Apple Reports $1.67 Billion Profit for Q4 2009, Most Profitable Quarter Ever

[wizard]

Well first you are wrong and iMacs sales numbers kinda prove that.

Because honestly like a lot of us have been saying the past couple of weeks... most users don't need nor care about quad core.

More importantly users care about value and there is simply no way for a iMac to look good when it is sporting two anemic laptop processors. Look at the numbers and then try to repeat your statement with a straight face. Bet you can't.

The fact is users do go about trying to select a good buy for their PC dollar. Quad cores are a feature that can separate the older technology form the newer in the users mind. I'm not saying this is right or always yields the best machine for the user but it is simple. More importantly a quad core machine running Windows is very fast and responsive, the obvious conclusion there is that if more hardware helps Windows then it will help Mac OS.

So again look at the crappy sales numbers as related to Apples consumer desktop lineup. Now tell me what is a common factor that these machine have. Well one factor is crappy hardware built on a grossly outdated desktop line up. A close second is a set of machines that are well known for being bitches to service, something that is extremely important during a recession. Just as close is the reality they don't meet the needs of modern users in the digital hub age, an age that Apple identified and promoted.

Personally if I was a stock holder I'd be really pissed and be leaning hard on the board to wake up the leadership team at Apple and get with the program or face replacement. Unfortunately I don't have that influence, nor frankly do I want to own Apple stock. Part of the reluctance comes from Apples lack of backbone when dealing with fringe elements like Green Peace.


Dave

 

[seashellz]

IN THIS ECONOMY!?
WOW the 'writers' over at ZDNet (MSNZD) MUST be crying

What are MS Q4 profits?

Surely Billie and Stevie must be starting to wonder...

Microsoft is the 20th Century way
Its very architecture dooms it to be firmly chained there
Weve been there, done that
When the dust clears-MS will see APPLE has left it there-in the dust

Century 21 will not be kind to MS.
Windows had its day in the sun and its time for it to move aside and let fresher blood take over

One bit of evidence:
APPLE quit the US Chamber of Commerce over their lack of support for clean air:

Why would a company like Microsoft oppose solutions to global warming?

Microsoft is a prominent member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which just launched a $100 million campaign described as a "declaration of war on the White House."
The Chamber is pouring millions into killing clean energy as well as stopping health care reform.1<superscript

Recently, an uprising of companies fighting back against the Chamber of Commerce has begun, led by companies like Apple, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, and GE.2

But Microsoft continues to help fund the Chamber's anti-climate agenda through their Chamber dues.

Can you call Microsoft and urge them to quit the Chamber of Commerce? If you're a customer of Microsoft, be sure to mention it when you call. Here's the info:

For years, the Chamber of Commerce has pushed a right-wing agenda.3 But now, it's trying to kill progress on clean energy, health care, workers' rights, and even financial reform.4

The U.S. Chamber has gotten so out of step with its own members that even local chambers are joining the rebellion. "They don't represent me," the head of the Greater New York Chamber said the other day.5

The top issues causing companies to walk away from the Chamber are clean energy and global warming. Wind and solar power create jobs and help the economy, and most business leaders know it.6

But the Chamber isn't listening. After Apple quit, the Chamber's president said of his critics, "Bring 'em on."7

So why is Microsoft still funding the Chamber? The Chamber wouldn't be able to run multi-million dollar campaigns if it weren't getting so much money from its members.

Call Microsoft today and urge them to quit the Chamber of Commerce:

Microsoft
(425) 882-8080, press 0

Sources:

1. "Does the U.S. Chamber Speak for Big Business?," Business Week, October 7, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84889&id=17578-9120417-zSF_hGx&t=6

2. "Apple quits U.S. Chamber of Commerce over global warming views," San Jose Mercury News, October 5, 2009
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13492186

"Nike Resigns From Chamber Board," The New York Times, September 30, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84826&id=&t=7&id=17578-9120417-zSF_hGx&t=7

3. "A Quiet Revolution In Business Lobbying: Chamber of Commerce Helps Bush Agenda," The Washington Post, February 5, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84896&id=17578-9120417-zSF_hGx&t=8

4. "Corporate America Is Fighting Back," Financial Post, October 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84891&id=17578-9120417-zSF_hGx&t=9

5. "Defections Expose Chamber's Dirty Little Secrets" The Washington Post, October 16, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84890&id=17578-9120417-zSF_hGx&t=11

6. "At Chamber of Commerce, Member Exodus on Climate Issue a Big PR Problem," Newsweek, October 6, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84820&id=&t=8&id=17578-9120417-zSF_hGx&t=12
7. "Defiant Chamber Chief Says 'Bring 'Em On,'" The New York Times, October 8, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84829&id=&t=11&id=17578-9120417-zSF_hGx&t=13

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
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you whining old farts still clinging to Windows need to read the latest shootout between 10.6 and Windows 7;
10.6 far outperforms W7-except for gaming
When APPLE gets with the gaming-its all over for MS

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-10319612-10355804.html?tag=mncol;txt

 

[LucasLand]

And the porn industry! Yay!

adult industry is getting killed right now because of all those free tube sites mac users visit

 

[AidenShaw]

But it would be a dim bulb of an analyst indeed to think that Microsoft's silly cash burning escapades over recent years (Zune, Xbox, Windows Live Search/Bing/Whatever They're Calling It Today and just about any other new market they've tried to bulldoze their way into) is great management.

You're clearly correct - 95% market share proves their incompetence.

 

[MacDSmith2]

"We've got a very strong lineup for the holiday season and some really great new products in the pipeline for 2010."

Does that mean no new macs until after the holidays?

"Projected air freight increase: what's driving that?
A: I can't be more specific than working to move units into position for the holidays."

If their shipping bills are up for moving units into position for the Holidays and all the stores are currently out of product, that says an UPDATE is moving into the pipeline.

 

[AidenShaw]

OK, video editors. Time to take that creepy "happy happy" Windows 7 girl and put her looking at a screen with Mac sales numbers. "This is getting goooood."

Talk to her Friday - she might not be so creepy after the Windows 7 launch and Microsoft's earnings announcement....

What are MS Q4 profits?

TBA Friday morning. http://www.microsoft.com/msft/earnings/FY09/earn_rel_q4_09.mspx

Note that Microsoft's profits last quarter with 3.99 B$ or 3.05 B% depending on the formula....

 

[gnasher729]

More importantly users care about value and there is simply no way for a iMac to look good when it is sporting two anemic laptop processors. Look at the numbers and then try to repeat your statement with a straight face. Bet you can't.

The fact is users do go about trying to select a good buy for their PC dollar. Quad cores are a feature that can separate the older technology form the newer in the users mind. I'm not saying this is right or always yields the best machine for the user but it is simple. More importantly a quad core machine running Windows is very fast and responsive, the obvious conclusion there is that if more hardware helps Windows then it will help Mac OS.

So again look at the crappy sales numbers as related to Apples consumer desktop lineup. Now tell me what is a common factor that these machine have. Well one factor is crappy hardware built on a grossly outdated desktop line up. A close second is a set of machines that are well known for being bitches to service, something that is extremely important during a recession. Just as close is the reality they don't meet the needs of modern users in the digital hub age, an age that Apple identified and promoted.

Personally if I was a stock holder I'd be really pissed and be leaning hard on the board to wake up the leadership team at Apple and get with the program or face replacement. Unfortunately I don't have that influence, nor frankly do I want to own Apple stock.

3.05 million Macs sold. Yes, Apple should get rid of their management and hire someone with your sense for business.

 

[gnasher729]

You're clearly correct - 95% market share proves their incompetence.

Ask T-Mobile what they think of Microsoft's competence.

 

[Eidorian]

3.05 million Macs sold. Yes, Apple should get rid of their management and hire someone with your sense for business.

I don't think this is the attitude you want to take.

 

[couto27]

50 questions ?

50 answers ?

and not a single one about the itablet dammmm........

 

[saving107]

I'm not talking about taking a laptop out of the house. A lot of people in my family and my wife's family don't want to lose the portability IN the house.

My Mom is retired, she would LOVE an iMac. But she doesn't want to be chained to the desk all day long.

-Kevin

I haven't read all the pages in this topic yet, so if someone else already mentioned this, then sorry.

when I read this I was reminded of a Apple Patent that I saw last year on Gizmodo.

Apple Docking Patent Works Perfectly with Ultra-Slim MacBook
http://gizmodo.com/339918/apple-docking-patent-works-perfectly-with-ultra+slim-macbook

 

[Grimace]

"Projected air freight increase: what's driving that?
A: I can't be more specific than working to move units into position for the holidays."

If their shipping bills are up for moving units into position for the Holidays and all the stores are currently out of product, that says an UPDATE is moving into the pipeline.

It is a "substantial and out of the ordinary" air freight increase, which indicates a new product of some sort, and potentially a heavy one.

 

[jaw04005]

Fake Steve Jobs and John Gruber are sort of squaring off. Fake Steve says they’ll be news tomorrow and Gruber adds this bit of speculation:

"Dan Lyons Apparently Thinks Yours Truly Hasn’t Heard About the Redesigned Plastic MacBooks, Redesigned (‘Impressive’) iMacs, Updated Minis (Including One That Ships With Mac OS X Server), the Multi-Touch Magic Mouse, and, as the Wildcard I’m-Not-Sure-I-Really-Believe-It-Myself Out-There Rumor, Maybe Even Some Sort of Mentioned-Nowhere-Else-But-in-This-Very-Headline Multi-Touch Trackpad Gadget for Desktop Macs That Apple Is Set to Release Tomorrow Morning.”

www.daringfireball.net

 

[Eidorian]

Fake Steve Jobs and John Gruber are sort of squaring off. Fake Steve says they’ll be news tomorrow and Gruber adds this bit of speculation:

"Dan Lyons Apparently Thinks Yours Truly Hasn’t Heard About the Redesigned Plastic MacBooks, Redesigned (‘Impressive’) iMacs, Updated Minis (Including One That Ships With Mac OS X Server), the Multi-Touch Magic Mouse, and, as the Wildcard I’m-Not-Sure-I-Really-Believe-It-Myself Out-There Rumor, Maybe Even Some Sort of Mentioned-Nowhere-Else-But-in-This-Very-Headline Multi-Touch Trackpad Gadget for Desktop Macs That Apple Is Set to Release Tomorrow Morning.”

www.daringfireball.net

OS X Home Server?

 

[GeekLawyer]

Why in God's name does Gruber Capitalize The First Letter Of Each Word?

See how annoying that is?

 

[jaw04005]

OS X Home Server?

It would be such a niche product. I can’t see it happening. It would make much more sense for Apple to offer to stream your iTunes video content to you (like the upcoming Zune Video Marketplace on the 360) instead of downloading everything from iTunes to store locally.

They need some kind of cloud storage solution for iTunes. My video library has gotten to point where I’ve stopped buying stuff and just use Hulu because I don’t want to own a data storage facility.

 

[Rocketman]

New products will have lower margins and "air freight" will cost more in Q1 2010 that starts Tomorrow!.

Maybe that rumor of flying in new products is true.

They pushed the rush charges into last quarter and the release sales bump into this quarter. UPOD. iMac, Mac-Mini, Mac Pro temp, MacBook?

Rocketman

Why again don't we have folks camped out at air freight terminals with webcams?

 

[i.mac]

Too bad no one wants to buy a >$1K computer anymore.

I saw the MS girl (what's her name?) at the apple store... her wintel vista crashed one too many times...

 

[BobbyCat]

They'll never get rid of the 20" model

Yeah you're right, they still need to offer an iMac at around 1.000 $/euros and I don't see them bringing the 24" price down that much.

Still, if we try to figure out an easy way to improve the line up without too much hassle for Apple, they could please many people by simply improving the 24" models and/or lowering the price a bit, AND offering at least one i7.
Today or latest tuesday 27.

New graphic cards, BR and LED screens would be a plus.

Then further major changes could occur in march.
But the worse scenario is keeping the same offer for another 5-6 months, and THAT, I'm afraid, can still happen.

 

[i.mac]

You're clearly correct - 95% market share proves their incompetence.

no, this proves that a lot of folks are 1. easily swayed, and 2. unaware of what is the best for their value.

I have proof... I have a mother in law that keeps calling me to help her with her wintel crapware after I admonished her to not buy crapware. She went over my head, listened to sales pitch by a BestBuy rep, and bought crapware. Based on this, I've told every family member that I won't help with wintel crapware issues any longer.

So, 95% market share means that the rule of the average is true and nothing else. Go figure.

 

[SkyBell]

The fact that Apple is one of very few companies making record profits right now just screams of how high their profit margins are...

 

[MacDSmith2]

In fact Christmas wasn't a time for us to plunder the tech world, if you where lucky you got some cloths to wear and maybe some ammo, tools or other practical things. Gadgets and cool where never a concern at Christmas.
Dave

Ammo? All righty then...

 

[MacDSmith2]

It would make much more sense for Apple to offer to stream your iTunes video content to you (like the upcoming Zune Video Marketplace on the 360) instead of downloading everything from iTunes to store locally. They need some kind of cloud storage solution for iTunes. .

uh, excuse me? You didn't hear about Microsoft and T-Mobile dumping all their customer's data in the MS cloud that evaporated? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT MOVE TO A CLOUD Solution Apple!

 

[NT1440]

uh, excuse me? You didn't hear about Microsoft and T-Mobile dumping all their customer's data in the MS cloud that evaporated? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT MOVE TO A CLOUD Solution Apple!

With a 1 Billion dollar data center and other apple products, its going to happen, when is just not known

 

[polaris20]

So, take that laptop off it's stick and see how much it'd cost ya. I just bought a 17" 3.06GHZ MBP w/8GB & a 500GB drive. And it's still got enough oomph to run two OS's simultaneously, with photoshop running in OSX and a full parametric solid multipart assembly running in AutoDesk Inventor running in XP Pro, without so much as a hiccup.

For less money, I could have doubled the HD and gotten it with a 24" monitor, as you say, on a stick. And you know what, I still wouldn't despair.

Or you could spend $18,000 on a proper cad workstation. Then whine about an imac being too spensive.

iMac's are the best value in the mac line.

this begs the question, why is the MBP 17" $600 more than the 24" iMac 3.06Ghz? Because it has a hinge?