“It’s kind of a stretch to think that iPod users will buy Mac in volume. I don’t recall any studies discussing how Sony Walkman users moved right up to $2500 Sony LCD displays, for example,” Paul Thurrott writes for Windows IT Pro. “But it’s kind of sad how every little success at Apple renews talk of a Mac revival. First it was Mac OS X. Ok, well, they got that one wrong, maybe Jaguar will do it. Nope. Hmm. How about the iPod? No? Well, maybe Mac OS X Tiger will do it. Or the Mac mini. OK, seriously, how about…”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Okay, enough of fantasies, wishes, and the stuff that’s usually squeezed out of a Longhorn’s rear end. Now, let’s try facts and research: In March, Morgan Stanley drastically raised estimates on Apple Computer on the results of a survey by the research firm which showed that users of iPods had a 19% PC to Macintosh platform conversion rate compared with a street expectation of 10%. According to Morgan Stanley, the conversion rate of iPod customer base to the Macintosh platform from PC implies two points of global PC market share gain for Apple in 2005 and that the conversion rate for iPod owners could track closer to the 25% range going forward from 19%.
In January, IDC reported that “spillover business from the popularity of the Cupertino, Calif.-based company’s iPod music player helped boost Apple’s PC shipments more than 25 percent.” IDC also reported that Apple’s Mac shipments grow more than 25 percent, while the PC market as a whole grew at only 10 percent (Gartner) to 13.7 percent (IDC). Gartner research showed Apple Computer gaining share in 2004, attributed in part to its revamped iMac G5 all-in-one desktop computer. Also in January, CNET reported, “Mac sales rose significantly last quarter. The company sold 1,046,000 Macs, up 26 percent from last year. Analysts have been projecting a rise for the computer industry as a whole of about 10 percent, meaning Apple gained significant share during the quarter.””
While truly sad, Thurrott’s characterization of iPod as Apple’s “little success” speaks volumes. The fact that Microsoft can’t manage to ship an OS that can compare to even Apple’s Mac OS X Beta (circa Sept. 2000) must be driving him over a cliff.
Moo.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Microsoft dismisses threat of Apple’s ‘iPod Halo Effect’ – April 04, 2005
Thurrott: Mac OS X Tiger ‘will do absolutely nothing to change the Mac’s market share’ – April 01, 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 shows strong Mac shipment growth, market share gains in fourth quarter 2004 – January 19, 2005
Apple execs now see ‘iPod Halo Effect’ clearly paying off with higher Macintosh sales – January 13, 2005
Report: Apple gained significant market share of computer industry during past quarter – January 12, 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
when i was young, bullies threw apples at my head.
this was my only way to get back at them
I know Thurrot’s idiocies allows everybody to reiterate Apple greatness but this guy is worst than clueless. It is a blatant attempt to deceive and brain wash simpletons and true clueless in IT.
Yes, that famous majority of computer users.
Whew! The old ThoroughlyRotten is back. Thank God! I was beginning to get scared that signs of the apocalypse were beginning when he wrote several positive things about Apple recently.
Paul Thurrott the Green
next week
will become P. Th. the Greener
Actually, I think it’s safe to say that the Walkman was what put the ‘Sony’ name on everyone’s lips. Previously, Sony was known for Betamax–a great personal video recorder that lost out to VHS.
The iPod has helped Apple in much the same way that the Walkman put Sony’s name into the mainstream. Remember that, before the iPod, if you mentioned Apple, you usually heard “Are they still around?” You don’t hear that much anymore.
MDN don´t believe the BS “research reports” put out by stock brokers trying to get people to buy stock that they bought at a lower price before they released their glowing report.
If the switching in huge numbers was true then Apple would be crowing to the sky about it.
Apple says there is only anecdotal evidence that is happening.
Believe Apple, then you won´t be disappointed later on.
Its sad, that Mr.T has nothing else to cover than every “little” success by Apple. Why waste the time, space and bandwidth?
Peter sez: “Remember that, before the iPod, if you mentioned Apple, you usually heard “Are they still around?” You don’t hear that much anymore.”
REPLY: Yeah, now with all the iPod hype, the question I get is “Did Apple stop making computers?”
Where´s the faster Power Macs??!!!??!!!!
It just seems like when he writes soemthing like this, it’s kinda’ like a child’s distraction technique to obfuscate what’s going on with M$: ‘Hey! Look over there!’ or “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain….’
What else could he write? It’s a little sad that Longhorn is five years late?
Snugfig,
He does that to drive traffic.
Anything you can do, we can talk about doing better until we finish getting a version that almost does part of what you do into Beta status.
Then we will point out your shortcomings while patching our own with mandatory updates and we’ll sell other features that you foolishly include for free!!
mdn mw=income… M$ business as usual….
Does anybody actually read this guy????
Thurrot,
The answer to your question is probably because Sony Walkman cannot be connected to a computer and download songs to them?
<“If the switching in huge numbers was true then Apple would be crowing to the sky about it.
Apple says there is only anecdotal evidence that is happening.”
Actually Apple has stated that computer sales in the retail stores is reported to be about 40% to new Apple users, this according to surveys taken in the store.
But now when people looking for electronics, they usually at least look at the Sony brand (and btw Paul, Sony sells stuff for less than $2200). Now with the iPod, the same thing is happening for Apple.
A sign that someone is worried about the competition is when then constantly find fault with it.
Let me see – who could that apply to?
Don’t even pay attention to this guy. He’s just writing this stuff to stir controversy to bring people to his web site. Plus he’s so far away, in Ireland, I think, he’s safe from us Mac users. So many Windows users know Macs are better deep down in their hearts. It’s just denial in massive proportions to make them feel good about being stuck in the dark side.
MDN, please don’t even bother posting stuff like this.
Desperation is a pungent cologne Paul. Its the beginning of the end.
Paul Thurrott is a confirmed and consistent attention-whore. This just adds to the pile of evidence about that. Whenever his numbers drop and he needs more hits for his website, he writes an anti-Mac article and then confirms to his advertisers that he does get traffic flow. Don’t go to his site. It’s what he wants.
I honestly wonder what some people would call a success? equal market share to microsoft? However deserved it may be, it’s not gonna happen overnight, plus if it ever did apple would be the biggest company on the planet – all the os sales and all those hardware sales. woo hoo!
1% or 2% increases (or whatever it may be) are huge really.
Prat.
A little research is in order. Assume that Apple’s Mac has about 2-percent market share (whatever that means). Shouldn’t Thurott write about Apple somewhere around 2-percent of the time?
Why is it that this guy has a Mac/Apple poke every week?
I think we’re being baited by a guy with no journalistic credentials and no comprehension of business or market analysis. Why?
Just for the hits to his web site.
If we stop, so will he.
Tera Patricks
Mac360
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Paul Thurrot just go absolutely giddy over the Mac mini? Didn’t he say something like “they’re going to sell a million of these”?
Thurrot’s detractors are right: This guy writes whatever he thinks sounds good at the moment.
A Walkman is a $25 commodity…last year, before the introduction of the Shuffle, millions of iPod buyers were willing to shell out, on average, what most PC buyers spend on their computer systems for just a “little” music player.
The Sony analogy he used is bullocks.
i am sick of listening to this dickhead (Paul Thurrott), in fact it is putting me of visiting MDN. I do not want to hear what this arse has to say and i feel that you should not be giving him so much coverage.
“The fact that Microsoft can’t manage to ship an OS that can compare to even Apple’s Mac OS X Beta (circa Sept. 2000) must be driving him over a cliff.”
No but the fact that Apple can’t sell theirs even within the same order of magnitude of M$’s certainly is buggin’ MDN…