Apple Computer Australia is on a roll – and not just because of the amazing iPod music player. The company increased its Down Under sales of Macintosh computers by a massive 49.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2004, according to IDC market research,” David Frith reports for Australian IT. “That was the fastest growth recorded by any personal computer maker, and it took Apple’s share of the Australian PC market from 3 per cent to 4.1 per cent.”
“Apple was the sixth biggest maker, finishing behind Hewlett-Packard, Dell, IBM, Acer and Toshiba. Here are the words that Apple has been desperately wanting to hear: according to IDC PC market analyst Michael Sager, the figures show Apple’s iPod halo strategy to attract Windows users to switch to the Mac platform is working in this country,” Frith reports. “The halo theory [iPod Halo Effect] is that people who have never used a Mac, but are dissatisfied with their virus and spyware-prone Windows PCs, have been buying iPods in great numbers, and for the first time are experiencing Apple’s undoubted skills at innovative design and imaginative, easy-to-use software. Now many are tempted to try an Apple Mac to see if it will end their Windows woes.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: You can take the January 17th story (also from Australian IT) below and toss the whole thing; it looks like it was based upon the older numbers.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple’s Mac lost Australian market share last quarter according to IDC research – January 17, 2005
Apple execs now see ‘iPod Halo Effect’ clearly paying off with higher Macintosh sales – January 13, 2005
Well if sales of iBooks to students are anything to go by, we are seeing 12 parents buying iBooks to 1 buying a peeCee laptop in our part of the UK.
I never did trust IDC’s numbers.
‘Lies, damn lies and statistics.’
Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything. 14% of people know that.
Put another Dell on the barbie …
As an Aussie Machead I hope the momentum is sustained, and this isn’t just a spike caused by pent-up demand for the iMac.
Magic word: “degree”, as in I hope growth continues to the same …
‘The dingo. Maybe the dingo ate your PC!’
IIRC last year Oz’s biggest Mac reseller went bust following turmoil in the market for a year or two. Therefore the comparative quarter may have been very low.
I thought IBM was out of the PC business?
Does this mean Aussies are smarter than others, I’m sure that 4.1% share is bigger than the numbers reported in other markets?
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Also let me get in before some American poster makes some banal comment like “who cares about 4.1% a third world economy like Australia?” like some twit posted previously – FYI the Australian economy is one of the strongest in the OECD.
This is probably a reflection of a historical fact that Australians have traditionally been very early adopters of market trends and technology trends in particular.
I know the Mac isn’t a recent “trend”, but the iPod Halo effect and related phenomena are.
Anyway just a thought.
Kinda makes you wonder about Australian IT’s credibility but is good news nevertheless.
“Does this mean Aussies are smarter than others…?”
Yes. Yes, it does. Absolutely.
Wow! And to think, the iPod is, but not as hot as in Australia as it is in the US and elsewhere. So if that’s what a little halo can do, imagine what it’ll do in the States!
I wish this post were brought to you by the word momentum.
I continue to be amazed that Acer still exists. What a pile of garbage.
“but are dissatisfied with their virus and spyware-prone Windows PCs, have been buying iPods in great numbers”
This line of thought makes no sense with reguards to the Halo effect.
And I don’t think that it is the Halo effect,it just plain dissatisfaction with windows.
RJ
and this is pre-mini…
No wonder Australian Apple retailers in the the fourth quarter of last year looked like they were on ecstasy. (MAW: “good”).
MacRumors Forums: Several Apple resellers in Australia have begun selling iPod Mini’s, 20GB iPods and iMac G5s at significant discounts.
The discounts are believed to be “below cost” — potentially representing a clearance of products prior to new product releases.
This is all lies!!! Die Apple die and I am an a$$hole who has nothing to do except sit around my PC and bash Apple all day while playing with myself. I have a sad life!!!
Toshiba on Reuters: Demand created by this new machine [ iPod shuffle ] is so vast that our current capacity can in no way meet their needs.
Eat that, you know who. And use Netflix Freak for managing your rectal queue.
where is iTMS Australia???????
I want to see monkeyboy dance
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi
Come on Aussie, come on come on, etc.
About bloody time – just a pity I’m based in the UK now, trying to get as many poms to upgrade to Mac minis too. I’d love the East Midlands to have a 49.1% increase.
Holy Mackerel:
Let me get this straight: you used to live in Oz and you’re elected – of your own free will and volition – to move to Leicestershire or Notts or somesuch.
Do you enjoy beating yourself with chains and whips as well, or is this just a highly focussed form of masochism. BTW, cold enough for you at the moment?
BFD! So Mac sales went from 10 to 15 units. Now, and forever irrelevant!
MCCR
Yea we’re sending the convicts home.
oops sorry MCCFR. Too early in the morning.