Apple Sees U.S. Mac Shipments Drop 2.5% in 2Q15 Amid Larger Worldwide PC Shipment Decline

[AFEPPL]

I've no idea what the last few pages have been about and i cant be bothered to read all the posts, but the bickering is worrying.

It would not surprise me to see the numbers (sales of Macs) declining. I don't believe it's anything to do with iPads or larger phones - it's to do with no real innovation in either the hardware or the OS side for the last 2 years. More than a few of my friends who use Macs are now starting to look else where.

 

[cube]

This is what happens when all your laptops are ultrabooks, and you have no proper desktops either.

 

[AlecZ]

Page 7 of this thread looks more like a Phoenix Wright game than a discussion about home PCs.

 

[AlecZ]

I think it is clear who is getting paid and it is likely aront. This is also a classic technique, accuse the others of what is true for yourself.

Why the **** would Apple or anyone else pay people to go shill on a forum of people who are
- a rounding error in numbers compared to total sales?
- very stubborn about what products they buy anyway?

Anyone "shilling" here is doing it for free because they've got pride in their machines for whatever reason.

 

[mrcobra92]

Intel delays have held up everything. Dump Intel.

If Intel goes, I'm switching to PC. I will not have an AMD processor in my house!

 

[asiga]

And how could Mac sales grow when you keep increasing iToys performance while keeping the Mac performance constant?

-You don't release 8-core i7 iMacs
-You drop the 4-core i7 Mac Mini
-You don't release 8GB discrete GPUs for the iMac nor the MacBook Pro
-You drop the discrete GPU from most MacBook Pro models.
-The only Mac whose performance can rival PCs starts at $4000 when properly configured.
-You invest your marketing money in convincing people that they should buy a watch that must be charged every night and depend on a phone.
-You make iToys multicore and 64bit.

Honestly, the strange thing would be that Mac sales grow, considering Apple ineptitude and negligence these days.

 

[cube]

If Intel goes, I'm switching to PC. I will not have an AMD processor in my house!

One of the things I don't like about Apple is its strengthening of the Intel monopoly.

 

[iConnected]

With these posts, we include IDC and Gartner data, but traditionally, we base the post and the headline around Gartner's data. I believe this is because we've found Gartner's estimates to be more accurate in the past. Estimates from Gartner and IDC always differ quite a bit, but the gap is admittedly large this quarter.

In which case, shouldn't your headline be "Gartner estimates U.S. Mac Shipments Dropped..." ?

Instead, it reads like a fact based on Apple's own sales data, which is far from the case.

Estimates from Gartner and IDC always differ quite a bit, but the gap is admittedly large this quarter.

I appreciate that you added IDC data afterwards, but this arguably merits an entirely different headline.

 

[iConnected]

.... I'm especially curious to see actual 2Q15 sales this time around given the major disparity between the two estimates.

I'm curious to see how the headline differs for that article, given that it will reflect actual figures instead of just a single analyst's estimate.

e.g. "Apple [we really do mean Apple this time] sees U.S. Mac Shipments..."

 

[Tubamajuba]

I think it is clear who is getting paid and it is likely aront. This is also a classic technique, accuse the others of what is true for yourself.

I sure hope nobody is paying him to essentially fling mud at people, what a waste of money that would be.

I've no idea what the last few pages have been about and i cant be bothered to read all the posts, but the bickering is worrying.

It would not surprise me to see the numbers (sales of Macs) declining. I don't believe it's anything to do with iPads or larger phones - it's to do with no real innovation in either the hardware or the OS side for the last 2 years. More than a few of my friends who use Macs are now starting to look else where.

Out of curiosity, where are your friends finding more innovative software and hardware?

I find the term "innovative" a strange descriptor for any laptop or desktop in the year 2015, Macs or otherwise.

 

[Lankyman]

Leaving the bickering to one side. I do think that Apple may have grown to large and is now in a similar position to the one MS found themselves in a few years ago.

With power comes arrogance, at which point you end up ignoring your customers and start to believe that you know what is best for them. I think the Apple eco system has become somewhat unhealthy and autocratic.

I do think the Desktop has been ignored/stagnated for some time now. It is one of the reasons I have stopped visiting the Apple stores - a case of same old same old.

Apple took the decision some time ago to change their business model and cater for a whole different audience i.e. kids, students and people who think the Apple label has a cachet that somehow rubs off on them.

Although I still enjoy using my iMac I suspect I won't be investing in another. Windows 10 looks pretty decent and I may go back to building my own machines.

 

[bladerunner2000]

And how could Mac sales grow when you keep increasing iToys performance while keeping the Mac performance constant?

-You don't release 8-core i7 iMacs

LOL, if Apple did that, they'd charge about $5,000 for the iMac. NOT JOKING EITHER.

They're charging $3,049 CAD for the iMac with the 4790K, which by the way, is an overclockable CPU but we all know there's no way to overclock on Macs, so why did they bother putting that in there? That CPU sells for around $420 CAD. The 8 core that your talking about is the 5960X, which sells for about $1,309 CAD.

But they probably CANT put that in their iMacs anyway because;
- it requires a different socket
- has no integrated GPU, so a dedicated GPU is necessary

But more troubling is the fact that, once again, Apple spits in the face of prosumers and choses to make 'thin' computers where HEAT is such a problem that even the 4790K is throttled DOWN at high speeds because it produces too much heat. I can't even imagine what the 5960X would do in such a stupid environment.

But that begs the question, WHY the hell is Apple being so stupid about making thin DESKTOPS? It's not a laptop! A few millimetres or centimetres of thickness isn't a big concern, especially when the tradeoff is GIMPED performance!

The hell is wrong with Apple??

 

[tampageek]

I'm astonished that the MacBook Air still doesn't have a Retina display. This is the gateway laptop for Apple, and it has a shoddy screen. Just awful. The iPhone 4 had a retina display in 2010! Why is Apple so slow?

I feel sure that that decision is costing Apple a lot of lost sales. Let's hope we see the Air updated significantly and a large iPad this autumn.

Since 2012 (and remember Steve died in 2011)  has been growing fastest in the planned obsolescence department. Their computers have everything glued and soldered for no other reason than to make them unrepairable or very difficult or expensive to repair. This sure looks like a way to force people to buy new computers.

But  never had to "force" sales in the past. They simply made great, durable and beautiful products that people wanted to buy. If they wanted to upgrade ram or HDD in the future, or replace a battery, they could - making the purchase and even better value.

The bubble  exec's live in might also be making them forget that a lot of people don't have upwards of $1400 to spend on an unrepairable/un-upgradable computer every 2 years. Stuff has to last when every penny counts. I don't know about others but I sure can't afford a new MBP every 2 years - no matter how much faster the processor gets.

I miss Steve......

 

[tampageek]

People living outside the bubble cities on either coast won't understand, but the rest of the country is entering an economic funk. A decline in sales for discretionary consumer goods is one indicator that all is not well in the heartland. Internationally, look at commodity prices for oil, copper, steel, coal, do you see anything that signals economic expansion? Apple swims in the same ocean as all the other fish.

Yes, it's like no one bothers to consider the fact that laptops/desktops cost more than tablets. Tablets are NOT better, just cheaper.

 

[tampageek]

So you would agree Apple might as well have stopped making computers when they released the form over function and ridiculously compromised MacBook Air in 2008?

Form over function works better for nic-knacks than computers.

 

[tampageek]

Excellent comment. I'm beginning to lose hope for Apple. I suspect some new companies are going to come along at some point with clean, new, innovative, useful products.

With your next MAC purchase you get a free fashion accessory...oh wait, the computer IS the fashion accessory.

 

[tomaki]

Since 2012 (and remember Steve died in 2011)  has been growing fastest in the planned obsolescence department. Their computers have everything glued and soldered for no other reason than to make them unrepairable or very difficult or expensive to repair. This sure looks like a way to force people to buy new computers.

But  never had to "force" sales in the past. They simply made great, durable and beautiful products that people wanted to buy. If they wanted to upgrade ram or HDD in the future, or replace a battery, they could - making the purchase and even better value.

The bubble  exec's live in might also be making them forget that a lot of people don't have upwards of $1400 to spend on an unrepairable/un-upgradable computer every 2 years. Stuff has to last when every penny counts. I don't know about others but I sure can't afford a new MBP every 2 years - no matter how much faster the processor gets.

I miss Steve......

Pretty much spot on. My first white plastic MB served for 6 years, and everything in it is still working (even though the battery has been discarded years ago). This mid-2012 MBA I'm typing this on has been in service for 2 years now, and already the CPU is starting to be too weak since Yosemite is lagging even with just normal window operations and web surfing, the battery went after the first year (dropped from 6 hours to 2) and the power cable is absolutely in shreds, despite me being a gentle and careful user. Of course I could service this with a new battery and a new power brick but since I'd have to spend extra 350 euros on top of the 1400 euro I originally paid for this thing is making me sorta iffy. I might just cut the losses here and wait for better quality stuff and then get a completely new laptop.

 

[Lankyman]

Pretty much spot on. My first white plastic MB served for 6 years, and everything in it is still working (even though the battery has been discarded years ago). This mid-2012 MBA I'm typing this on has been in service for 2 years now, and already the CPU is starting to be too weak since Yosemite is lagging even with just normal window operations and web surfing, the battery went after the first year (dropped from 6 hours to 2) and the power cable is absolutely in shreds, despite me being a gentle and careful user. Of course I could service this with a new battery and a new power brick but since I'd have to spend extra 350 euros on top of the 1400 euro I originally paid for this thing is making me sorta iffy. I might just cut the losses here and wait for better quality stuff and then get a completely new laptop.

Sadly we are now in the era of consumables, albeit very expensive ones. Manufacturers will claim it enables them to make thinner more efficient devices.

That however is only one side of the coin. It also allows them to make greater profits as built-in obsolescence increases the opportunity for repeat sales earlier in the products life-cycle.

 

[Mnowell69]

I really hope Apple have an R & D team working on a REAL laptop and not some stupid watch replacement, because pretty soon i think i'll be helping Lenovo's growth figures when i have to replace my 17" MBP.

 

[Phoenixx]

I remember the days when there was so much excitement for weeks leading up to an Apple announcement. I use to plan my day to watch it. This past announcement, I forgot it was on and had to hear on the news later what was announced. Its the same old same old. Rolling out old dudes who shoot off the same cliché's. Its boring and their Mac lineup is not worth the upgrade anymore.

I remember the days where when Apple released something it would work perfectly from day one. There was no chance of an update causing parts of your phone or computer to completely stop working (iOS 8.1), and no software was ever released that was non-functional (Apple Maps). Nowadays it has become necessary to wait before installing updates to allow Apple to fix all the problems first. How difficult can it possibly be to properly test a product before release, when your product range (including older models the OS is going to be put on) is so small it could fit on a kitchen table?

 

[tampageek]

Sadly we are now in the era of consumables, albeit very expensive ones. Manufacturers will claim it enables them to make thinner more efficient devices.

That however is only one side of the coin. It also allows them to make greater profits as built-in obsolescence increases the opportunity for repeat sales earlier in the products life-cycle.

No doubt that business model works much better with a thriving middle class. I think if  leaves the real world out of that the result will be disappointing.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Since 2012 (and remember Steve died in 2011)  has been growing fastest in the planned obsolescence department. Their computers have everything glued and soldered for no other reason than to make them unrepairable or very difficult or expensive to repair. This sure looks like a way to force people to buy new computers.

But  never had to "force" sales in the past. They simply made great, durable and beautiful products that people wanted to buy. If they wanted to upgrade ram or HDD in the future, or replace a battery, they could - making the purchase and even better value.

The bubble  exec's live in might also be making them forget that a lot of people don't have upwards of $1400 to spend on an unrepairable/un-upgradable computer every 2 years. Stuff has to last when every penny counts. I don't know about others but I sure can't afford a new MBP every 2 years - no matter how much faster the processor gets.

I miss Steve......

Yup. Exactly why I put my Mac Pro up for sale and built a Hackintosh. On top of that, I have no plans to move away from my 2012 MacBook Pro; removed the ODD and put in a secondary drive, upgraded the RAM to 16gb as well. The new MacBooks are disposable laptops. Soldered everything. I will NOT be buying a new laptop until Apple gets it right.

 

[Neodym]

The Mac Pro is a rounding error for Apple's Mac sales. IF Apple's Mac sales are down its not the Mac Pro causing it.

There also is some kind of "Halo effect" of the MacPro for other Macs and iOS devices. So while the direct MP sales may only be a rounding error, the indirect effects are far bigger IMHO.

Headline is missing the phrase ", analyst guesses" at the end.

But then 2/3 of the MR readers would stop right there and not bother the read the article in the first place.

people that actually need more ram buy more ram..

Only that if your Ram needs change after purchase of a current Mac, in more and more lines you simply can't buy more Ram (except for the flavour that comes with a whole computer attached).

 

[MrNomNoms]

So why is there this sensationalist headline as though the US were the centre of the known universe and if you're not shipping more in the US then your whole business is doomed. Really, I look at these analysts these days and I wonder whether they've travelled outside of the US because if they did they would realise that the US is becoming less relevant for most people. Honestly, what is so difficult about having a headline that was a lot more honest, "Growth in overseas sales offset decline in US sales"?

 

[Steve121178]

Apple did themselves no favours launching the 12" MacBook.

That is a worrying sign for the direction of the Mac. When form takes precedence over function, as it does with the ridiculously compromised MacBook, you might as well stop making computers.

Apple are becoming a fashion-driven company, and are doing their best to destroy the hard-earned reputation for stellar hardware which Steve Jobs built up over many years. It's sad to see this once-great company turn into a political blancmange obsessed with race and sexuality at the expense of a laser-focus on their products.

You are aware that the Mac Pro, iMac, MacBook Pro & MacBook Air are still on sale, right?