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Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

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Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#11

Post by pavlov »

pchristensen wrote: post #9
ljlolel wrote: post #3

This is not necessarily a good thing. Apple has largely $1000+ computers. Them taking 91% (and having single-digit overall market share) means that consumers increasingly prefer small portable cheap low-power computers (netbooks and similar), while the high-end market disappears. As an analogy, it would be like Cray boasting 20 years ago that they owned 90% of the $10,000+ computer market. Apple needs to innovate on…

I don't know, this is like saying Mercedes needs to get into the sub-$40K market. Maybe they do, maybe not. I think Mercedes and Apple would rather own the top and have the market rise to them.

Mercedes is quite active at the lowest end of the market: they produce cute microcars under the Smart brand. (I guess Smarts might not be available in the US at all, considering Americans' excess-oriented taste in automobiles.)

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#12

Post by inovica »

ljlolel wrote: post #3

This is not necessarily a good thing. Apple has largely $1000+ computers. Them taking 91% (and having single-digit overall market share) means that consumers increasingly prefer small portable cheap low-power computers (netbooks and similar), while the high-end market disappears. As an analogy, it would be like Cray boasting 20 years ago that they owned 90% of the $10,000+ computer market. Apple needs to innovate on…

Apple has always had the philosophy of selling at higher prices than others based on the 'quality' of their products - I'm not judging on this, just saying - it also gives them better margins. I remember there was a quote from Steve Jobs saying that they had a market share akin to BMPW (I might have that wrong) and that there was nothing wrong with being the BMW of the computer world.

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#13

Post by Locke1689 »

pavlov wrote: post #11
pchristensen wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, this is like saying Mercedes needs to get into the sub-$40K market. Maybe they do, maybe not. I think Mercedes and Apple would rather own the top and have the market rise to them.

Mercedes is quite active at the lowest end of the market: they produce cute microcars under the Smart brand. (I guess Smarts might not be available in the US at all, considering Americans' excess-oriented taste in automobiles.)

Fine - Porsche.

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#14

Post by russell »

pavlov wrote: post #11
pchristensen wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, this is like saying Mercedes needs to get into the sub-$40K market. Maybe they do, maybe not. I think Mercedes and Apple would rather own the top and have the market rise to them.

Mercedes is quite active at the lowest end of the market: they produce cute microcars under the Smart brand. (I guess Smarts might not be available in the US at all, considering Americans' excess-oriented taste in automobiles.)

It is available in the US, but it is not cheap. IIRC it's in the range of 20K.

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#15

Post by mechanical_fish »

ljlolel wrote: post #3

This is not necessarily a good thing. Apple has largely $1000+ computers. Them taking 91% (and having single-digit overall market share) means that consumers increasingly prefer small portable cheap low-power computers (netbooks and similar), while the high-end market disappears. As an analogy, it would be like Cray boasting 20 years ago that they owned 90% of the $10,000+ computer market. Apple needs to innovate on…

the high-end market disappears

Or the whole market for things called "computers" is growing, and the high-end market is just growing slower than the rest of it.

This doesn't mean that the high-end market is doomed. It might just be growing at a slower rate.

You may ask: Why doesn't Apple then try to get into a business that is growing faster? The answer is: Sales growth is not the metric. Any business can boost sales by lowering their profit margin. (Old-school dotcoms used to grow like wildfire by giving the product away below cost and hoping to make it up in volume.) What matters is profit growth.

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#16

Post by vaksel »

pavlov wrote: post #11
pchristensen wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, this is like saying Mercedes needs to get into the sub-$40K market. Maybe they do, maybe not. I think Mercedes and Apple would rather own the top and have the market rise to them.

Mercedes is quite active at the lowest end of the market: they produce cute microcars under the Smart brand. (I guess Smarts might not be available in the US at all, considering Americans' excess-oriented taste in automobiles.)

smarts are around, but they are not that popular. I think they've been out for two or even three years here, but I haven't seen one yet

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#17

Post by rimantas »

ljlolel wrote: post #3

This is not necessarily a good thing. Apple has largely $1000+ computers. Them taking 91% (and having single-digit overall market share) means that consumers increasingly prefer small portable cheap low-power computers (netbooks and similar), while the high-end market disappears. As an analogy, it would be like Cray boasting 20 years ago that they owned 90% of the $10,000+ computer market. Apple needs to innovate on…

I am not sure that consumers prefer netbooks. I still don't know anyone owning one. I must admin I don't believe in netbooks market—one part will be taken by smartphones, another by proper notebooks. Speaking of which: Apple's computers sales grew only by 4%, but notebook sales grew by 13%. Going into low-end, low-price and nonexistent margins market would be the sure way for Apple to die.

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#18

Post by pavlov »

Locke1689 wrote: post #13
pavlov wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mercedes is quite active at the lowest end of the market: they produce cute microcars under the Smart brand. (I guess Smarts might not be available in the US at all, considering Americans' excess-oriented taste in automobiles.)

Fine - Porsche.

I don't think the "Apple of automobiles" exists, in the sense of there being a premium brand with substantial marketshare that would be operated by an independent company. (Porsche recently became a subsidiary of Volkswagen.)

Edit -- on second thought, I guess BMW could be it. They are still independent and don't produce anything cheaper than the Mini.

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#19

Post by Locke1689 »

pavlov wrote: post #18
Locke1689 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fine - Porsche.

I don't think the "Apple of automobiles" exists, in the sense of there being a premium brand with substantial marketshare that would be operated by an independent company. (Porsche recently became a subsidiary of Volkswagen.) Edit -- on second thought, I guess BMW could be it. They are still independent and don't produce anything cheaper than the Mini.

Porsche works fine as long as you consider their very long history before the month or so ago where they got acquired by Volkswagen.

Re: Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June

#20

Post by ptomato »

ljlolel wrote: post #3

This is not necessarily a good thing. Apple has largely $1000+ computers. Them taking 91% (and having single-digit overall market share) means that consumers increasingly prefer small portable cheap low-power computers (netbooks and similar), while the high-end market disappears. As an analogy, it would be like Cray boasting 20 years ago that they owned 90% of the $10,000+ computer market. Apple needs to innovate on…

People have been saying for years that Apple needs to come out with lower end products or they'll die. Their steadily increasing profits (even through the recession) and massive cash reserves say otherwise.
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