Worldwide Mac Sales Remain Steady in 4Q 2016 Amid Continuing PC Market Decline

[apolloa]

We'll know soon enough who is right as quarterly Mac sales is what Apple reports in its quarterly financial reports.

Providing they provide the figures. Hopefully they will.

Uh, you realize they're talking about two different things? Ones talking about an increase in overall units sold, the other is talking about a decrease in market share. Both can happen at the same time.

Reading comprehension, man.

Also, the article you linked is comparing Q4 of this year to Q1 of last year, an unfair comparison. The study in this article is comparing Q4 of this year to Q4 of last year.

As for the part about Gardner, those were from their October numbers of Q3, which we already knew about. Apple said themself Mac sales were down in October. The new MacBook should keep sales steady.

An unfair comparison? I hardly think so, it reports Apples sales have declined, they should be improving, it doesn't matter which quarter it is. The new MacBook has apparently increased Microsofts sales, not Apples. It's horrendously overpriced. And both I do believe are discussing sales as well as market share, did you only read the articles title that I posted or something?

Only it could be true because it's what you want to believe.

Just like you only want to see the opposite to what the figures show. How could a report be any truer because of what I think? Stupid statement to make really.

They are only reporting laptops. Certainly iMac and Mac Pro sales are dipping in anticipation of new models.

What? No they aren't, both reports are talking about 'Mac' not 'Mac laptops'.

Well, even this report shows Apple losing .5% market share since Q4 of 2015 (7.5% to 7.0%, respectively). So, both?

Yeap. Slump in sales is a much more accurate description of it's computer business. I really fail to see how increasing prices helps that but there you go.

 

[pat500000]

Nope. Don't make money from a Mac or PC either. What's your point.

Point is there are people who make money from it. What's your point?

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

Just buy a fully specced 2015 15" rMPB. I did and it's amazing. Not one bit slower, because Skylake is energy focussed, bigger battery, better keyboard, useful ports, magsafe etc. etc. etc.

Actually, in practical use, the 2015 MBP IS "one bit slower" (actually, up to about half-fast slower); because the Thermal Management in the 2015 model kinda sucked, and so the CPU and GPU ended up being THROTTLED, even as low as about 50% speed, when doing CPU or GPU-intensive tasks (like, ya know, when you'd really NEED it!); whereas the improved Thermal Management (and Reduced Power Consumption) in the 2016 model allows the CPU and GPU to cruise along at 100% speed pretty much indefinitely.

Here's an article showing how dramatic the CPU and GPU throttling is in the 2016 MBP:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Pro-Retina-15-Mid-2015-Review.144402.0.html

Versus the 2016 MBP, which apparently exhibits NO throttling. Check out this EXCELLENT, highly-detailed, review of the 2016 MBP. Throttling (or lack thereof) is mentioned in a couple of places, and there is an extensive "Temperature" section of the review:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Pro-15-Late-2016-2-6-GHz-i7-Notebook-Review.185254.0.html

Same thing for the Battery: As pointed out in the Review above, smaller battery is offset by the less-power-hungry CPU and dGPU. You see, it's a SYSTEM. ALL the parts matter.

And as for the "useless" Ports on the 2016 MBP: As I have preached long and hard, those FOUR USB-C/TB3 Ports on the 2016 MBP, with their industry-leading, and whopping, 80 Gbps of raw, Multifunctional I/O capability, ARE useful NOW, and will be appreciated more and more during the time you have the Laptop; whereas the dedicated ports on the 2015 model will do nothing but become less and less useful as the days go by. You DO plan on keeping your new Laptop for longer than a year, right? If the answer to that is "yes", then USB-C/TB3 is the ONLY way to go. That's why there are literally DOZENS of non-Apple laptops with that EXACT same Port.

http://www.ultrabookreview.com/10579-laptops-thunderbolt-3/

Don't be fooled by the I/O Luddites! A little adapter shuffling now is minimal AND temporary. See the picture below. Do you REALLY think that THIS is going to be a major annoyance? Do you REALLY think that the little thingy below it is worth basing your ENTIRE Laptop-purchasing decision on? Stick it on the end of your USB-A cable and FORGET it! Carry a couple of spares if you're afraid. They're like $2.50 apiece. Oh, and they have Micro-USB versions, too that are the same price and look the same as the USB-A ones, if you have devices that have THAT horrible excuse for a connector...

Here's a 3-pack of those adapters for $7 on Amazon. That actually works out to LESS than $2.50 apiece:

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Hi-speed-Devices-MacBook-ChromeBook/dp/B01LHBFCEO/


Similarly, this is one place where I differ quite a bit from the review from notebookcheck.net, above. Amazon has SCADS of USB-C adapters and "mini-docks" that are available in a wide-array of port configurations and assortments from around $2.50 to $45 (but the $45 one has everything but FW 800 (USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 4k HDMI AND 1080p VGA, and STILL only takes up ONE USB-C Port). You can also get a mini-dock that has 3 USB 3.0 ports and Gig Ethernet for $22, etc, etc. The point being, with only one or two ports consumed, you can have pretty much any "legacy" ports you need. And when you are ready to replace those legacy devices, the 2016 MBP is Ready.

Remember, you can turn on USB-C/TB3 port into FOUR full-speed (not shared-bandwidth like with a Hub) 5 Gbps USB 3.0 ports; but there is NO WAY to turn a USB 3.0 port into even ONE full-speed USB 3.1 port, let alone a TB 3 or HDMI Port...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C316EIK/

https://www.amazon.com/CableCreation-Gigabit-Ethernet-Adapter-Macbook/dp/B0179UEXOW/

And although pricey, the OWC TB 3 Dock's THIRTEEN I/O Ports clearly shows just how much I/O you can extract from just ONE USB-C/TB 3 Port:

http://blog.macsales.com/38562-owc-...-3-dock-with-13-ports-available-for-pre-order


Mag-Safe: I got nothing. Oh wait! A little pricey; but it does fill the need...

https://www.amazon.com/Griffin-BreakSafe-Magnetic-Breakaway-Chromebook/dp/B01CQTK6GU

 

[CWallace]

Of course Steve viewed the iPhone/iPad as "the next big thing." But he also wouldn't release products that weren't compelling in some significant respect, nor would he offer products with seemingly inconsistent visions as to connectivity standards, etc. And Apple's products under Steve, while often somewhat expensive compared to the competition, never seemed like blatant money grabs.

Of course he did. Heck, he did it with the previous “cheese-grater” Mac Pro, which caused a major ruckus in the "pro" Macintosh community when it received only a mild CPU spec bump after two years (mid-2010 to mid-2012). And yes, for the record I know he passed in late 2011, but if he really cared we'd have had a 2011 model. Said Mac Pro also went with an 18-month upgrade gap between the mid-2006 and mid-2008 models. Yes, two years is not as egregious as three, but it's still not the "annual updates" folks seem to believe was the norm for this product class.

As for "inconsistent visions in connectivity standards", considering how many different connectivity (internal and external) protocols Apple products have had under his steerage. AppleBus. ADB. SCSI. USB. FireWire (in both 400 and 800 flavors with different connectors). iPod Dock. Lightning. NuBus. PCI. The list goes on.

Don't be fooled by the I/O Luddites! A little adapter shuffling now is minimal AND temporary.

I expect there was similar wailing and gnashing of teeth when Apple switched from ADB/FW on the Mac to USB. And they actually had a legitimate reason to complain because you could not use an adapter or a new cable to connect an ADB/FW device to USB.

At it's worst, USB-C is about as annoying from an adaption point as the move from the Dock connector to Lightning and we all survived that.

 

[brendu]

Point is there are people who make money from it. What's your point?

My point is that millions of people don't need a Mac or pc and the iPad is a very capable replacement. I explicitly stated before that obviously some people need traditional computers. Just that the number is always decreasing.

 

[SSDGUY]

So, Apple should have killed all iPods years ago?

yes.

 

[Stella]

This not misleading at all. This quite clearly states "PC marketshare" - so whether its a low end or high end machine, doesn't matter.

If you want statistics on low end vs high end, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Statistics can be very misleading. Are they measuring market share in dollars or number of notebooks? Are PC vendors selling more entry machines or top spec? A 1% capture of top end units could be a 10% capture of sales totals...or not.

They are only reporting laptops. Certainly iMac and Mac Pro sales are dipping in anticipation of new models.
[doublepost=1484238341]

 

[dj23andMe]

Mac shipments up; any news on Mac returns?

For sure the new MacBooks are not currying favor with professional software developers. http://www.onebigfluke.com/2016/10/alternatives-to-apple-computers.html

 

[amegicfox]

honest and loyal apple customers are locked in with OS X, so they are forced to buy expensive and outdated hardware like the mac mini and mac pro

they are also forced to buy crazy expensive rMB and MBP without ports and lower battery life

well done Tim !

 

[Lankyman]

Make the following thought experiment: Assume, Apple had never introduced a Mac Mini. Would we complain about Apple as much as we do now (we still would complain about other things)?

I would, as I want to see a completely new design for the iMac with a good spec list and upgrade options in line with real world prices, not ones that Apple make up when they are using a mind altering substance.

 

[pat500000]

My point is that millions of people don't need a Mac or pc and the iPad is a very capable replacement. I explicitly stated before that obviously some people need traditional computers. Just that the number is always decreasing.

Yeah, you stated you don't get why people are angry in this forum.

 

[jerrah]

Please do enjoy the planned obsolescence,

You've clearly not owned a Mac long enough for Operating System support to be dropped! What is it 3 versions of the OS or something? No end of supported operating systems can run on ancient PC hardware.

commonly conflicting software BIOS and driver update fiascos, coil whine, backlight bleed, near molten lava temperatures, ridiculously loud and constant fan noise, and near certainty of some hardware failure after initial warranty expires.

Hogwash. I use Mac's at work and home but I also use PC's. Similarly priced Dell hardware is just as good as the Apple equivalent. The Dell XPS I have at home has been completely faultless with none of the issues you've listed above and at work I don't see the PC's failing at a greater rate except for the fact that there are ten times as many PC's. (Fleet of around 14,000 machines)

 

[brendu]

Yeah, you stated you don't get why people are angry in this forum.

I still don't. Why does it make people angry that others can make due with an iPad? Why do techies on forums like this insist the iPad can't replace a computer at all when in fact it can for many if not most people?

 

[pat500000]

I still don't. Why does it make people angry that others can make due with an iPad? Why do techies on forums like this insist the iPad can't replace a computer at all when in fact it can for many if not most people?

How does film makers/content makers/ 3D designers using those programs requiring workstation with OS X feel if they don't have update computers? iPad cant do those things. They are not powerful enough to do those.

 

[moonjelly]

This not misleading at all. This quite clearly states "PC marketshare" - so whether its a low end or high end machine, doesn't matter.

If you want statistics on low end vs high end, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Obtuse. You completely avoided the meaning of the post. How are they defining market share; dollars or units? How are they defining a computer that is personal [PC]? If it includes touch screen laptops with removable key boards, why not include touch screen tablets with attachable keyboards? People can easily be mislead by factual statements, intentionally or not. A statistic in a news blurb is an answer to an invisible math problem using data published elsewhere.

 

[Stella]

I avoided nothing. Its quite clearly Units.

Obtuse. You completely avoided the meaning of the post. How are they defining market share; dollars or units?

 

[moonjelly]

I avoided nothing. Its quite clearly Units.

Still being obtuse. Mac Book unit sales increased. Prices increased with new models.

If a company product line is luxury widgets. They sell an increased number of luxury widgets. The price of their luxury widgets increased with new models. They get lumped in with all widgets. But some of their widget product lines don't count as widgets [tablets]. Their is a new class of cheap widgets [chrome widgets] selling like crazy even though the widget market is in general decline. But a statistic makes it look like the company sales are static based on an arbitrary definition of market share as units of all widgets, except some widgets.

But really you have to go all they way back up this thread where I agree with someone who says the definition of a PC used to generate the statistic "is really arbitrary". I agree saying statistics can be misleading in this way. But go ahead and be obtuse ignoring the meaning and context of the original statement. Here is the link.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...c-market-decline.2027062/page-7#post-24184889

 

[Stella]

I don't think you understand "Marketshare" as referenced by units sold, or the context of this report.

This report is concerned with overall marketshare that is: One laptop sold counts towards marketshare, no matter if its high end of low end.

It is a very simple concept.

As I said before, if you are looking at High end machine marketshare, the is the wrong report for you.

Enjoy your weekend.

Still being obtuse.

 

[brendu]

How does film makers/content makers/ 3D designers using those programs requiring workstation with OS X feel if they don't have update computers? iPad cant do those things. They are not powerful enough to do those.

Which again has absolutely nothing to do with the iPad being a suitable computer for a very different set of users. I don't think either of us disagree with the other.

 

[StyxMaker]

Curious why you think a general consumer should use a 5-10" screen with no keyboard or mouse/trackpad as their primary device for basic email, internet browsing, light photo editing and watching videos.

Sure when you're out doing stuff you're not going to lug something bigger than you can fit in a purse/pocket so you'll make compromises and smartphones/tablets are great. But at home? Really?

Yes, really. My iMac sits beside me streaming media to my Apple TVs while everything else is done with iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch.

 

[moonjelly]

Curious why you think a general consumer should use a 5-10" screen with no keyboard or mouse/trackpad as their primary device for basic email, internet browsing, light photo editing and watching videos.

Sure when you're out doing stuff you're not going to lug something bigger than you can fit in a purse/pocket so you'll make compromises and smartphones/tablets are great. But at home? Really?

Hi DevNull, There is a whole generation that can type 100+ words a minute on a virtual keyboard using keyboards like Nintype, while seamlessly moving their work through phone apps. I have a strong preference for a traditional keyboard and access to the command shell. But if I had to choose between a $300 tablet and a $300 dollar chrome book I might cave in and go iOS.

 

[Abazigal]

Curious why you think a general consumer should use a 5-10" screen with no keyboard or mouse/trackpad as their primary device for basic email, internet browsing, light photo editing and watching videos.

Sure when you're out doing stuff you're not going to lug something bigger than you can fit in a purse/pocket so you'll make compromises and smartphones/tablets are great. But at home? Really?

Why wouldn't they?

With a desktop, I am tethered to my desk, and have to sit on a chair in an upright position. With a tablet, I can perform those tasks from anywhere in my house, in any position. Be it on the bed, sofa, in the toilet, while having breakfast etc. It's so much more convenient and accessible.

 

[DevNull0]

Why wouldn't they?

With a desktop, I am tethered to my desk, and have to sit on a chair in an upright position. With a tablet, I can perform those tasks from anywhere in my house, in any position. Be it on the bed, sofa, in the toilet, while having breakfast etc. It's so much more convenient and accessible.

Apparently there's a whole class of computer you don't seem to know exists:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laptop

There you go. Almost all of the capability of a desktop, and with Apple just as much performance. Yet you can perform those tasks from anywhere in your house, in any position. Be it on the bed, sofa, in the toilet, while having breakfast etc. It's so much more convenient and accessible.

 

[sudo1996]

Curious as to what reason you would give a general consumer that no longer has a functioning computer to buy a new one if they already own an iPhone/Smartphone and/or an iPad/tablet? By general consumer I am talking about someone who browses the internet, uses email, and has basic photo/video/music use that doesn't include advanced editing.

Excel, Word, sending/receiving emails with arbitrary attachments like ZIPs, using websites that might not work well on mobile, storing video and photo libraries that won't fit on an iPad, storing media from a DSLR camera or something, playing pirated movies/TV (not that I support it, but lots of people do it), maybe someone gives you data on a flash drive, video games, any job that requires you to use a PC (which is lots of them), the hotter-than-ever topic of computer programming... My mom is very tech-challenged and doesn't have a tech job but uses a PC for many of those reasons I listed.

Why buy a tablet as a general consumer? PC can do everything a tablet can and more without having to devise workarounds. Or you can get something kinda in the middle that still has full PC functionality, like a touch screen laptop or a *shudders* Surface.

 

[Abazigal]

Apparently there's a whole class of computer you don't seem to know exists:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laptop

There you go. Almost all of the capability of a desktop, and with Apple just as much performance. Yet you can perform those tasks from anywhere in your house, in any position. Be it on the bed, sofa, in the toilet, while having breakfast etc. It's so much more convenient and accessible.

From personal experience, I find that using a tablet while I am say, reclining on a sofa (and yes, I have used my iPad in the toilet) is still more comfortable when working from a laptop (and I own a MBA, so I have ample experience using both). I can't explain it. Maybe it's the absence of the keyboard which makes the iPad a more intimate experience (it's closer and I can interact with my content directly by touching it). Native apps are also nicer for consuming content (I like the reddit app for iOS better than the browser interface).

Of course, there are certain tasks that I am still more comfortable doing on a laptop, but for those aforementioned tasks such as email, video watching, light productivity, web browsing, I already do them all from my iPad and I wouldn't do it any other way.