Piper Jaffray: The iPod Halo Effect is Real and Growing

Much has been said of the iPodis "halo effect" -- the notion that strong sales of iPods will spill over into sales of Macs. Analysts have routinely cited the factor in bolstering their outlook of Apple, but to date little proof exists that the halo effect is in any sort of effect (most recently, Appleis global market share for sales of new systems fell to a paltry 1.8 percent).

While sales of Macs have been holding generally steady quarter after quarter, hovering around 800,000 units, a survey conducted by Piper Jaffray, the brokerage firm that earlier this week raised its target on Apple to $100, found that 6 percent of iPod users have in fact switched from Windows to Mac, and that another 7 percent are planning to make the switch.

C|NET notes that Gene Munster, a senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, believes that the iPod halo effect is only beginning. "Weire in the very early innings of a multiyear trend," he said.