are being prepared for a job that does not require a computer? If there are such students, then I have to ask why would they need a computer at college? Or the courses that require a computer? While not all computer skills are OS specific, some of them are. And to that extent, why to teach students something that they will not need (OS/X) instead of something that they will need (Windows)? And make students to pay more in the process?

Stop spreading this bushwoi. There are no specific OS skills that cannot be learned in a brief tutorial going one way or another. Moreover, in the real world, for both off-the-shelf and proprietary (or job specific i.e. architecture, accounting, legal etc.) software, you have to take corporate training sessions anyhow. That's how it's done. Really, OS X will not make students retarded. Never has.

 

[SandynJosh]

when an MBP first comes out the price is always competitive with wintel. but with sandy bridge and cheap laptops having 6 hour battery and LED screens apple needs to find something else to justify a $300 premium at the start of their MBP model cycle

You are correct. Apple has often led the market in desirable features, starting with a graphical interface and a mouse pointing device. Moving forward from today, Apple has Lion OSX coming up, the data center in NC coming on line, and the Mac App store that just opened. They own the rights to Liquid Metal for case design, the ability to make custom CPU chips for iOS devices, and are heavily into custom battery developement for better portable laptops and iDevices.

What Apple is doing is creating is a complete ecosystem around their products that enhance the ownership of the products to the point where a purchase decision comes down to, "Do I want to be left outside the ecosystem, or not?"

Personally, for me, I like the warm and fuzzy feeling of being inside... knowing that it costs me more and the Great Turttle-necked One is serving the Kool-aid. Would some one please turn up the Reality Distortion Field a tad? Thanks.

 

[SandynJosh]

It is an annoyance that I have to factor in the price of a Windows 7 license in addition to the price of my Mac.

Then, it becomes a double-annoyance to actually have to use it too!
Icky-sticky-ackie-poo-poo!!!

 

[farmboy]

I'm in IT myself, and that statement doesn't surprise me. At all. It's a Windows world out there and OS X is even less business-ready than the average Linux desktop distribution.

Yes it is a Windows world. But I run two businesses that are 95% Mac with no IT department at all, and never had one. Never had an issue that couldn't be solved by re-starting.

 

[mjschranz]

Ha, well just to chime in, what I see is very, very different. I don't think I know anyone with a gaming PC.
There are Macs everywhere in my life. 2 years ago my siblings and I went in together to get our parents a laptop. We all wanted to get them Mac, but one of my bros that was in charge of it decided to get a Toshiba. From the first time my Dad booted it up on Xmas morning it was just terrible, with alerts and messages giving us warnings about BS. Anyways, we returned it, got him a MacBook and now he has that (which from the first time he booted up, was a simple, elegant pleasure), an iMac and is buying another MacBook for his business. This year my family all rented a chalet at a B.C. Ski resort and there were 4 MacBook Pros and a Toshiba laptop between us.
My sister has a MacBook, her boyfriend, her ex-boyfriend. My brother has a 27" iMac, his wife a MacBook Pro. I have at least 12 friends with Macs, not including people I stay in touch with from college years ago. I have an iMac and MacBook Pro. Every time I go for coffee there are MacBooks everywhere. Even at nightclubs, most DJs have a Mac in their setup. Also, many people I know that plan to buy a new computer keep talking about Macs.
So I guess there must be areas in North America with 'dead zones', but where I am in Vancouver and the surrounding areas, there are Macs everywhere- not just at Starbucks.

Just point this out, but I'm seeing a trend here for all the people who regularly see Macbooks/Apple products in their neighbourhood.

That trend being, Urban area's tend to have a lot more Apple hanging around.

 

[backinblack875]

and how many of the college kids bought their own MBP for almost $2000 compared to a graduation present from their parents? most of the starbucks i visit in NYC where people who have jobs chill out, i see Wintel laptops.

it's like Nike shoes and other fashion with kids. they don't have jobs but there is a social caste system and they all want mommy and daddy to spend a lot of money on stuff that doesn't cost that much to make but looks cool

lets see how many of those kids buy Macbooks once they graduate and have to pay their own bills including student loans

ermmm....apple notebooks are #1 purchased for college....cant remember exactly where i go the info from tho

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

the worst thing in the world of IT is to be an Oracle customer

Do you have any clue what you are talking about what-so-ever or are just a blowhard? Please if you are going to say something so ridiculous back it up with some sort of evidence.

BTW: Company I work for made 1.09 Billion in revenue so I think we are doing quite well.

 

[gnasher729]

So, am I reading it right that IBM/Lenovo are clumped with other? That surprises me. My company has approx 200,000 employees and IBM was the preferred vendor.

Well, it is annoying that the list stops at #5. For all we know, Lenovo could be #6 with 1000 computer sales less than Apple. Or someone else could be.

That's actually a funny thing. Colleges are pushing Macs because of incentives but are they serving their students well? Once out of the college, 95% of the students will have to use Windows for their work (Yeah, it's not 90% as businesses in general avoid Macs. I do not know exact numbers though).

So you are saying that Windows is so awfully hard to use that a collegue graduate who used a Macintosh would not be able to use it? So hard that you need many years of training to be able to handle it? I can tell you from experience that I haven't met anybody yet who couldn't just take my MacBook and use it. Windows, it seems, has a lot of growing up to do.

 

[iStudentUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Anyone know the worldwide stats?

Here, Mac is popular with students because Apple seem to do particularly good deals for UK students, but the high prices for 'normal' may put them off! Certianly don't think 10% if computers are Mac, maybe 5%?

 

[OllyW]

Well, it is annoying that the list stops at #5. For all we know, Lenovo could be #6 with 1000 computer sales less than Apple. Or someone else could be.

It's also irritating when they release their worldwide figures which always seems to end at #5 or #6. Apple doesn't make the list and it would be interesting to see how they are faring.

Anyone know the worldwide stats?

All we know is Apple are at less than 5.4%.



http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1519417

 

[lilo777]

Yes it is a Windows world. But I run two businesses that are 95% Mac with no IT department at all, and never had one. Never had an issue that couldn't be solved by re-starting.

The phrase "I run two businesses" says it all. Those are not very big businesses, right? I am sure there are businesses that use just smart phones (or even not so smart phones). If it's more than just Web interface and printing, Windows becomes almost a must.