Anecdotally among the non-geeks that you know, why are PC shipments falling?
Its got a few reasons, but can't necessarily be nailed down to just one.
First, have to understand that these numbers are for pre-built, or all-in-one computers. This does not take into account after market upgrades of existing machines, or the hobbyist and do-it-yourself crowd that is also building their own (or for others).
So now we know that these numbers are missing a large chunk of actual information. We can start trying to make conclusions. Why are pre-built computers selling less?
- It could be more PC users are swtiching to DIY builds.
- People buying Pre-builts aren't as tech-savvy and don't require as much updating / replacing hardware
- Computer performance in the mainstream for prebuilts hasn't grown significantly. 5 year old computers are still running fine and can still do most of what the mainstream computer users want. This extends the upgrade cycle by years. The average user, who isn't looking for bleeding edge performance from their computer isn't going to replace a computer just because something is newer and shinier. Most PC users in this category only replace their computers when they either fail, or the system is no longer powerful enough for daily driving. And with the diminishing returns we've seen in mid-range computing parts, this time between need to update has grown.
So, pick your reason, could be one of many. But PC shipments from system builders and laptop makers are generally decreasing year after year these days. Especially since things like Hybrid Devices (2-in-1 windows machines) aren't counted here, have seen dramatic sales increase. This doesn't include tablets' of any sort, regardless of running Windows or iOS or Android.
I also love the MacRumours' factually incorrect slant in the headline. "Apple sales hold".. no, they didn't. Apple sold 100,000 less Apple computers in 1stQ 2016 than they did in 1stQ 2015. thats not "holding steady".
I also think for Apple's slowdown in sales from previous quarter is a lack of meaningful updates to their bulk lines of computers. Their best selling has been the MacBook Air. This laptop is no longer being seen as a "best buy" due to old specs. Lack of updates and a downright terrible display that almost every single other competitor in the same price points can beat out. The options in Apple Land is only to spend more money to get things that other companies are offering inclusive. Higher Resolution display. Better Cameras, More ports, and even equal or better CPU performance due to faster updates (and in the rMacBook's case, terrible thermal throttling)
Basically TL

R
mainstream computers are a mature product category. Almost everything we are seeing today is revisionary at best, and often don't offer compelling reasons for regularly replacing entire PCs'
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7200 is not much faster for single user in any case, 5400 is quieter, larger, cooler. And if you're able to get a bigger drive at the same price point (which is generally the case), can even be effectively faster than a smaller 7200 due to the effects of short stroking.
So.... maybe Apple know what they're doing and people just comparing 7200 vs 5400 are not taking other factors into account.
Yes 7200 is faster if comparing same size for same size. But generally you're not.
Including a 5400RPM hard drive in ANYTHING that is not a cheap, low end laptop is inexcusible in 2016, ESPECIALLY with how much Apple charges already for their computers.
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Number 5 in market share, number 1 in profits! Must be doing something right
can you provide data to say that they're #1 in profits in the PC industry? Because Apple hasn't historically announced a breakdown of profits based on product categories. There's no way to know just how profitable in the PC space alone Apple is. Considering that Something like 80-90% of their revenues last announcement came from iOS and iPhone related markets, I am willing to bet that Apple is really not as insanely profitable in the PC space as some of the other competitors are like Dell or Lenovo.
it is also a false equivalence that MacRumours users tend to forget. profit doesn't mean quality, nor does it indicate popularity. (EG, sell 100 items at $1 and make .01c profit on each, or sell 1 item at $10 and make $5 profit, the most profitable item in this case isn't the most popular, nor indication of best quality)