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Mac Market Share Update
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BenjyD said:
Either it is anecdotal or it is evidence. It can't be both
oxymoronPerhaps with the latest version of Safari and OSX.4. Be that as it may, the site you pointed out did the test under control condition. I think my personal experience counts much more. It is not about who creates a better product/software. I think it is about getting it to the consumer and in MBA jargan execution. I digress.
Cinch
In fairness, until recently, GNU/Linux didn't really have a mature, user-friendly, desktop, and it has next to no marketing behind it on the desktop.mandis said:
Mac OS X -
- has a good reputation
- is userfriendly and mature on the desktop
- has marketing behind it
FWIW, I suspect GNU/Linux has a higher desktop penetration than 2%. Probably not much greater, but it's used in a lot of development shops, not to mention widely rolled out in places like Lowes, and that's on top of hobbiest interest.
I'm not trying to suggest Apple should turn Mac OS X into Free Software, I'd be delighted if they did, but it's not necessarily good for Apple.
Apple has a lot of high profile, quality, software. So does GNU/Linux. The environment really is important. While a lot of people use Windows because they feel they have to, if someone can present to them a solution that's nicer to use (and it's not hard to get nicer than Windows) yet has the same flexibility, people can and will use it.
Throughout my entire Mac using period (since 2003) I never came across a set of circumstances where I thought "I wish I had a PC, I'd be able to run X, Y and Z". The environment was wonderful. The only thing that's made me switch back is the hardware and the lack of openness on the Mac side. My requirements are probably too obscure for that to be interpreted as a trend, but that said, do not underestimate how important a friendly, usable, environment is. A system like Windows where the UI frequently gets in the way of what you're trying to do is less usable than a system with slightly less software. Given a straight choice between Windows on a MacBook and Mac OS X on a MacBook, I'll choose the latter every time.
javierbds said:
dear sir or maddam,
you have made my day. the really good point about apple is that it's easy. you buy a machine: all the hardware plays nicely together and with the OS, the OS is pleasent to look at and intuitive, all software is nicely integrated, etc. even buying stuff at the apple store is like this- just like we mac users should expect. you walk in with a problem, someone there helps you and all is well. apple is the whole deal - not like M$ or dell or hp or sony.
p.s. i loves my macintosh
Marx55 said:
So, Apple should give up profit margins on software and hardware to seize a Linux sized marketshare? This is a spectacularly bad idea and I like and respect the FSF.
Battling for 100% marketshare puts them in direct conflict with Microsoft and would be a pyrric victory at best. After expending billions Apple would now have all of Microsoft's problems without the profit base.
Um do you people READ?
Numers are DOWN by .2% YEAR-OVER-YEAR in both US and worldwide market share -- this is a BAD thing, not a good thing.
Although the successful Intel transition is no doubt boosting numbers this quarter, Mac still lost significant ground this past year. A .2% US market share drop from 3.8% to 3.6% represents a 5.3% loss during a record year for PC market growth.
Numers are DOWN by .2% YEAR-OVER-YEAR in both US and worldwide market share -- this is a BAD thing, not a good thing.
Although the successful Intel transition is no doubt boosting numbers this quarter, Mac still lost significant ground this past year. A .2% US market share drop from 3.8% to 3.6% represents a 5.3% loss during a record year for PC market growth.
Look, people should buy a Mac if it's the best computer for them. There are lots of area that Mac's are better than PC's (eg, the OS itself, Mathematics, Music, DTP, Film and anything that requires UNIX.) and also a few where PC's beat Macs (eg Gaming and Video calling), however only about 20% or so of PC users are gamers so Apple could still attract a good market share.
There are currently advantages to Apple only offering a limited number of models in that they can compete with Dell (for those models) on price (at least here in the UK) as they are selling them in bulk, they've actually been slimming down the number of options recently. As their market share goes up, I'm sure we'll see a sub-laptop, a cheap laptop with a 15" screen, a Midi tower Mac and possibly some others. Apple'll hopefully release some of these new models if/when their market share starts to increase.
There are currently advantages to Apple only offering a limited number of models in that they can compete with Dell (for those models) on price (at least here in the UK) as they are selling them in bulk, they've actually been slimming down the number of options recently. As their market share goes up, I'm sure we'll see a sub-laptop, a cheap laptop with a 15" screen, a Midi tower Mac and possibly some others. Apple'll hopefully release some of these new models if/when their market share starts to increase.
Don't Worry, Be Happy
Many long term Mac fanatics may not even want to venture into the Intel Macs until 2007 when Leopard ships with them. So don't panic and be patient. It's all good.
And remember in China they only make Macs - they don't buy Macs.
What I read is that because the overall market is growing, the number of Macs is still also growing in spite of this processor transition share blip. Many of us think that Leopard with integrated Boot Camp will be the OS X that begins to help Apple break through the 4% wall. I don't think you can worry about market share numbers for 2005 & 2006 due to the processor transition which is still not even over yet.sonnys said:
Many long term Mac fanatics may not even want to venture into the Intel Macs until 2007 when Leopard ships with them. So don't panic and be patient. It's all good.
And remember in China they only make Macs - they don't buy Macs.
sonnys said:
Say there were 1,000,000 computers sold in the US last year (actually much more - using 1,000,000 for ease of calculation). Macs account for 3.8% of that = 38,000.
Number increases by 13% = 1,130,000 computers. Macs account for 3.6% of that = 40,680.
That's an increase of 7%, in a time of transition, when people were waiting for the Intel Macs.
These figures assume something about the number of PCs sold - we can only look at the real number of Macs sold, according to Apple's last sales figures. I can't be bothered looking that up. Edit: actually, I just did - their sales increased 4% last quarter over a year ago - http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/apr/19results.html
sonnys said:
Not smoking anything. Perhaps that's why I have the presence of mind to question that kind of oversimplification.
The problem with drawing any conclusions from this--good or bad--is that we have no idea where the growth in the PC market is coming from. The PC market includes home, educational, government and business/server sales. If all this growth in the market is coming from business/server sales (where Apple is a relatively small player) then these numbers are basically meaningless (in regard to Apple, at least.) If it's all in home and educational sales, then you might be right.
Do you have an exact break-down of the PC market growth numbers you would like to share with us to back up your asssertion that this is a a bad thing for Apple? If you don't, I'm puzzled as to why you're so inisistent about this. What makes you so sure of your position that you would be insulting to everyone about it?
peharri said:
you can't afford marketing for something that isn't being sold. so, if you want to give out an OS, you lose the ability to market it.
you're comparing work ethernet speads....to a wireless connection? Unless your company is from the stoneage, the ethernet connection should be FAR faster than the wireless. I use safari and firefox primarily, rarely IE on my work machine and it opens and loads pages extremely fast...
Cinch said:
Krizoitz said:
First of, people dont get rid of pc's any faster than macs. The components in a dell computer do not corrode or rust or somehow break apart. Secondly, marketshare is a function of sales. No one cares about installed base (except developers), Apple stock price will not go up unless they make more sales, irrespective of the number of old mac computers existing. If these pc users are getting rid of their machines faster (as you claim) why aren't they replaceing them with macs?. That's the whole point of marketshare.. how long before a pc or mac is replaced is irrelevant.. it's what people buy when looking for replacement.. in fact, if apple becomes more appealing, then they might want pc users to replace their pcs at a faster rate if they would replace them with a mac.
People have been determining market share for a long, long time.. how stupid of them not to consult you first on how to do their job. Everybody always think they know how to do the other guys job. I assure you, the method of measuring market share is tested and time proven... i'm sure Gartner analysts would welcome your comments though on how to do their job better.
I'm surprised. At least here in El Salvador macs are starting to pick up, they are being distributed in about 6 stores since last year (two years ago it was only one) there's a newly opened mini apple store in a mall.
And lots of people I know are first time mac users making the switch last year... It's possible that this is common only in the more expensive schools here.
And lots of people I know are first time mac users making the switch last year... It's possible that this is common only in the more expensive schools here.
Actually it is the high profile software that made me switch to a mac. Final Cut Studio, by and far the best affordable video editing software, is only available for Apple, and I bought my Powerbook for this high profile (and exclusive) piece of software. I dont own these, but there is also Shake, Logic, and Apeture to some extent, that drive Mac sales in creative industries.
weitzner said:
I bought a (new) mac because I wanted Tiger... beat you !!!
(seriously, that's not the only reason but...)
I think what's being missed when comparing the market share of OS X to Linux is the fact that these numbers are based on sales. A large component of the Linux install base comes from post purchase installations. I'm assuming the numbers in the report reflect installed systems at the time of sale. As a result the reality of the Linux numbers are likely higher because of the nature with which many deploy Linux systems.
I would like to see a bigger breakdown of the numbers but as was pointed out earlier I think it's bad that there was a .2% reduction in US market share. While with the increase in over all sales for personal computers exists and thus a larger number of Macs sold it's still a reduction over the same quarter the previous year. You can argue the Intel transition all you want and Leopard too but I am confident that most of your average Mac (or PC customers for that matter) aren't holding off purchases because of Leopard or Vista.
I would like to see a bigger breakdown of the numbers but as was pointed out earlier I think it's bad that there was a .2% reduction in US market share. While with the increase in over all sales for personal computers exists and thus a larger number of Macs sold it's still a reduction over the same quarter the previous year. You can argue the Intel transition all you want and Leopard too but I am confident that most of your average Mac (or PC customers for that matter) aren't holding off purchases because of Leopard or Vista.
NoelEiffe said:
Just wondering... why were you hostile to Macs for so long? I can understand in the OS 9 days, but even after OS X?
(Asking cauase cause I've always wanted to know why people doen't like Apple, but usually just get a "Cause I don't, OK?!" )
But Congrats on getting an Apple!
SpankWare said:
Actually I think most are. Almost all of my friends (most of whom wouldn't know the difference between a GPU and a CPU) know enough to not purchase till Vista is out. I would tend to beleive the PC market is feeling the let's wait till Vista jitters. (Another reason they are so ticked that Microsoft will not release it in time for theh Holiday Buying season)
However, I think fewer Mac owners are delaying purchases till Leopard. They realize that it will work on their machines, and they can buy it seperately when they want to.
Market Share will never rise to more than 4% worldwide
Very simply, throughout most of the world it is very difficult to buy a Mac.
The main UK PC store is PC World. You struggle to buy a Mac there. The displays are dreadful and the employee will try to persuade you to buy a PC ("there's so much more software for a PC, sir") If you go to an electrical store in France all you see are PCs. It's pretty much the same all over Europe. I'm pretty certain it's the same in Australia and New Zealand and I imagine it's even worse in the old Eastern Europe or China. With so few outlets, how can you possibly increase Market Share. Having a few resellers that sell Mail order doesn't work. You have to know about and want a Mac to go looking for them.
It's no different from cars. If you did a road test on a small Buick and a Peugeot, then most road testers would say the Peugeot was a much better car. But they don't sell many in the USA, do they. No outlets, no sales. Having the best product doesn't matter - that's why Jobs built up Apple Stores. Without them, Apple would have disappeared.
Very simply, throughout most of the world it is very difficult to buy a Mac.
The main UK PC store is PC World. You struggle to buy a Mac there. The displays are dreadful and the employee will try to persuade you to buy a PC ("there's so much more software for a PC, sir") If you go to an electrical store in France all you see are PCs. It's pretty much the same all over Europe. I'm pretty certain it's the same in Australia and New Zealand and I imagine it's even worse in the old Eastern Europe or China. With so few outlets, how can you possibly increase Market Share. Having a few resellers that sell Mail order doesn't work. You have to know about and want a Mac to go looking for them.
It's no different from cars. If you did a road test on a small Buick and a Peugeot, then most road testers would say the Peugeot was a much better car. But they don't sell many in the USA, do they. No outlets, no sales. Having the best product doesn't matter - that's why Jobs built up Apple Stores. Without them, Apple would have disappeared.
wnurse, I know I am taking out of context your words ... But the 'professional' 'static' 'boring' way you look at this stuff bores me
With POV's like yours everything will ever stay the same ever ...
No really, this is a very interesting aspect:
*When do people stop buying new sw as a function of the age of their computer: a) they have all the sw they need, b) New sw will not run properly on their machine
*When do people decide to upgrade their computer and for what reason as a f...?
a) price drop on components, b) to run new sw
*When do people start using less and less their computer as it is a pain in their a** as a f ...? a) virus, malware b) bad maintenance c) fragmentation ...
*When do people decide they need a new computer as a f(t)?
*How do people evaluate the market offer when they are going after a new computer? a) if they had OS Y and app Z, do they look for alternatives ...
...
These are the kind of marketing studies any developer/ hw vendor would be interested in knowing
Every user should worry about developers ... (If they interested in sw for their machines)
No one cares about stock price except investors (except when it gets 'Sun' low).
I'm tired of most market analysts, business analysts, auditing companies (they say more or less what they are paid to say, Enron ...), statistics (there are little lies, big lies and statistics) ...
Of course, we know, nobody gets fired for buying MS in IT ... Or was it IBM?
Just an innocent question. Do you base your shopping on market share?
Is this an investment forum?
With POV's like yours everything will ever stay the same ever ...
Can you back this up with data?wnurse said:
No really, this is a very interesting aspect:
*When do people stop buying new sw as a function of the age of their computer: a) they have all the sw they need, b) New sw will not run properly on their machine
*When do people decide to upgrade their computer and for what reason as a f...?
a) price drop on components, b) to run new sw
*When do people start using less and less their computer as it is a pain in their a** as a f ...? a) virus, malware b) bad maintenance c) fragmentation ...
*When do people decide they need a new computer as a f(t)?
*How do people evaluate the market offer when they are going after a new computer? a) if they had OS Y and app Z, do they look for alternatives ...
...
These are the kind of marketing studies any developer/ hw vendor would be interested in knowing
wnurse said:
Every user should worry about developers ... (If they interested in sw for their machines)
No one cares about stock price except investors (except when it gets 'Sun' low).
It is relevant to evaluate if using OS X is really more expensive. I think they call it TCO ...wnurse said:
wnurse said:
I'm tired of most market analysts, business analysts, auditing companies (they say more or less what they are paid to say, Enron ...), statistics (there are little lies, big lies and statistics) ...
Of course, we know, nobody gets fired for buying MS in IT ... Or was it IBM?
Just an innocent question. Do you base your shopping on market share?
Is this an investment forum?
Apple needs at least 10% market share to be relevant. I'm an engineering student, and I cannot do any electrical nor audio engineering on a Mac. In the early '90s when Macs had 10% market share, it was a better time to be a Mac user. For the hype Apple garners, its market share is dying a slow death. Apple should put those Apple reps as they have in CompUSA at Best Buy and Fry's so at least someone can make sure once a week that questions are answered, and a working mouse and keyboard are connected.