“Signs of the iPod’s so-called ‘halo effect’ were evident, as Macintosh sales totaled 1.07 million units, up from 749,000 a year ago. It was the second-straight quarter in which Apple sold more than 1 million Macs,” Rex Crum reports for MarketWatch. “‘The numbers look pretty solid,’ said Shaw Wu, an analyst with American Technology Research. ‘The iPod was strong again, and Mac units kept up with the high level we saw last quarter.’

Crum reports, “Going forward, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said Apple should post a third-quarter profit of 28 cents a share on revenue of $3.25 billion. Analysts previously estimated Apple would earn 24 cents a share on $3.24 billion in sales. In after-hours trading, Apple shares fell 28 cents to $40.76 after falling $1.62 during the regular market session. Apple’s stock has been one of the most successful over the past 18 months, going from about $17 a share in late 2003 to more than $90 before a 2-for-1 stock split in February.” Full article here.

“Apple Computer Inc. Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said Wednesday the company’s ‘strong’ sales of its computers during the fiscal second quarter is further evidence that its popular iPod digital music player is translating into increased sales of its computers,” Donna Fuscaldo reports for Dow Jones Newswires. “In an interview with Dow Jones, Oppenheimer said shipments of Apple’s computers during its second quarter ended in March were the highest in four years.”

“‘Windows users are coming into our stores and channel partners are looking to buy Macs,’ Oppenheimer said, noting that the iPod’s popularity is also helping Apple’s business in the education market,” Fuscaldo reports. “Oppenheimer said Apple hopes that the newest version of its operating system will also boost sales of its computers.” Full article here.

Related MacDailyNews articles:
Microsoft dismisses threat of Apple’s ‘iPod Halo Effect’ – April 04, 2005
Morgan Stanley: Apple’s ‘iPod Halo Effect’ is ‘roughly double what the market expects’ – March 18, 2005
‘iPod Halo Effect’ – sales of the iPod are spurring orders of other Apple products – February 24, 2005
Report: Best Buy to sell Mac mini, could accelerate ‘iPod Halo Effect’ – January 28, 2005
Apple execs now see ‘iPod Halo Effect’ clearly paying off with higher Macintosh sales – January 13, 2005
Holy Halo Effect! Analyst predicts 100 million iPod sales by 2008 – Windows to Mac switchers coming? – November 24, 2004
Analyst: iPod ‘should spur sales of iMac, this is just the beginning of a ramp for Apple’ – November 23, 2004
Survey: 13% of iPod owners have switched, plan to switch to Mac from Windows within 12 months – November 22, 2004