Apple Notebook Sales Soaring, Ominous News for Dell
Apple Notebook Sales Soaring, Ominous News for Dell
by , 2:15 PM EDT, August 21st, 2007
A ChangeWave Research survey reveals that Apple's notebook computer sales are soaring and that there is ominous news for Dell on the consumer front.
The study, obtained by TMO, was conducted in the first week of August. It detected a major shift in notebook buying patterns by consumers.
"We began by asking consumers who bought a computer in the past 90 days to tell us about their purchase. Then, we asked those planning to buy a computer in the next 90 days to tell us which manufacturer they’d be buying from," the report said.
Characterized as "an increasingly dramatic transformation," Apple notebook sales in the 3,665 member sample have gone from 5 percent in October 2005 to 17 percent in August, 2007. However, Apple desktop sales have remained relatively flat at around 7 to 8 percent.
One of the most impressive findings was that 86 percent of the Apple purchasers were Very Satisfied. Another impressive finding was that, for those who plan to buy a computer in the next 90 days, 28 percent mentioned an Apple notebook computer, up from about 19 percent in March.
The Bottom Line was as follows: "Apple computer sales are exceptionally strong. Over the past 90 days Mac Laptop share has leaped in the consumer marketplace, and there is considerable momentum going forward. Apple desktops also appear to be holding their ground."
In serious contrast, similar findings for Dell show a dramatic drop from October 2005, when 42 percent had bought Dell notebooks. That number is now down to 24 percent. The report also found that only 44 percent of Dell purchasers were Very Satisfied with their purchase. In fact Dell ranks at the bottom of the manufacturers mentioned for that category of Very Satisfied -- which included Toshiba (59%), HP (53%), gateway (52%), and Lenovo (45%).
The percentage of people who plan to buy a Dell notebook or desktop in the next 90 days has also fallen precipitously from 42 percent on October 2005 to about 30 percent in August, 2007. However, the reported noted that these numbers are for consumer sales, and that most of Dell's revenue comes from corporate sales.
In the OS part of the survey, the questions was asked, "Which operating system would you like to have preinstalled on the computer(s) you plan on buying in the next 90 days?" The results were as follows:
- Windows XP Professional -- 30%
- Mac OS X -- 26%
- Vista Home Premium -- 21%
- Windows XP Home Edition -- 8%
- Vista Home Basic -- 8%
- Vista Ultimate -- 7%
- Vista Business -- 6%
- Windows XP Media Center Edition -- 5%
- Linux -- 4%
Based on these findings, appears that Apple is benefiting greatly from the synergy of the entire company, and that is propelling notebook sales in the consumer sector. While Dell still does well in the enterprise, the deterioration of their consumer sector should be a source of concern.
Finally, Apple's relatively flat sales of desktop computers for the last several years could be simply notebook mania. However, it could also be symptomatic of trouble in the structure of Apple's desktop lineup because it is not benefitting from the general upswing in the company's success.
Observer Comments
Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:49 pm Subject: Numbers don't add up!
Three of my college sophomore son's friends have bought MacBooks to go back to school with. Apple computers dominate his fraternity house, even a couple of engineering majors have Power Macs. He has commented to me that several of the classes he is taking used Windows compatible software only last year, but they are mac compatible this year. He also says the people he knows who do not have Macs are planning on buying Macs. From my casual observations, it seems Apple is making serious inroads into the world of higher education. When these kids graduate, they are going to be used to Macs and will want them in their work places. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few years.
Apple goes to amazing lengths to get their products small, sleek, and reliable.
That doesn't matter so much for desktops. But for portable devices it makes a huge difference. Both the iPods and the Macbooks are benefitting from this now.
I know 4 non-Mac users at my work who recently bought Macbooks. 2 of them replaced their PC laptop with a Macbook but the other 2 have PC towers at home and are simply adding a Macbook to that.
I'm seeing more and more people who have a Windows tower at home but want a laptop for traveling as well. They're buying Macbooks for this whereas before they would have never considered them. This is the easiest kind of "switching" because they're not losing anything at all...just adding to it. I suspect that these are the people Apple is benefiting the most from.
(I expect my father-in-law to be one of these people in a month or two, for yet another example. Trust me...that's a HUGE deal...he's always thought my Mac-using was a source of mild amusement in the past. The fact that HE asked me about Macbook Pros a few months back is what caused me to buy some Apple stock!)
I'm a university professor, and although I've been an avid Mac user for 15 years, I will be buying a new 15" MacBook Pro this fall as my primary work computer to replace my great little 12" PowerBook.
For me, the added advantage of the new Intel Macs is that I can run mature and advanced data analysis tools that are available for Windows. Unfortunately, support for OSX native versions of applications like SPSS and MATLAB is poor, and as usual, development of them for OSX severely lags Windows development. There are also some dedicated analysis applications that have always been Windows only that I use.
I will no longer have to keep a separate PC in my office and at home to be able to use these applications once I get my new MacBook Pro. I will be able to use them for my own research, as well as teaching my students how to use them, all from the comfort of OSX with Parallels Desktop. I will get to have all the ease of use, convenience, security, and familiarity of my regular Mac productivity apps (iCal, Mail, Address Book, iGTD, Mellel, etc.) and do all my data analysis and charting at the same time, on one computer.
Apple has really hit one out with the transition to Intel, no doubt about it.
Not only is Apple making serious inroads in higher-ed, I see a SERIOUS interest from all kinds of people. Family members have started buying after only using Windows for years, architects and engineers where I work are buying Macs even though our company is strictly Window's-based, other friends and associates from various backgrounds are buying Macs even though they have never used one!
The Macintosh market-share is FINALLY starting to increase dramatically and is accelerating at an amazing pace. I think the more Macs that are getting out there, the more consumers are seeing the benefits of the platform due to family and friends showing what they can do.
I just started my first web gallery of my son's soccer team and I think the quality and association with Apple will help draw those viewing to the Mac platform. Visitors to the gallery will say, "Wow! You can do that with a Mac?". Little things like this, along with the halo effect from the iPod and iPhone, Intel processors, print/TV ads, as well as hype and rumors all add to this acceleration in market-share.
I just hope they will start making dramatic in-roads in the enterprise. I can't stand the Microsoft-centric mentality within the business world. It stifles innovation, efficiency and productivity.
Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:12 pm Subject: 115% = Flush the survey
What a load of garbage. Not only do their numbers not add up, why break down OS's the way they do?
The real math (based on their data):
- WinXP: 43%
- Vista: 42%
- OS X: 26%
- Linux: 4%
Final OS Breakdown (again, their numbers):
- Windows: 85%
- OS X: 26%
- Linux: 4%
Surveys are silly. What people "want" and what people "buy" are two completely different things. And this survey is clearly one that should embarrass the people who ran it.
Or maybe 15% of the Mac purchasers are going to put some flavor of Windows on their new Macs. 
Agreed it's a bit strange way to break down the Windows OSs (I'd go with your first cut at it).
Cheers,
Quotemini.boss wrote:
What a load of garbage. Not only do their numbers not add up, why break down OS's the way they do?
The real math (based on their data):
- WinXP: 43%
- Vista: 42%
- OS X: 26%
- Linux: 4%
Final OS Breakdown (again, their numbers):
- Windows: 85%
- OS X: 26%
- Linux: 4%
Surveys are silly. What people "want" and what people "buy" are two completely different things. And this survey is clearly one that should embarrass the people who ran it.
I have been a member here for quite sometime. Even though I don't make too many posts , I have been unable to log-in for quite sometime. This is both in Safari and FireFox browsers.
I have deleted Preferences files, cookies, etc in an attempt to get in. No luck. If I attempt to re-register I get the message that my email address is already in use. I have my browser set to log me in automatically and the information appears to be correct, but still unable to log in.
QuoteGuest wrote:
Thanks for doing the addition for us. Sometimes the breakdown of data is more revealing than lumping it together (regardless of how soothing it may be to your Microsoft sensibilities to do so).
I think the breakdown makes it even more blatent that Windows is more popular, even when splitting Windows up version AND sku, there is one specific flavor of Windows that is still more popular than all of Mac OS X combined. Combining them just states the obvious, Windows is far ahead of all other OSes.
Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:54 pm Subject:
QuoteAnonymous wrote:QuoteGuest wrote:
Thanks for doing the addition for us. Sometimes the breakdown of data is more revealing than lumping it together (regardless of how soothing it may be to your Microsoft sensibilities to do so).
I think the breakdown makes it even more blatent that Windows is more popular, even when splitting Windows up version AND sku, there is one specific flavor of Windows that is still more popular than all of Mac OS X combined. Combining them just states the obvious, Windows is far ahead of all other OSes.
Exactly what is your point here? That the most dominant operating system is, well, still more dominant?
Wow. Amazing revelation there.
Ahh. Should have guessed. JimB12 posting anonymously again.
QuoteIntruder wrote:QuoteAnonymous wrote:QuoteGuest wrote:
Thanks for doing the addition for us. Sometimes the breakdown of data is more revealing than lumping it together (regardless of how soothing it may be to your Microsoft sensibilities to do so).
I think the breakdown makes it even more blatent that Windows is more popular, even when splitting Windows up version AND sku, there is one specific flavor of Windows that is still more popular than all of Mac OS X combined. Combining them just states the obvious, Windows is far ahead of all other OSes.
Exactly what is your point here? That the most dominant operating system is, well, still more dominant?
Wow. Amazing revelation there.
Ahh. Should have guessed. JimB12 posting anonymously again.
Ugh, if you don't keep up with the thread, you can't understand it. The point was that the original poster was being snide thinking that someone was stroking a MSFT ego by doing the addition. I made the point that breaking it down makes it even more obvious just how successful XP Pro is compared to Mac OS X. XP Pro is not even targetted at consumers, yet more consumers prefer it. Doing the math proves what you think I was saying, that most dominant OS is most dominant. Breaking it down by every little flavor of Windows but not breaking down OS X by version is done in order to slant the results and make Mac OS X seem more popular than it really is. Of course, when they tried to this, they showed that a business operating system is more popular with consumers than all of Mac OS X combined!
Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:28 pm Subject:
It also points out how the "Pro" versions of all of the MS OS's are more popular than their hobbled "home" versions. It shows that a "business" version of Windows is more popular than a "consumer" version of Windows among Windows consumer users. You are using a strawman argument.
There is no "home" version of OSX, so breaking it down further would be somewhat pointless.
You aren't alone. I haven't been able to do it either for a long time, trying Omniweb, Safari, Firefox and Camino. And yes, cleaning caches doesn't help. I have the exact same problem, btw, with the Lifehacker web site, and one other. I can no longer sign in. It seems to be some funky Javascript thing, IMO, that is the problem.
-Jon
Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:20 pm Subject: Re: Problems logging in
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
You aren't alone. I haven't been able to do it either for a long time, trying Omniweb, Safari, Firefox and Camino. And yes, cleaning caches doesn't help. I have the exact same problem, btw, with the Lifehacker web site, and one other. I can no longer sign in. It seems to be some funky Javascript thing, IMO, that is the problem.
-Jon
Try this:
1. Open your cookie manager (depends upon your browser). Find and delete all cookies that include "macobserver." (If you're having problems with iPodObserver, delete those cookies, as well.) Close the cookie manager.
2. Go to the TMO main page. Click on the forums link below the header.
3. Log in on the forum index page and check the box to automatically log you in. You may have to do this twice.
Do NOT log in in the message view. That apparently can cause some problems.
See if that helps.
Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:29 pm Subject: Re: Problems logging in
Quotegslusher wrote:
See if that helps.
Thank you! That seems to have worked! At long last! I don't know why I didn't think to delete all my cookies. I have been checking to make sure they were all enabled (except the ad ones, of course). BTW, it's easy-breezy in Omniweb to delete the cookies. Thanks again!
-Jon
And now that I'm finally signed in...
The one big bit of news that I take away from this is that Linux doesn't seem to be as popular as its proponents say it is. They keep quoting numbers much higher than the Mac OS (combining all of the various distros together, like our Windows friend does above) . But according to these numbers, 4% is _very_ low--much lower than the MacOS numbers.
If these numbers are anywhere near accurate, it seems that Linux still has a long way to go, but personally, I doubt it will ever achieve the critical mass that its proponents are hoping for (and I run Linux on my Pismo, together with Tiger). Curious what others think.
-Jon
QuoteIntruder wrote:
It also points out how the "Pro" versions of all of the MS OS's are more popular than their hobbled "home" versions. It shows that a "business" version of Windows is more popular than a "consumer" version of Windows among Windows consumer users. You are using a strawman argument.
There is no "home" version of OSX, so breaking it down further would be somewhat pointless.
Windows was not only broken down by sku, but also by version. You seem to have not picked up on this yet, so I'll be explicit so you can grasp it finally. Not only is it broken up by Home, Pro, etc. It is also broken up XP, Vista. What has happened is that the desktop versions of Windows have been broken up in every possible way, while every single Mac OS X version has been lumped together in order to skew the results in favor of Mac. Yet even in the slanted presentation of the numbers, all the Mac OS X products combined still do not raise above that one single Windows products. If you were going to break up Windows by XP/Vista, you should most definitely breakup Mac OS X by at least Tiger/Leopard (are people buying the old version or going for the new version?)
BTW, you need to look up what a strawman argument is. Coming to a conclusion by looking at data such as "windows professional which is targetted at business users has a higher preference than all of mac combined" is simply making an observation based on the data presented here. A strawman argument is where you say an generalized opponent made some absurd claim, and then refute that claim to support your position. I know you hear that "strawman" thing on television in reference to Bush and all, but you need to pay more attention to what it means before trying to apply it in your own life.
QuoteJonGl wrote:
The one big bit of news that I take away from this is that Linux doesn't seem to be as popular as its proponents say it is. They keep quoting numbers much higher than the Mac OS (combining all of the various distros together, like our Windows friend does above)
If these numbers are anywhere near accurate, it seems that Linux still has a long way to go, but personally, I doubt it will ever achieve the critical mass that its proponents are hoping for (and I run Linux on my Pismo, together with Tiger). Curious what others think.
-Jon
One thing important to remember is that these numbers aren't really all that accurate. These are people speaking about possible future purchases and do not reflect the numbers of systems actually out there. 26% for Mac OS X is about 4 times greater than it really has, and more to the point is greater than the market share Apple has ever achieved in the existance of the company.
Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:46 pm Subject:
It is broken down by what is shipping, nothing more. There is only one version of OS X shipping. There are multiple versions of Windows shipping.
EDIT:
This is specifically what it states:
"In the OS part of the survey, the questions was asked, "Which operating system would you like to have preinstalled on the computer(s) you plan on buying in the next 90 days?" The results were as follows:
Windows XP Professional -- 30%
Mac OS X -- 26%
Vista Home Premium -- 21%
Windows XP Home Edition -- 8%
Vista Home Basic -- 8%
Vista Ultimate -- 7%
Vista Business -- 6%
Windows XP Media Center Edition -- 5%
Linux -- 4%"
What would you like to have pre-installed? Gee, how about what is currently shipping? That is one version of OS X and multiple versions of Windows. It says nothing about the popularity of "all versions of OS X combined". You are taking what people are looking for in the future and applying it to the past.
In fact, it hints that OS X is gaining a bit if 26% say that they want OS X installed. It is also a bit of an indictment of Vista, that people, in the next 90 days, would prefer to have XP installed over Vista. Of course it is all meaningless statistics anyway, since there is no indication of the makeup of their sample.
You can stop with the snarky comments about what people are or are not "grasping". That only makes you look like a jerk. Still.
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