Apple Claims 91% of $1,000+ PC Market Revenue in June • Hacker News Board

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

#31

Post by swombat » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:05 PM UTC

olefoo wrote: post #21

vaksel wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I see two or three a week, but that may be a function of the places I spend my time. They strike me as tippy and underpowered. I could see using one in the city, but I wouldn't want to take one from Portland to Seattle, or to the mountains.

I've driven a smart a few times, both on the motorway and in the city, and I have to admit that it's really quite pleasant to drive, in town anyway.

In town, it feels really, really nimble and quick. It accelerates quickly, it parks easily, it fits into small gaps and spaces, it can turn on a dime, and generally it just feels good.

On the motorway, it's ok until 75mph or so (speed limit being 70mph here). Above that it start to feel very light on the road... 85mph was the highest I dared to take it, and it felt like every gust of wind might knock me off the road. Around 70mph, though, it felt small but steady.

On the whole, I think it's a really nice car, particularly for those who like a modern gadget feel. The Smart feels like an iPhone car, if you see what I mean. You wouldn't do your excel spreadsheets on it, but it's damn nice when you're out and about in the city.

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

#32

Post by sahaj » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:07 PM UTC

sahaj wrote: post #6

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…

is cray still relevant?

i don't understand the downvote. this is a serious question. i have not been around this world long enough to know cray well. it seems to me that the original commenter made a point that cray targeted the high end market and it has not been well for them, and i would like to understand how they are doing today.

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

#33

Post by jodrellblank » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:20 PM UTC

sahaj wrote: post #32

sahaj wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

is cray still relevant?

i don't understand the downvote. this is a serious question. i have not been around this world long enough to know cray well. it seems to me that the original commenter made a point that cray targeted the high end market and it has not been well for them, and i would like to understand how they are doing today.

Looking at the Top 500 Supercomputers list, there are Crays in position 2, 6, 11, 12, 13, 21, 23...

http://top500.org/list/2009/06/100

So, they aren't out of the game. The previous lists are available, if you're interested you could compare Cray's standings with previous years.

I don't understand the downvote. this is a serious question.

The way you asked it carries an implication that Cray is not still relevant - it has the impact of a statement dismissing Cray rather than a quesiton about Cray.

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

#34

Post by iigs » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:27 PM UTC

trjordan wrote: post #29

> While NPD's sales numbers are limited to brick-and-mortar retail stores [...] This has a huge amount to do with this. Where else can you buy high-end PCs in a physical store, besides the Apple store?

Great catch. I haven't read the article yet but it wasn't adding up. For-corporate-use Thinkpads and Dells are almost all in the $1001+ range, so I was confused.

One of the most fun parts of the Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field is the statistics -- "91% of the > $1000 market", "most revenue during a non-holiday quarter", "most computers sold on sunny tuesday afternoons in spring", etc.

This stat is so cherry-picked it might as well have been "Apple claims 100% of the 'glowing-fruit-on-lid' PC sales."

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

#35

Post by zimbabwe » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:33 PM UTC

tdoggette wrote: post #5

zimbabwe wrote: post #2

I'm astounded at how recession-proof Apple has made itself seem. I was hoping they'd survive without too many bruises, but it seems as if the recession is boosting their sales, if anything.

They're a luxury good and a status symbol-- the people that were willing to pay a premium for one pre-recession by and large can still afford to. It's a triumph of their marketing direction (backed up by products of quality, so I hear).

I'll confirm product quality. It's just that right when the economy exploded there were a lot of people who were pretty snarky towards Apple, sneering at a company that dared make an expensive product. In fact, I spent this week on prog.reddit, and there are still people basically saying they'll laugh at Apple fanboys' faces when Apple collapses and they lose everything. I'm just glad that's not happening.

From anecdotal experience, every graduate at my old high school just picked up a 13" Macbook Pro. They're everywhere.

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

#36

Post by zimbabwe » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:35 PM UTC

arrrg wrote: post #4

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…

market revenue =! market share

Apple's market cap is around Google's, according to Newsweek. They make a pretty awesome profit on every product they sell.

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

#37

Post by jemmons » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:40 PM UTC

josefresco wrote: post #22

ptomato wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

There's a big difference between being successful and being change-the-world successful. I'm sure Apple would love a piece of the latter but given their business model it probably won't happen. I can't imagine Jobs is happy about being just being a billionaire when there are guys like Gates who dwarf his wealth and success (and therefore have the cash to actually saves many more lives and alter world history)

I'm sorry, it seems one could conclude from your statement that you don't believe Jobs-era Apple (which, after all, has had basically the same business model all these years) hasn't changed the world. It seems to me they've already done that a few times over.

The iPod. The iTune Music Store. The iPhone. A world-class music studio for $500. A world-class motion picture studio for $1000. The evolution of the digital hub. The insistence that technology should "just work". I honestly don't know what else you could expect from any other company of any size or business model.

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

#38

Post by anigbrowl » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:58 PM UTC

ptomato wrote: post #20

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.

True, but (1) we had many years of quite good economic growth until 2008 and (2) their big $$$ are coming from the iPhone right now - wasn't there a post yesterday observing that it's outselling the Mac? So one could argue that the iPhone is their lower-end product line: Mac design philosophy that goes in your pocket.

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

#39

Post by poppysan » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 5:58 PM UTC

josefresco wrote: post #25

JeremyChase wrote: post #10

This is a staggering figure, but shouldn't be a surprise when you look at the PC laptop offerings. The way I see it, there are so many offerings under $1,000 that I can't see why you would pay more for a PC. $800 or so will get you a near top of the line system, and if you pay more than that you probably have a special application and as a result are paying a steep premium. Apple has successfully positioned itself as…

It's easy to break 1K if you factor in gaming or simply want a nicely-built machine. Case-in-point the Dell Inspiron line dominates under 1K, but if you want an XPS you gotta spend over the 1K mark. The Inspirons compete with the XPSs as far as specs, but the quality and build of the XPS machines take them a notch above.

But at the point you talk about gaming, you eliminate mac as a competition.

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

#40

Post by anigbrowl » Thu, Jul 23, 2009, 6:04 PM UTC

jemmons wrote: post #37

josefresco wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a big difference between being successful and being change-the-world successful. I'm sure Apple would love a piece of the latter but given their business model it probably won't happen. I can't imagine Jobs is happy about being just being a billionaire when there are guys like Gates who dwarf his wealth and success (and therefore have the cash to actually saves many more lives and alter world history)

I'm sorry, it seems one could conclude from your statement that you don't believe Jobs-era Apple (which, after all, has had basically the same business model all these years) hasn't changed the world. It seems to me they've already done that a few times over. The iPod. The iTune Music Store. The iPhone. A world-class music studio for $500. A world-class motion picture studio for $1000. The evolution of the digital hu…

I think josefresco meant the world outside the computer market. The iPod and iPhone, I agree 100%.

Music and movie software...no. As a professional in that sphere I personally feel Apple comes late to those parties after working out or buying what everyone else is wearing. That's not meant as a put-down, I just think you're overlooking how much innovation comes from third parties.