Apple's Earnings Results to Focus on Mac (and iPod)

[BongoBanger]

I didn't mention any timeframe, so it's difficult to understand your statement...and yes, of course I am a lawyer...and a good one for that matter.

So what was your timescale then since you don't appear to have mentioned it either?

 

[ditzy]

Of all the Apple users that I know personally, none of them have Windows in any form, and many don't own the Mac version of Office.

Still, I am referring to the decision to buy a PC, which is effectively limited to Windows or the Mac. Every choice to buy a Mac instead of a Windows PC cuts into Microsoft's market share, just as it had been working in reverse for so many years. Apple is gaining share in the PC market at Microsoft's expense, to extent that Microsoft is beginning to take notice.

As I think has already been said that only counts if the mac owner doesn't buy a copy of a Windows OS.
I personally have Vista bootcamped on my iMac so I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't view me as a lost sale at all.
I guess me buying an iMac was Apple's gain but not Microsoft's loss.

 

[digitalbiker]

Every choice to buy a Mac instead of a Windows PC cuts into Microsoft's market share, just as it had been working in reverse for so many years.

This just isn't an accurate statement, sorry. While I agree that every PC/windows purchase reduces Apple market share due to Apple's lack of supporting any retail products for the PC. I do not agree that the reverse is true.

Why?

Because both Parallels and VMWare are big sellers on the mac and most all of these purchases also meant a sale of XP, Vista, or Win2000. Not only that but MS Office is a huge seller for the mac. So no matter how much you choose to ignore it MS does not necessarily loose market share with each Apple purchase.

In addition, Apple's market share was stagnant and/or declining big time before the switch to intel.

Why?

Because the switch to intel allowed full compatibility with windows. This one fact has helped to increase Apple's market share but it also did not reduce MS market share.

 

[seedster2]

This just isn't an accurate statement, sorry. While I agree that every PC/windows purchase reduces Apple market share due to Apple's lack of supporting any retail products for the PC. I do not agree that the reverse is true.

Why?

Because both Parallels and VMWare are big sellers on the mac and most all of these purchases also meant a sale of XP, Vista, or Win2000. Not only that but MS Office is a huge seller for the mac. So no matter how much you choose to ignore it MS does not necessarily loose market share with each Apple purchase.

In addition, Apple's market share was stagnant and/or declining big time before the switch to intel.

Why?

Because the switch to intel allowed full compatibility with windows. This one fact has helped to increase Apple's market share but it also did not reduce MS market share.

Indeed, every mac user I know has either office or is running XP/Vista in some capacity.

Without Intel Apple's would be dismissed by users who rely on Windows only Apps.

Iphone is following down the same path. Initial sales were great, but they are now heavily advertising exchange capabilities. Now you can entice power users who initially dismissed the phone as nothing more than a gadget.

 

[IJ Reilly]

This just isn't an accurate statement, sorry. While I agree that every PC/windows purchase reduces Apple market share due to Apple's lack of supporting any retail products for the PC. I do not agree that the reverse is true.

It's quite accurate, since I was talking about PC sales only, not software. Your argument that Windows can steal from the Mac's market share by not vice-versa makes no sense to me at all.

The other points about the Intel switch don't refute any argument I've made. If people are buying more Macs now because of the Intel switch (and I think the impact is actually probably quite marginal), it's because it gives them a comfort level they might not have had with PPC Macs. In reality, very few computer buyers know the difference between the brands of microprocessors, and even fewer care.

Indeed, every mac user I know has either office or is running XP/Vista in some capacity.

I know plenty of Mac users, and I teach classes on the Mac. Nobody who I have ever encountered runs Windows on their Mac. Absolutely none. Zero. As far as Office is concerned, many Mac users don't own it either, but that's again hardly relevant since the point I was making was entirely about PC sales.

 

[digitalbiker]

It's quite accurate, since I was talking about PC sales only, not software. Your argument that Windows can steal from the Mac's market share by not vice-versa makes no sense to me at all.

The other points about the Intel switch don't refute any argument I've made. If people are buying more Macs now because of the Intel switch (and I think the impact is actually probably quite marginal), it's because it gives them a comfort level they might not have had with PPC Macs. In reality, very few computer buyers know the difference between the brands of microprocessors, and even fewer care.



I know plenty of Mac users, and I teach classes on the Mac. Nobody who I have ever encountered runs Windows on their Mac. Absolutely none. Zero. As far as Office is concerned, many Mac users don't own it either, but that's again hardly relevant since the point I was making was entirely about PC sales.

No, you were not talking only about PC sales.

Your comment was about Microsoft market share. The exact quote is

Every choice to buy a Mac instead of a Windows PC cuts into Microsoft's market share, just as it had been working in reverse for so many years.

As I have pointed out this is not correct. PC sales are not the same as Microsoft market share. Microsoft does not sell PCs. Microsoft sales software. So if you are talking about Microsoft market share you are talking about software sales. Yes, every windows PC sale does mean a sale of software for Microsoft. But an Apple hardware sale does not necessarily mean that Microsoft has lost a sale.

Even though in your small circle of Apple associates you have never come across anyone using windows this doesn't mean a thing. Parallel's virtual windows software, VMWare fusion, MS Office, are all HUGE Apple sellers. Apple even sales and promotes these products in their own Apple store.

Microsoft scores a sale every time someone purchases windows or MS Office. You have to purchase windows to use with the virtualization software packages. Therefore nearly every sale of VMWare, or Parallels is a sale for MS since windows eventually will be bought.

I am done discussing this as it is really pointless and I doubt that you will give up your position as you are an Apple loyalist and don't care for MS at all. I understand that sentiment but MS is not necessarily losing market share with each Apple hardware purchase. Because most Apple users still buy some software from MS, either windows or office. The two biggest sellers for MS.

 

[IJ Reilly]

No, you were not talking only about PC sales.

Your comment was about Microsoft market share. The exact quote is

My entire point about market share was Windows vs. Mac, which you can very easily see by re-reading my posts, instead of selectively quoting one out context. No other market share was ever discussed. Sorry.