Apple U.S. PC Market Share Up .5% to 5th Spot, Study Shows
TMO Reports - Apple U.S. PC Market Share Up .5% to 5th Spot, Study Shows
by , 4:00 PM EDT, April 15th, 2005
Apple Computer took a jump from 3.2% to 3.7% in U.S. PC market share for the first quarter of 2005, according to the Gartner Dataquest research firm. The increase in shipments of Macs now puts Apple in fifth place among the top manufacturers.
Apple shipped 571,000 Macs to capture 3.7% of the market share, compared to 393,000, or 2.6% in the same quarter a year ago. Compared to the previous quarter, Apple market share expanded 0.5% from Q4 of 2004.Compared to a year ago, Apple unit shipments jumped 45.1% -- more than any of the top five U.S. PC makers, Gartner said.
"It was a great quarter for Apple," Charles Smulders, vice president of Gartner's Computing Platforms Worldwide Group, told The Mac Observer Friday. "It was driven primarily by sales of the consumer iMac category, which includes the Mac mini. They also had strong PowerBook sales as well."
Apple announced the Mac mini on January 11 and began selling it on Saturday, Jan. 22 in the U.S. and worldwide on Saturday, Jan. 29.
With only 69 days to sell the Mac mini in the fiscal second-quarter instead of 90 days, Mr. Smulders said the increase in market share, together with the popularity of the Mac mini was "impressive," but didn't want to crown the newest consumer Mac a success just yet.
"I remember the first quarter of sales for the Mac Cube were good too," he commented. "I think if we get a continuing increase in market share and units shipped this quarter and in the third quarter as much as we did in the calendar first quarter, I think we can then say the Mac mini is a success. This report is like the first weekend of a new movie. We've got to see if it's still popular next week."
Among other PC makers, Dell remains in the number one position, having sold 4.87 million PCs in the U.S. for a 32.0% share -- an 8.5% improvement for the same quarter a year ago. HP was second at 2.6 million units shipped, or a 17.2% market share. Gateway was third with a market share of 5.4% and IBM was fourth at 4.1%.
Of interest: Mr. Smulders said there had been "extremely strong demand" for laptop PCs in the first quarter across the U.S. and that was certain to have helped Apple's 3.7% market share. In the U.S. market, lower pricing drove sales of notebooks in the first quarter, however it was not enough to offset the declines in desktop PC shipments.
Preliminary market share figures for worldwide were also released, but Apple did not make the top five.
Dell was first worldwide, shipping 8.52 million units for a 16.9% market share. HP was second, shipping 6.99 million for a 13.9% share, IBM was third at 2.3 million units, or 4.6% share, and Fujitsu/Siemens was fourth with 2.0 million units shipped, or a 4.1% market share.
A final list for worldwide and U.S. will be released by Gartner in mid-May. The firms numbers are preliminary results and include the Americas segment of North, South and Central America. PCs in this category include deskbased PCs, mobile PCs and x86 servers.
Mr. Smulders noted that Dell's worldwide growth rate fell below 20% for the first time in 10 quarters, pulled down by weaker performance in the U.S. market. Still, Dell's shipments grew faster than the market average of 13.7%.
"I think Dell's drop off in growth is due to their reliance on the U.S. market, which was weaker, together with a greater focus on maintaining profitability rather than share during the quarter," Mr. Smulder commented. "I think this development will spur more discussions as to whether the direct sales model can compete with the low end of the PC market, such as say the Apple Mac mini."
Observer Comments
Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:42 pm Subject: Apple Stock Down 22% - Another 5% Drop Today
78% of Apple stockholders are not selling today.
I have been trying to figure out who is this chucklehead RC. Using this test http://www.matthewbarr.co.uk/simpsons I am pretty sure that he is the Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons http://www.snpp.com/guides/cbg.file.html
QuoteRealityCheck wrote:
Sorry, investors aren't fooled my a minor blip in Mac sales caused by Mac fanatics replacing their old Macs with Mac minis. Apple stock is off more than 22% from recent highs, and dropped another 5% today alone. And please stop with the RDF that its a bad economy, Apple stock is down twice as much as the tech averages.
As usual it would be a lot more like 'plain Jane' if you were not around to put a bump here or there. Well it looks like a lot of institutional investing companies are putting Apple on short. Not unusual for a stock that has tripled its value in 12 months (at current $31!!). So some out there get their bread by realizing on such opportunities and are selling out, what's new. If anything there will be more opportunities for those who want to enter the fray at somewhat a cheaper pricexstock. I'll start to get worried when analyst will change target price for the title.
"Sorry, investors aren't fooled my a minor blip in Mac sales caused by Mac fanatics replacing their old Macs with Mac minis."
Sorry, Reality Check, but the number of Macs sold started increasing before the Mini was released. Combine that with the proven iPod halo effect, and it shows that the Mac platform is expanding. But I didn't have to tell you that, the article you're posting in is about the rise in Mac market share.
Also, it's not a minor rise. A 43% increase in the number of Macs sold is a major rise.
"And please stop with the RDF that its a bad economy, Apple stock is down twice as much as the tech averages."
I haven't seen a single person here say that the price drop is a result of a bad economy. Please stop making things up.
Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:33 pm Subject: More Macs Are Good
Wow! It looks like the rest of the world is finally catching on. I can't believe I was wrong about this. I've spent all this time trying to make people think Macs were bad and no one seems to be listening. Maybe I should start finding Pixar sites and convince them that DreamWorks films are much better. I mean I've seen Robotz 8 times and I just can't get enough of it.
Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:38 pm Subject: Look at the DOW RC
Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:59 pm Subject: I took a gamble
I took a gamble not to long ago when Apple stock was high and decided not to sell then even though it would have doubled my investment. The stock is down a bit now, but I think that I will gamble again in the hopes it will continue to rise.
I am afraid to take the Simpson's personality test and find out that I am Principle Skinner, Reverend Lovejoy, or Ned Flanders. 
QuoteGuest wrote:
78% of Apple stockholders are not selling today.
I have been trying to figure out who is this chucklehead RC. Using this test http://www.matthewbarr.co.uk/simpsons I am pretty sure that he is the Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons http://www.snpp.com/guides/cbg.file.html
QuoteRealityCheck wrote:
Sorry, investors aren't fooled my a minor blip in Mac sales caused by Mac fanatics replacing their old Macs with Mac minis. Apple stock is off more than 22% from recent highs, and dropped another 5% today alone. And please stop with the RDF that its a bad economy, Apple stock is down twice as much as the tech averages.
"Minor blip"? Apple's sales have been over 1 million each of the last two quarters. Apple has seen year-over-year sales increases for the ;ast six quarters. "Minor blip" my ass.
Only a total douche would rejoice in other people's loss.
Go RealityLoser!
QuoteRealityCheck wrote:
Sorry, investors aren't fooled my a minor blip in Mac sales caused by Mac fanatics replacing their old Macs with Mac minis. Apple stock is off more than 22% from recent highs, and dropped another 5% today alone. And please stop with the RDF that its a bad economy, Apple stock is down twice as much as the tech averages.
Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:24 pm Subject: Apple not only stock down....
Sat Apr 16, 2005 10:05 am Subject: News Flash: I'm a TMO plant.
Their plan to plant me as an @ss troll worked beautifully. People just can't help but click on the articled to refute my @ss hat ways.
More page click means mo money for TMO, and by extension ME!!!
Sorry iLemmings, you are too easily manipulated my the TMO staff. Muhhaahaahaa....
RealityCheck
"A douche like the Mac morons here who like to rejoice in Microsoft's loss, you Apple tool."
What's wrong with that? Microsoft rose to success by making a terrible clone of the Mac OS, and marketting it as the greatest, most advanced operating system on Earth. Then they installed it as the dominant operating system through insane licensing, unfair business practices, and a crushing advertising budget. The result has been ten years of an insecure, shoddy piece of junk as the standard operating system headed by a monopoly convicted of abusing its power. Rejoicing in Microsoft's loss is like rejoicing in Enron's loss.
If no halo effect, unit sale of Mac should be around 950k-970k. An unit sale of 1070k is sufficient evidence of existence of halo effect. Check with DawnTreader, we debated this after Q1 result so is not an after-the-occurence comment.
I believe Mac is on the way to capture up to 4.5% marketshare in US in 2005.
Prediction: 3.2% (Q1), 3.7% (Q2), 4% (Q3), 4.5% (Q4).
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
What's wrong with that? Microsoft rose to success by making a terrible clone of the Mac OS, and marketting it as the greatest, most advanced operating system on Earth. Then they installed it as the dominant operating system through insane licensing, unfair business practices, and a crushing advertising budget. The result has been ten years of an insecure, shoddy piece of junk as the standard operating system headed by a monopoly convicted of abusing its power. Rejoicing in Microsoft's loss is like rejoicing in Enron's loss.
I felt good about that last quote. Attempting to evangelize the world about Macs gives me great orgasms when spitting out the usual Apple material about stability, innovation, halo effect, and leadership in technology. However, the latest Mac Mini makes me crap on the toilet.
-sethtv
anyone who makes a stereotypical over generalization as yours to decide what piece of hardware they use is a fool.
mac users are like windows users, they are human beings. there are plenty of friendly mac users out there.
but i suspect by tone your discussion, you are lying when you say you are a potential switcher, and simply one of windows using trolls who get entertained flaming mac web sites, daily. I would hate to be like you and waste my time on a PC forum trolling for the ego rush.
Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:16 pm Subject: the Apple and TMO community
+
QuoteGuest wrote:QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Blow me, @asshat.
You don't reflect the supposed helpful, friendly Apple community I heard so much about. You have just lost a potential switcher. It's this arrogance with Mac fans I hate. They will always be cussing, arrogant fools.
Guest, the "helpful, friendly" Apple community you've heard so much about is both alive and extremely well here on TMO. Don't let the words of one unregistered guest stand for all of the friendly and helpful words that I, along with other regsitered TMO members (and plenty of Guests, as well) will be more than happy to provide.
Registered, passowrd-protected members of TMO put their reputations at stake with every post. Unregistered, anonymous Guests do not.
To date, after nearly two years of registered participation and over 500 posts, plus daily viewing of news stories and forum topics, I have never known a registered member to get out of hand in any way (excluding RC, of course). And when a registered member apparantly does so, it is most often from a poorly-worded post. Other regsitered members express their concerns, and everything is worked out smoothly.
If you find this hard to believe, just post a technical question in any of the TMO Forum Labs. People here will jump at the chance to provide assistance and their personal experience to your problem. Post your questions in the Graphics and HTML forums, and I'll be one of them
As a veteran of the CompuServe Information Service (CI$ -- the online standard before AOL and the web blew it away), I can honestly say you won't find too many online communities on par with TMO. I certainly wouldn't spend so much time here -- on a beautiful Saturday evening in western PA, USA no less -- were it otherwise.
Quotemrmgraphics wrote:
+
Guest, the "helpful, friendly" Apple community you've heard so much about is both alive and extremely well here on TMO. Don't let the words of one unregistered guest stand for all of the friendly and helpful words that I, along with other regsitered TMO members (and plenty of Guests, as well) will be more than happy to provide.
Registered, passowrd-protected members of TMO put their reputations at stake with every post. Unregistered, anonymous Guests do not.
To date, after nearly two years of registered participation and over 500 posts, plus daily viewing of news stories and forum topics, I have never known a registered member to get out of hand in any way (excluding RC, of course). And when a registered member apparantly does so, it is most often from a poorly-worded post. Other regsitered members express their concerns, and everything is worked out smoothly.
If you find this hard to believe, just post a technical question in any of the TMO Forum Labs. People here will jump at the chance to provide assistance and their personal experience to your problem. Post your questions in the Graphics and HTML forums, and I'll be one of them
As a veteran of the CompuServe Information Service (CI$ -- the online standard before AOL and the web blew it away), I can honestly say you won't find too many online communities on par with TMO. I certainly wouldn't spend so much time here -- on a beautiful Saturday evening in western PA, USA no less -- were it otherwise.
Haha there is always someone who patrols the forums, not the moderators but others who feel the need to respond to EVERY post that seems the slightest bit negative. Don't want the people who came here from Google to know the truth about the sorry Mac platform. Can you hold it in long enough to not respond to this post. This is a test for the Mac-washed fans.
-Sethtv
"Don't want the people who came here from Google to know the truth about the sorry Mac platform. "
Actually, it's more like not wanting anyone to get duped by the complete and total bunk from the resident Microsoft cultists. When they tell lies, they're hit with facts. You can whine about that all you like but it won't change anything.
Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:21 am Subject:
It's been a long, long time since Apple was in the US top 5 among PC makers. I suppose the mergers of HP/Compaq and Gateway/eMachines helped the effort
I remember when Apple fell off the list many years ago and it's good to see the company fight its way back. As much as the sequential gains look good, the year-over-year gains is US share are quite impressive. It won't be long before Apple captures the number 4 spot and I'll say within 24 months Apple may best Gateway in the US market for PC shipments to move into the number 3 position in the States.
Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:46 am Subject: so mac users are suppose to shut up cause you say so?
so mac users are suppose shut up cause you say so?
"im gonna call you stupid. And if you say im wrong, it proves my point"
well i call BS.
screw you. really, that is a intellectually self serving and bogus argument at best. its not playground worthy.
well, lets see, what is stupider, posting on forum of a news site which is actually of interest to the platform I use, or flaming a group of people on a site i have no real interest in other than a motivation to call them stupid because they dont use my virus spyware riddle platform and i can jerk off to it.
but lets see you prove me wrong. here is a test for you
lets see how long you can go with out posting on MacObserver. I bet i go longer not only not posting to a PC news site but reading one as well. than you can go not posting to MacObserver.
of course that would mean you would have to have a life
QuoteGuest wrote:
so mac users are suppose shut up cause you say so?
"im gonna call you stupid. And if you say im wrong, it proves my point"
well i call BS.
screw you. really, that is a intellectually self serving and bogus argument at best. its not playground worthy.
well, lets see, what is stupider, posting on forum of a news site which is actually of interest to the platform I use, or flaming a group of people on a site i have no real interest in other than a motivation to call them stupid because they dont use my virus spyware riddle platform and i can jerk off to it.
but lets see you prove me wrong. here is a test for you
lets see how long you can go with out posting on MacObserver. I bet i go longer not only not posting to a PC news site but reading one as well. than you can go not posting to MacObserver.
of course that would mean you would have to have a life
ah excellent.. ROFLMAO
Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:04 pm Subject: Mine is bigger than yours
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Actually, it's more like not wanting anyone to get duped by the complete and total bunk from the resident Microsoft cultists. When they tell lies, they're hit with facts. You can whine about that all you like but it won't change anything.
I'm not whining. I'm laughing
. You Mac disciples are so fun to annoy. It's too easy! Actually, it's like not wanting anyone to get duped by total bunk from Apple cultists. Fine, keep posting, insecure Mac butt.
-Sethtv
Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:06 pm Subject: Re: Gateway?
Quotekenaustus wrote:
Dawn Trader
If Gateway doesn't start making some healthy profits and improve their cash & debt positions Apple will move up a notch without selling more units.
Gateway picked up huge unit volume (by Gateway standards) with the eMachines purchase. Gateway sold more units than Apple in the 4th calendar quarter but had less than a third of Apple's revenue.
The eMachines sales vaulted Gateway into the #3 spot. It will take a few/several quarters for Apple to outpace Gateway in the US market, but Apple should ovetake Gateway within the year for total unit shipments (US and international).
I know im not a registered member or anything but i do use both platforms. I do like the mac better but i dont hate windows. and to be fair who cares what these people think? they are the few who have nothing better to do than sit and piss off nice and helpful people. so to all naysayers and instigaters, just shut up
"Actually, it's like not wanting anyone to get duped by total bunk from Apple cultists."
In this topic, the only things said about Apple that aren't factual have come from Reality Check and you. So, come on. I dare you to point out this "bunk from Apple cultists". Or was saying that just for a quick laugh and not something you expected to back up?
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
"Actually, it's like not wanting anyone to get duped by total bunk from Apple cultists."
In this topic, the only things said about Apple that aren't factual have come from Reality Check and you. So, come on. I dare you to point out this "bunk from Apple cultists". Or was saying that just for a quick laugh and not something you expected to back up?
Hahaha. Mac cultists won't admit problems Apple has. Why point them out to Mac slaves if they don't care to listen? You are obviously startled by the thought of the idea of Apple's ineffectiveness.
-Sethtv
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