“If you are desirous of keeping a healthy perspective on the differences between mere objects and personal philosophies the best advice is not to buy a Mac,” Chris Seibold writes for Apple Matters.
“Why not purchase the world’s greatest personal computer? Because once you do you’ll fall in love with the Mac,” Seibold writes. “You’ll wonder why more people aren’t using one, you’ll want to spread the word, you’ll become a zealot. Inevitably, you will remain confused why the Mac isn’t more popular and then you’ll begin coming up with ways to fix the Mac’s low market share blues. Here’s the trouble, the ways to ‘fix’ Apple’s market share problems are all prescriptions for a malady that simply doesn’t exist.”
“The notion that Apple has a market share problem seems obvious, but it isn’t as bad as a quick glance at the numbers indicate. The breakdown between business computer purchases and home computer purchases is roughly a 66 to 33 split. Apple chooses to compete in what roughly amounts to a third of the market. Sure, it has penetration in professional graphics, scientific and the film industry but Apple is, by and large, a consumer computer designer,” Seibold writes. “With that in mind, Apple’s market share looks much, much better. In the arena Apple competes (by default, not by choice) it performs fairly well.”
Much more in the full article here.
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First off, MDN is desparately digging for news to post and has to go some guys personal blog. The author has Zero credibility other than he writes a blog to stick ads on it hoping to make some cash off suckers that click on Google junkads.
RE: Apple market share.
If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it is a duck.
Apple has a world market share of 2%. That means for every 100 computers sold 98 are Windows, 2 are Mac.
You can´t sugar coat or twist the facts. Apple market share is worse now as it has ever been….despite everything that Steve has done.
And by legitimizing Windows (Steve made it so Apples can run it) and going Wintel this does not help much…other than stop Apple users from totally defecting to Windows. Best Buy sales guy: “Yeah, Apple finally runs Windows, but why buy and Apple when I can put you in this nice-no brand name Windows computer for less. You want to upgrade your Windows computer in a year or two with a wide choice of internal parts-no problem. Try that with a Mac.”
Non-Apple owners don´t look at as Apple computer as the nirvana that Maczealots look at it and wish Windows owners looked at it.
What can Apple do to change market share? Basically not much. It will take an outside 3rd market force to change things.
My take on Apple market share? Forget about it and just enjoy your own Apple. It won´t be any better or worse based on Apple´s market share.
Lotus, and Lamborgini deliver their cars with a Mac truck… that must mean that they prefer ‘Macs’… get it…. I dont…
Bigger market share?
HECK YES!. There are still too many important apps and web sites that don’t work with the Mac.
I agree with Ming. The Enterprise market is forever gone and I doubt that Apple would ever get in there. Not even running multiple operating systems. Apple could however kick butt in the small biz market.
Funny isnt it, M$ has 98% of the market; and windwos STILL TOTALLY SUCKS AND IS AS INSECURE AS EVAR!
Apple market share is worse now as it has ever been
True, BUTApple is more profitable than it has ever been and selling more computers than it ever has.
Just goes to show that market-share is not all that important in running a profitable company.
I would rather RIP MY EYES OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS WITH A RUSTY SPOON than switch back to Windows as my primary machine.
TT,
MS has 90% of the market selling $199 copies of Windows.
Apple has 2.5% of the market selling $1299 (average price) computers.
They are not the same thing
Aaron;
Yes, but windows fucking sucks.
98% of the universe is an empty, black, vaccuum.
This article is similar to Chris Seibold’s recent articles and they are steaming piles of crap. And I say that not just because I own a bunch of AAPL shares. Apple is and will be at risk until they gain appreciable market share. Steve Jobs is brilliant and is navigating Apple through the shallows out towards the deep blue water. Apple’s survival, in the long run, depends on gaining a fairly high market share. Microsoft’s problems have given Apple a big window of opportunity to make the big move on the market. This is no time to peddle defeatism.
Put the G*d d*mned stake in the heart of the MS vampire while you have the chance. Enough of this craven cowardice before the enemy.
And what the hell makes superb hardware and operating system unfit for the non geek user? Too many people here have allowed themselves to be driven into redefining defeat — low market share — as some kind of victory. It is the philosophy of losers. It’s like the boys at the bar sneering about the guy who walked out with the top babe and is getting a hormone fix, while they make pathetic excuses and brag that they get to watch sports on the plasma TV. Get a life!
apple have made a profit ever since steve came back
1997-2006
can you name any pc company that’s done that
AND
been cool at the same time ?
i doubt it
Surely, Microsoft used the G5 to demo xbox games because they both had IBM processers?
ie. nothing to do with OS X or who is better etc.
No, I want Macs to proliferate. There’s probably nine or ten reasons on my list, but I think some of the more important ones to me are:
– Lower per unit prices when demand reaches the magic threshold and stays there.
– The ability to choose my computing platform at work, at school, and at home without having to justify, rectify, and indemnify.
– And abolishing the very very wearisome and absolutely damaging belief that, all “real” business is done on pc’s.
TT:
I would rather RIP MY EYES OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS WITH A RUSTY SPOON than switch back to Windows as my primary machine.
————
LOL. BUT you STILL use Windows…its just not your “primary machine”. LOL.
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So you can use Windows 49% of the time and Mac 51% of the time and your eyes are safe.
LOL.
Steve Balmer says thank you.
My stance coincides with duper. I am not an elitist, I just know what works
best. I have a lot of passion for Apple’s success, and I DO hope that they
attain a little more market share (not necessarily the whole enchilada).
Higher volume might allow us to pay a little less for the products we like,
and besides, it’s deserved (of course most of us know that).
MW: run
Have a good run Apple!
Apple may have 2% worldwide but Microsoft certainly does not have the other 98%.
Wake up and smell the Pirate BO. A good 15 to 20% of new computers have a pirated OS on them or a free Linux distro that is soon exchanged for a pirated OS. It does not matter that the pirated OS is Windows, it still does not add to Microsoft’s market share if Microsoft’s revenue from all that pirated software is $0.00.
So Windows real market share is around 80%.
Apple needs market share but not all of it. Maybe 25% would be great and no more. Then we turn into Microsoft.
Well…the other day I was looking for some software that would allow me to virtually build my deck, but it was all Windows-only. (there was some crapware that ran on OS 9, but that’s it)
Some great games aren’t on the platform either, but that might change with the Intel transition.
*for those of you who think you are elitist enough to say that games shouldn’t be on the platform because they’re unproductive – save it. Get rid of your TV and never surf the internet for entertainment if that’s your stance*
I don’t think Macs need to have the lion’s share of the market…but wouldn’t 25% be nice? More developers, perhaps lower prices because of economies of scale, and more competition in the software field, thus bringing the best of the best. Granted, some crap software will come out too, but that can’t be prevented either way.
“The answer is simple but not obvious: because Apple demands maximum return for minimal possible effort.”
The author begins with a faulty premise then provides no logical support of his hypothesis with an incoherent argument. Every product Apple has imagined, designed, and marketed is to serve the needs and desires of the consumer, make money for Apple, develop a larger market share to serve more consumers, and make more money for Apple. This seems obvious to me.
It is in the best interest of Apple to use its human, financial, and technological capital carefully, wisely, and judiciously, but this is hardly an example of “minimal possible effort”. In fact, this phrase is patently offensive by suggesting that Apple’s successes did not require much input of cognitive power, perceptive analysis, personal sacrifice, well coordinated collaborative action, and extremely motivated people. I think that “maximum utilization of existing resources” is a more accurate description and honest representation.
Apple’s success is evident in Microsoft’s paltry attempts to imitate OS X. Even with their huge cache of cash and thriving throng of hired hands, Microsoft has gotten minimal return from a maximal influx of misdirected efforts. Vista is decimated and is currently distributed as barely beta software. So, after years of fits, faults, fumbles, futility, and failings Windows still remains the “dominant” OS. How would you explain this particular phenomenon of Microsoft’s market share in terms of sound business practice, Chris?
Kool-aid, anyone?
“Kool-aid, anyone?”
As long as it is fresh squeezed.
Big Al: “Wake up and smell the Pirate BO. A good 15 to 20% of new computers have a pirated OS on them or a free Linux distro that is soon exchanged for a pirated OS. It does not matter that the pirated OS is Windows, it still does not add to Microsoft’s market share if Microsoft’s revenue from all that pirated software is $0.00.
So Windows real market share is around 80%.“
—>NOT – Analysts don’t take this into account when calulating market share. Why? Simple – pirated figures are impossible to calculate. If anything your “pirate theory” would give MS MORE market share if they added that in.
“A good 15 to 20% of new computers have a pirated OS on them…”
—> Got some hard data to back that up? Didn’t think so, because you can’t find the data/numbers on pirated copies! They are pirated and therefore don’t officially exist.
Apple’s WW market share is 2.1%. Yes, I want it to be higher, but if Apple’s shipments do not out-pace the rest of the industry, it will stay stagnant at best and at worse decline. 2.1% – that’s the hard data. Consumer market, Corporate Market, blah, blah, bah market. World Wide market share? – 2.1%. The numbers don’t change. If Apple suddenly gained 50% of the consumer market, but did not out-pace the rest of the industry in total percentage of shipments? Still 2.1%. The math doesn’t change.
someone told me the other day that microsoft owns apple because microsoft just buys out any competitors, i told him it was B.S. but this lingering doubt remained in my mind.
can someone confirm is it true that apple is owned by microsoft, and can they prove it?
Zalmy – Apple and Microsoft are two separate companies. Microsoft does not own Apple.
Apple’s right where it’s supposed to be – at the front of the ‘Bell Curve’
This is a graph of below, average, and superior ratings. As usual, Windows users are the average, and make up the bulk of the numbers. But guess what, Apple users are at the front of the curve, way less users, but smarter and wealthier than the norm, and using a superior OS. That’s the way life is – you can be sub-par, average, elite, or simply on a slope up or down. Apple will never be a popular computer for the masses, just like Ferraris will never be popular cars for the masses. Like I used to say when I sold computers – Apples are like Benzs, PCs are like Fords, which car do you think sells the most and the average person has ? And right then, the customers thought about what kind of person they were, and either bought a Mac, or moped over to the PC section.