NPD: 90% of $1,000+ PCs Sold in Fourth Quarter 2009 Were Macs

[*LTD*]

you might want to go read some of the other articles. Apple "Record quarter" was not a so much of a record. It missed it target on a lot of sales.

It record came from the fact that it changed it accounting recording so they got a one time boost in the numbers from all the money they had set aside before hand. Accounting rules changed. They did not announce the change and let the press and apple fan boys run wild with those huge numbers. Go read on the other articles on Betanews that point out that little tide bit.

If the numbers are too good to be true chances are they are. I question this 90% number. It seems almost to good to be true.

Are you reading some other news source in a parallel universe?

Apple sold a record number of Macs. We're not talking about revenue or profits, or accounting. Unit sales of Macs were the highest ever. Every quarter Apple sells more Macs. So we have an upward trend on a group of products that are $1000+. In a recession. In the presence of lower-cost options. That's what's pretty mind-boggling.

 

[cmaier]

Which target did Apple miss sales on, everything was up for them from revues to profits to numbers shipped with the exception of ipods. Ipod touches were up 50 percent, ipod revenue even went up 1 percent.

It didn't. He's probably referring to the Joe Wilcox (noted windows sycophant and all-around dummy) who can't wrap his head around the change in accounting method. Apple was slightly off some analysts estimates on iPhone sales, but based on what analysts claimed iPad would be, you can see how much water their estimates should carry.

 

[notjustjay]

I was just talking yesterday with my boyfriend about our first Macs we bought over two years ago. I asked him how many times his Macbook Pro broke down... he said none. My iMac never broke either, nothing that a restart would not take care of.

Amazing, huh? I wonder if we bought PC's, we may have to be looking for new computers by now.

My XP netbook has been relatively trouble-free, but it is pokey. However, I bought it for its size and its 9-hour battery life, not its performance. I rest easy taking this thing with me on weekend road trips, both because I know the battery will last and also that if anything were to happen and my netbook were damaged or stolen, I'm only out a small amount of money and my files are still safely at home.

There was, however, the one virus incident that I had to clean up. Not sure how that happened, but that discovery was roughly coincident with the time I let my friend's teenage daughter use it to surf for a few hours...

 

[Goona]

It's not only Apple that sells 1000 dollar computers. All the other companies do from HP to Dell to Sony to Lenovo to Acer. They all sell 1000 dollar plus computers so people shouldn't try to act like Apple is the only one playing that game.

 

[Eidorian]

Are you reading some other news source in a parallel universe?

Apple sold a record number of Macs. We're not talking about revenue or profits, or accounting. Unit sales of Macs were the highest ever. Every quarter Apple sells more Macs. So we have an upward trend on a group of products that are $1000+. In a recession. In the presence of lower-cost options. That's what's pretty mind-boggling.

What should we say about Acer since we're not talking about revenue, profits, or accounting?

 

[csimmons]

you might want to go read some of the other articles. Apple "Record quarter" was not a so much of a record. It missed it target on a lot of sales.

It record came from the fact that it changed it accounting recording so they got a one time boost in the numbers from all the money they had set aside before hand. Accounting rules changed. They did not announce the change and let the press and apple fan boys run wild with those huge numbers. Go read on the other articles on Betanews that point out that little tide bit.

If the numbers are too good to be true chances are they are. I question this 90% number. It seems almost to good to be true.

??? The only sales target Apple supposedly missed was with the iPhone, which was a target set by Wall Street, NOT Apple.

Could it be that you don't trust the numbers because you're a hater? Apple has been on fire for the better part of 10 years now, it's only going to get better. That's not fanboyism; that's truth. Seriously, even IF the iPad flopped (which it most likely won't), their fundamentals are so strong that it doesn't really matter.

Ironically, the strongest product in the Apple lineup right now, in terms of revenue and profit, is the Mac.

 

[Povilas]

I'm not surprised. Most people who spend 1000+ on a new pc just build their own because they're hardcore gamers.

Hardcore gamers and PC doesn't sound good to me.

 

[*LTD*]

It didn't. He's probably referring to the Joe Wilcox (noted windows sycophant and all-around dummy) who can't wrap his head around the change in accounting method. Apple was slightly off some analysts estimates on iPhone sales, but based on what analysts claimed iPad would be, you can see how much water their estimates should carry.

LOL, Wilcox is such an illiterate dumbass. I remember when he blogged about it, and Gruber promptly at his lunch. And Wilcox still didn't get it.

The only thing Apple was a bit short on were iPhone sales. YET . . . Apple still set a record in iPhone sales. We're talking a %100 increase, I think.

 

[supmango]

I'm still on my first laptop, from 2007 ish but definately before june 07, and it's running Vista, quite strong. I built this laptop specifically for my need.

Average PC and Mac users do not want to build their own laptop or desktop. If you build it, you have control of the quality of the components. This is what Apple does, in essence. If Microsoft went back to controlling the hardware that would work with its software, Apple might actually get some competition (although it would still be kinda like an annoying Chihuahua). The person whom you quoted echo's my experience, as well as the experience of all average users I ever talk to.

 

[archipellago]

funny just looking on the dell website I couldn't justify spending more than $1k on a machine and that's with an i7..!

I don't think this is news really.

Whats Mac marketshare worldwide these days?

4%..?

why is a company deliberately shafting its' users a good thing on a consumer site.

The world hates mac users after laughing at them...the world is right...


the bigger question is that having sold 250m iPods in 8.5 years how Apple isn't converting that leverage into more meaningful marketshare in computers and phones..

 

[Goona]

The iphone showed 100 percent growth. Who cares what a bunch of analysts say. These are the same dudes who were telling us the economy is good when it was in the tank.

 

[*LTD*]

funny just looking on the dell website I couldn't justify spending more than $1k on a machine and that's with an i7..!

I don't think this is news really.

Whats Mac marketshare worldwide these days?

4%..?

What were you expecting?

The Premium segment - everywhere - has natural barriers to it. One of them is price. The cost of entry is around $1000+.

Duh . . .

 

[Rodimus Prime]

??? The only sales target Apple supposedly missed was with the iPhone, which was a target set by Wall Street, NOT Apple.

Could it be that you don't trust the numbers because you're a hater? Apple has been on fire for the better part of 10 years now, it's only going to get better. That's not fanboyism; that's truth. Seriously, even IF the iPad flopped (which it most likely won't), their fundamentals are so strong that it doesn't really matter.

Ironically, the strongest product in the Apple lineup right now, in terms of revenue and profit, is the Mac.

I am a hater because I question numbers that seem 2 good to be true...... Apple record profits they made last quarter while good were not as good as apple reported. The numbers were a lot higher than expect. It is one thing to be a little off. It is other to be off by double. Apple did not wrong in it. Just change accounting to the new rules.

Here is another example of 90% of a limited high end market. it seems way to good to be true so you are damn right I question it.

I am not going to be like the blind fan boys who saw apple record quarter smashing the previous record and not ask the question of why. Those numbers do not add up or do not feel right.

Got to love blind apple fan boys though. Question the numbers at all and you are called a hater.

 

[flopticalcube]

the bigger question is that having sold 250m iPods in 8.5 years how Apple isn't converting that leverage into more meaningful marketshare in computers and phones..

Market share doesn't really matter, however, as long as margins are high and the overall market is growing. While Apple piles on the dollars, the others are scraping by on razor thin margins or losing money.

 

[csimmons]

It's not only Apple that sells 1000 dollar computers. All the other companies do from HP to Dell to Sony to Lenovo to Acer. They all sell 1000 dollar plus computers so people shouldn't try to act like Apple is the only one playing that game.

Exactly. What these numbers mean is that Apple is wiping the floor with every other hardware manufacturer who sells PC's for over $1000.

 

[Eidorian]

Average PC and Mac users do not want to build their own laptop or desktop. If you build it, you have control of the quality of the components. This is what Apple does, in essence.

We could debate the quality of Apple's hardware all day...

If Microsoft went back to controlling the hardware that would work with its software, Apple might actually get some competition (although it would still be kinda like an annoying Chihuahua).

Besides the occasional WinHEC, I don't really remember Microsoft controlling the hardware. Can you refresh my memory?

Otherwise the Xbox is effectively Microsoft's Mac if not iPhone at this point.

 

[Goona]

funny just looking on the dell website I couldn't justify spending more than $1k on a machine and that's with an i7..!

I don't think this is news really.

Whats Mac marketshare worldwide these days?

4%..?

why is a company deliberately shafting its' users a good thing on a consumer site.

The world hates mac users after laughing at them...the world is right...


the bigger question is that having sold 250m iPods in 8.5 years how Apple isn't converting that leverage into more meaningful marketshare in computers and phones..

Nice joke, keep telling Dell to sell that i7 and go for broke while Microsoft gobbles up all that cash. If Dell is not careful Apple with their meaningless 4 percent marketshare will buy them up and give the money back to shareholders.

 

[Povilas]

funny just looking on the dell website I couldn't justify spending more than $1k on a machine and that's with an i7..!

I don't think this is news really.

Whats Mac marketshare worldwide these days?

4%..?

why is a company deliberately shafting its' users a good thing on a consumer site.

The world hates mac users after laughing at them...the world is right...


the bigger question is that having sold 250m iPods in 8.5 years how Apple isn't converting that leverage into more meaningful marketshare in computers and phones..

I guess nature was a bit cruel to you, well *hit happens.

 

[Doctor Q]

You heard it here first folks! Apple computers are expensive!

Selling expensive products is a fine business model. The challenge for Apple is to make sure their products are worth the money.

Just yesterday I heard a woman say that she wants a Mac but they are "too expensive." She buys a new PC at least every 2 years because the old one stops working or costs too much to repair. Meanwhile, I had my last Mac for 5 years and it was never in the shop. It's clear that the initial sticker shock still scares away some potential buyers.

 

[Eidorian]

Nice joke, keep telling Dell to sell that i7 and go for broke while Microsoft gobbles up all that cash.

If you buy $500 worth of hardware or $5,000 the cost of the license for Windows doesn't change based on the hardware.

Microsoft would make the same amount from a $500 quad core desktop to a $5,000 workstation.

 

[Povilas]

We could debate the quality of Apple's hardware all day...

We could debate a lot of things all day.

 

[NoExpectations]

Good for Apple....

....not good for us. Why are we so 'happy' that Apple can retain high prices? Give me an Apple....at a PC price!

 

[Rodimus Prime]

What were you expecting?

The Premium segment - everywhere - has natural barriers to it. One of them is price. The cost of entry is around $1000+.

Duh . . .

Well what is defined as premium I have noticed over the years has been dropping like a rock. Just 5 years ago premium computers started at around $2k and since have dropped to $1000. When I build my desktop it was around $1500 and was considered middle of the road.
In the next 5 years I would not be surprised to see a premium computer drop down to the $500 range. Computers are getting cheaper and faster.

The $1000+ market that apple almost solo plays in is a shinking market. The iPad is not a computer replacement and the mac Mini is not that good. The size of apple market is shrinking as well.

 

[Goona]

If you buy $500 worth of hardware or $5,000 the cost of the license for Windows doesn't change based on the hardware.

Microsoft would make the same amount from a $500 quad core desktop to a $5,000 workstation.

Right but Microsoft is announcing record profits while most PC manufaturers are reporting losses or barely hanging by with mediocre profits.

 

[*LTD*]

I am a hater because I question numbers that seem 2 good to be true......

I doubt you have the expertise to make that judgment.

They "seem 2 good to be true" because you of all people just can't stand to wrap your head around Apple's success, and how it's humanly possible for a tech company in this economy to so completely and unabashedly flout all conventional retail wisdom with such unequivocal success.

But don't worry, a lot of analysts still can't seem to comprehend how Apple does it.

Apple is a company that is not only able to execute on stated stratgy like no one else, but it has the unique and very rare ability to tap into the "I want" zone of the average consumer psyche. And I'm thankful that someone out there (Apple) is able to pull it off, so we can actually enjoy the tech we use every day.