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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Betanews reports (via The Loop) on data from market research firm NPD showing that Apple garnered 48% of the U.S. PC industry's retail revenue last month.
In October, Mac US retail desktop computer revenue share was 47.71, percent up from 33.44 percent a year earlier, according to NPD. It's a stunning number, given just how many Windows PC companies combined command so much more market share, while competing for the same revenue share.
While NPD's Stephen Baker points to a confluence of events, including Apple's refresh of its iMac line during the month and a decline of PC sales ahead of the launch of Windows 7, as being responsible for Apple's performance during the month, he also notes that the trend is not likely to continue. Data from previous months, however, shows that Apple had been performing quite well even back in April of this year, when it captured 45% of the desktop retail revenue.


171149-us_retail_revenue.png


NPD notes that Apple's strong revenue performance is a direct result of its average selling prices, which are nearly three times that of Windows PCs. That difference has enabled Apple to claim high revenues despite significantly lower unit market share than top Windows-based PC vendors.
One factor helping Apple is average selling price. The Mac maker has largely chosen not to compete with Windows PC manufacturers below $1,000. While price wars continue at the low end among Windows PC manufacturers, Apple's entry-level iMac starts at $1,199. True, Apple offers the Mac mini for $599 or $799, but the ASP is considerably higher than comparably priced Windows PCs. Low-cost Windows PCs typically come with monitor, keyboard and mouse, which are all extra-cost items for Mac mini unless the buyer uses existing gear.
171150-us_asps.png


Apple's performance isn't as strong in the notebook segment, where it commands only a 34% share of the industry revenue, although that number still ranks Apple as a major player in the notebook field.

Article Link: Apple Records Nearly Half of U.S. PC Desktop Retail Industry Revenue
 

iSee

macrumors 68040
Oct 25, 2004
3,540
272
Wow. I mean wow. This is amazing. Is there some catch to these numbers?

I understand that this is revenue not units, but I'd guess this is the more important number.

I thought Apple was weakest in desktops... [Edit: oops, removed dumb question]

edit 2:

Hm...

Now that I'm thinking about this more, it is retail sales -- online sales not included. So this makes more sense to me.
I'm not sure this is a very good way to measure computer sales. Obviously, a lot of sales are going over the internet. E.g., does Dell have any retail sales?
 

*LTD*

macrumors G4
Feb 5, 2009
10,703
1
Canada

flooce

macrumors member
Jan 19, 2009
54
1
yay, apple is making money on overpriced product (hence the big revenue), but oh well... I love their system OS X, and their new unibody products seem really good and reliable, so its worth it.
 

Doctor Q

Administrator
Staff member
Sep 19, 2002
40,047
8,281
Los Angeles
More proof that you can make a lot of money without selling commodity units.

And that impressing people with your sales figures depends on which numbers you show them.
 

colocolo

macrumors 6502
Jan 17, 2002
480
132
Santiago, Chile
Would be interesting to see the Laptop market divided between regular laptops and netbooks. The average retail selling price is way too low for Windows.
 

lamadude

macrumors 6502
Jan 12, 2006
432
0
Brussels, BE
More than anything else, this article demonstrates how the price of PC desktops and laptops has gone down dramatically over the last few years. To the point where new laptops are almost becoming impulse buys.
 

*LTD*

macrumors G4
Feb 5, 2009
10,703
1
Canada
I like how Wilcox is so reluctant to admit that this is sustainable. He's so predictable.

So sustainable in fact, that it's happening in a recession. Now imagine the level at which this would happen in an improved economy. Mind-blowing.
 

archurban

macrumors 6502a
Aug 4, 2004
918
0
San Francisco, CA
Wow. I mean wow. This is amazing. Is there some catch to these numbers?

I understand that this is revenue not units, but I'd guess this is the more important number.

I thought Apple was weakest in desktops... [Edit: oops, removed dumb question]

edit 2:

Hm...

Now that I'm thinking about this more, it is retail sales -- online sales not included. So this makes more sense to me.
I'm not sure this is a very good way to measure computer sales. Obviously, a lot of sales are going over the internet. E.g., does Dell have any retail sales?

look. mac will never ever catch windows market. just take a look at price point. nobody wants to buy freaking expensive for everyday use. so will you call me loser because I couldn't afford it? how do you know? I have three macs. don't get me wrong. for some reasons, Apple can't drop the price significant like PC. if they do, they can't make revenue at all. they just take way less than 7-8% world wide. I know Apple has high quality, mac os x is easy to use. but they will never take off for huge. yeah, it's good to see how they have been grown such a competitive market. I am impressed by the way.
 

MorphingDragon

macrumors 603
Mar 27, 2009
5,159
6
The World Inbetween
look. mac will never ever catch windows market. just take a look at price point. nobody wants to buy freaking expensive for everyday use. so will you call me loser because I couldn't afford it? how do you know? I have three macs. don't get me wrong. for some reasons, Apple can't drop the price significant like PC. if they do, they can't make revenue at all. they just take way less than 7-8% world wide. I know Apple has high quality, mac os x is easy to use. but they will never take off for huge. yeah, it's good to see how they have been grown such a competitive market. I am impressed by the way.

Its a shame because somebody needs to light a fire under Microsoft. 7 was better but they could've done better than a KDE 4.3 clone. Which is Ironic because KDE started out as an Imitator for Win95.

Oh yes I did.
 

ShiftyPig

macrumors 6502a
Aug 24, 2008
567
0
AU
I'm feeling the need to call shenanigans here....

On those figures, Apple has 25% of the desktop market based on units sold. Legit?
 

Rot'nApple

macrumors 65816
Dec 27, 2006
1,152
1
I DID build that!
look. mac will never ever catch windows market. just take a look at price point. nobody wants to buy freaking expensive for everyday use. so will you call me loser because I couldn't afford it? how do you know? I have three macs. don't get me wrong. for some reasons, Apple can't drop the price significant like PC. if they do, they can't make revenue at all. they just take way less than 7-8% world wide. I know Apple has high quality, mac os x is easy to use. but they will never take off for huge. yeah, it's good to see how they have been grown such a competitive market. I am impressed by the way.

I'm not gonna call you a loser. If you're satisfied with MS OS and HP or Dell hardware than more power to you. :eek:

I like MacOS and their hardware, most of the time. :cool:

To say "nobody wants to buy freaking expensive for everyday use" is like saying nobody wants to buy a Corvette to drive up to the market or a Lexus or a piece of property in Mailbu, because one is just a car and the other is just a house on the beach! :rolleyes:

It just depends on where you are coming from, I guess...
 

*LTD*

macrumors G4
Feb 5, 2009
10,703
1
Canada
Apple is concerned with unit share, but only in the most profitable segments of the market.
 

RazHyena

macrumors 6502a
Jul 30, 2009
538
0
USA
That's impressive. Desktops, PC or Mac, are here to stay.

What's strange is Apple's performance in the laptop segment. I honestly thought mac was king there. Even considering how PC retailers sell laptops at razor thin margins. :confused:
 

*LTD*

macrumors G4
Feb 5, 2009
10,703
1
Canada
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