Apple Dampens Windows 7 Debut with Stellar Sales, ...

[Night Hawk]

Apple Dampens Windows 7 Debut with Stellar Sales, Marketing Attacks

Jacqueline Emigh
Oct 15, 2009 12:18 pm

Next week Microsoft was supposed to be in the spotlight with the launch of Windows 7, but the way it's shaping up Apple could steal the limelight. With Microsoft's Windows 7 launch only days a way, sales of Apple Macs are by far outshining those of Windows PCs, according to two leading analyst firms.

In spite of a bleak economy, overall PC sales in the United States are actually finally starting to bounce back a bit, stepping up 2.5 percent from September of 2008 to last month, according to numbers released by the Gartner Group. IDC came up with a slightly higher number of 3.9 percent.
But sales of Apple Macs are up higher, to the tune of 6.8 percent, according to Gartner. IDC paints a rosier picture reporting Apple sales up 11.8 percent.
Is the Mac's purported stronger security helping to spur sales? Did the celebration of the Mac's 25th birthday back in January have anything to do with this? Are Mac loyalists simply more affluent or recession-resistant than other PC users? Even the analysts are baffled as to why.
But apparently, Apple plans to take full advantage of its resurgent status with a marketing campaign set to coincide with the official release of Winows 7. According to Apple Insider, the upcoming blitz will harp on the upgrade process from Windows XP to 7, while also portraying Macs as less prone to viruses.
It wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if Microsoft anticipated Apple's attack. After all, back at the end of September, Microsoft gave a green light to small PC makers to start selling Windows 7 PCs on October 13. Hey, that was two days ago.

More at: Apple Dampens Windows 7 Debut with Stellar Sales, Marketing Attacks - PC World

 

[BCXtreme]

Mac sales are currently higher than PC sales because Snow Leopard broke, or just plain didn't work on, a lot of Macs. Thus, people have to buy new machines to stay up to date. Mac sales are also higher right now because a lot of PC owners are waiting for the Windows 7 release before they buy new machines.

And it's been said before: Macs are less prone to viruses because PC viruses will affect more people than a Mac virus, thus making PC viruses more "worthwhile" to create.

 

[Lee]

What is it about people and Apple; why is it that for some reason someone comes up with all these stats about Macs just before Windows releases a new OS. IMO this is all a built up to discredit Windows in anyway possible by those who dislike anything that has to do with Microsoft.

Do I think that Apple will out sell Windows 7 and PC equipped with Windows 7, NO.

 

[sup3rsprt]

Do I think that Apple will out sell Windows 7 and PC equipped with Windows 7, NO.

I'm with you.

Even if Apple did sell more computers, it won't hurt my feelings. Good for Apple. I still won't be buying one.

 

[Night Hawk]

The thing to remember about Apple and Macs is for Apple sales a large percentage of sales is actually to schools upgrading from older Apple systems. Pro photograhers will often see a Mac. But when looking at what people(average consumer) are buying off shelves in retail stores(Dell, HP, Sony, Toshiba, etc. desktops, laptops) what is on those? Windows!

Take a look at any laptop stocked at Best Buy, Target, CompUSA, even a local Walmart and what do you see there? Windows again! Don't expect to see all units with 7 preinstalled there however! Vista will still be the dominent OS on machines they are still trying to move out of their inventories. It will still take some time before all you see is 7 machines stocked.

 

[smarteyeball]

Even if Apple did sell more computers, it won't hurt my feelings. Good for Apple. I still won't be buying one.

+1

 

[Night Hawk]

Even if Apple did sell more computers, it won't hurt my feelings. Good for Apple. I still won't be buying one.

+1

Obviously!

 

[blackroseMD1]

What is it about people and Apple; why is it that for some reason someone comes up with all these stats about Macs just before Windows releases a new OS. IMO this is all a built up to discredit Windows in anyway possible by those who dislike anything that has to do with Microsoft.

Do I think that Apple will out sell Windows 7 and PC equipped with Windows 7, NO.

+1

I could never bring myself to pay for specialized hardware with a well known logo. Guess that's why I've never bought an Alienware machine.

The average consumer will never realize that Apple is just a hardware company selling a specialized OS. The fact that you have to pay twice what the hardware is worth, for that specialized OS, is what drives me nuts.

Windows 7 will outsell OSX, just on install base. Like the OP, I have to wonder why people bring sales stats into this.

Oh, wait, that's right...it's because Microsoft is about to launch a new operating system, and Apple wants to remind people that they are out there...

 

[Night Hawk]

Alienware is actually a poor example of a Windows system being overpriced when custom ordered. Apple is overpriced as a premade system. That's kind of a large gap when the comparison is made there while both are a little steep?

 

[swarfega]

It would be interesting to get mac sales in the UK. I suspect they are much lower than the US.

 

[thefabe]

What is it about people and Apple; why is it that for some reason someone comes up with all these stats about Macs just before Windows releases a new OS. IMO this is all a built up to discredit Windows in anyway possible by those who dislike anything that has to do with Microsoft.

Do I think that Apple will out sell Windows 7 and PC equipped with Windows 7, NO.

I totally agree with this post. and wonder why when the 2 are compared it seems like the spot light always has to do with virus? If you have somewhat of a clue the chances of you getting a virus is minimal at best. IMO. Also I like having the option to upgrade my hardware without having to search high and wide to find a mid quality video card that costs as much as a high end PC card.

 

[Barman58]

The US market is apple's strongest so any rise there is less important when dealing with the global situation, (sorry USA ). 6% of virtually nothing is still virtually nothing

In real terms it is probably more likely for an average MAC user to suffer from a virus infection than a PC user, :huh:, even though it is admittedly more likely for the PC to be subject to attack.

The average MAC user is totally convinced that they cannot be infected and therefore do not take any precautions, on the PC side it is a known issue and thus it is factored into the set-up. Due to the recent rise in MAC sales they are now becoming a more viable target for malware writers.

This is not meant as an attack on Apple but a statement of my opinion on the facts of this as I see them

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Pro photographers USED to use Apple far more than Windows - however with decently priced AND PERFORMING Windows machines equipped with 64 bit CPU's and the ability to run apps like CS4 in true 64 bit mode Windows machines are FAR more readily seen these days. CS4 really does fly in 64 bit mode -- Apple were late with a 64 bit OS BTW.

Add the mix to decent laptops (which a few years ago you wouldn't have dreamed of attempting to run photoshop on them out in the field) where you can run your Photoshop application and have 100% compatabilty with your desktop / studio LAN system then Windows (especially W7) is essentially a "No Brainer" decision.

Even in the pre-press arena Windows machines are more common to see
than formerly.

W7 will accelerate this process.

You can buy these days 3 decent WINDOWS laptops for the price of ONE Apple computer.

If you are on the road a lot a Windows replacement machine is easy and cheap if one gets lost, broken, stolen etc.

Apple has its "Fanboys" and nothing we say or do in this Forum will change their minds -- but in the hard business world where driving down costs is CRITICAL to business survival Windows will continue to rule the roost.

How many businesses issue their employees / service personnel with Iphones -however good or otherwise they are. Costs are all important here.

Don't get me wrong -- I LOVE the sleek look of some Apple machines and their monitors but I'm NOT paying that price to have a nice looking machine which won't run all the hardware I need to connect to it.

As far as Viruses are concerned please read my thread .

http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/28742-its-not-system-but-its-user-whose-problem.html



Cheers
jimbo

 

[toughbook]

For the last 2 to 3 months whenever I would go into any type of electronics store the computer section would be dead. They would have about 20% of the usual computers out on display. People are waiting on W7 to come out for one. 2nd, the manufactures emptied there stock months ago getting ready for the new models to come out with 7.

I was at BB yesterday browsing around and the Manager told me he has all the new one's in the back but just has to wait till the 22nd. I bet they are hating having to hold off on selling those! I'm not in the market for a new computer, but I can't wait to look at the new one's to see what's new. Lenovo would be a great computer to look at if I was a ready consumer. I have read alot of stuff to where they have been doing alot of neat stuff with 7.

I wonder what period or qtr those stats are from?

 

[Boris]

What is it about people and Apple; why is it that for some reason someone comes up with all these stats about Macs just before Windows releases a new OS. IMO this is all a built up to discredit Windows in anyway possible by those who dislike anything that has to do with Microsoft.

Do I think that Apple will out sell Windows 7 and PC equipped with Windows 7, NO.

You seem to be a little oversensitive on the subject. Just normal business as usual, no big conspiracy against MS.

 

[TeenerTim]

In spite of a bleak economy, overall PC sales in the United States are actually finally starting to bounce back a bit, stepping up 2.5 percent from September of 2008 to last month, according to numbers released by the Gartner Group. IDC came up with a slightly higher number of 3.9 percent.

But sales of Apple Macs are up higher, to the tune of 6.8 percent, according to Gartner. IDC paints a rosier picture reporting Apple sales up 11.8 percent.

I'm not trying to diss anyone but I think most of you missed the actual content of the article. The headline is very misleading. Apple is NOT selling more machines than Windows based PCs. Apple's sales have increased at a higher rate than PC sales. PCs up 2.5% and Macs up 6.8%. That means new computer sales are probably still 80% Windows PCs.

 

[BCXtreme]

What is it about people and Apple; why is it that for some reason someone comes up with all these stats about Macs just before Windows releases a new OS. IMO this is all a built up to discredit Windows in anyway possible by those who dislike anything that has to do with Microsoft.

Do I think that Apple will out sell Windows 7 and PC equipped with Windows 7, NO.

You seem to be a little oversensitive on the subject. Just normal business as usual, no big conspiracy against MS.

Oh come on ... while I wouldn't call it a "conspiracy," you have to have realized by now that Apple, and the tech blogs that favor them, DO go out of their way to discredit Windows and MS in general.

Engadget, if you recall, had a habit of bashing every little thing MS did for quite a while there. Windows 7 finally ended that, because they would have had to actually lie about it to dig up any significant dirt on it.

Engadget, Gizmodo, and many other blogs that I've read usually play up everything that MS does wrong, and play down everything that Apple does wrong. Sad, but true.

 

[Lee]

Boris,

First: Welcome to the "Seven "Forums".
Second: If you had been on the Forum for any amount of time you would known by my different post that I also run a G5 Power Mac with Leopard installed (it is a six year old machine and won't run Snow Leopard). Also you would know that my first home PC (true PC, not a Commodore) was a Mac Plus (still running).

 

[Night Hawk]

The US market is apple's strongest so any rise there is less important when dealing with the global situation, (sorry USA ). 6% of virtually nothing is still virtually nothing

In real terms it is probably more likely for an average MAC user to suffer from a virus infection than a PC user, :huh:, even though it is admittedly more likely for the PC to be subject to attack.

The average MAC user is totally convinced that they cannot be infected and therefore do not take any precautions, on the PC side it is a known issue and thus it is factored into the set-up. Due to the recent rise in MAC sales they are now becoming a more viable target for malware writers.

This is not meant as an attack on Apple but a statement of my opinion on the facts of this as I see them

You got that one right on the head there! Any experienced Windows user will typically have a multi layered protection inplace while a typical Apple/Mac user would tend to be a little "over confident" the way that FireFox users think FF in invulnerable as a browser. Yet once FF became popular you started hearing reports of trojans there too!

The latest move by MS was the introduction of the Security Essentials which amounts to a system scanner that will point out any bugs found. MS seems to be making the effort to offer at least something for their OS while it's not always a champ in that regard.

MS SpywareRemover followed by the Windows Defender now seeing the SE program. They offer some limited protection for the novice at least.

 

[Win7User512]

I guess Steve and his acolytes at Apple made large purchases...