More iOS Devices Sold in 2011 Than Macs in Last 28 Years
Though Apple began as a computer company, it's common knowledge that Cupertino's other products, such as the iPad, iPod and iPhone, are massive money-makers. The company's latest earnings report revealed that Apple sold 37.04 million iPhones and 15.43 million iPads in the fourth quarter of last year. By comparison, the number of Macs shipped in the same quarter was just 5.2 million. Not a small number by any stretch of the imagination, but definitely not at the level of the iPhone and iPad. In fact, the iPad and iPhone are so wildly successful that all the Macs sold in nearly three decades still can't match up to iOS device sales in terms of units.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently revealed 55 million iPads to date, adding that it took five years to achieve that number with the iPod, and 22 years for the Mac (as noted by Fortune here). This got the folks over at Asymco thinking about unit sales across Apple's product portfolio and how long each device had been on sale. Horace Dediu writes that the iOS platform overtook OS X in less than four years and that last year alone, the number of iOS devices sold amounted to more than the number of Macs sold, well, ever.
Of course, it's impossible to deny the success of the iPad or the iPhone (or even the iPod touch) considering the number of units sold, but it's also hard to ignore the fact that these are all significantly cheaper than the price of the cheapest Apple computer. Throw in the fact that smartphones are on a 12-month refresh cycle (as is the iPad) whereas people tend to hold on to their computers for much longer than that, and these crazy numbers start to make a little bit more sense. Just a little!

The people are growing more and more ignorant by the day. Sad commentary on the information revolution.
OK I admit, I just made that up. It wouldn't surprise me, though.
its an apple product compared to their old main product... THEY HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH EACHOTHER
who knew you those words would be so true just 2 posts later.
In a few years the world will be using Gatorade to grow plants.
I don't think Mac are shitty. They are just drm infested overpriced locked-down devices often riddled with sub-par hardware configured to jail the user. Were Apple more open, I would consider owning one of their laptops as long as I could ditch OS X and cover their silly logo with some skin-- yes, I could even put up with their ugly boring looking cases. By the way, Apple is not the only company making ugly uninspired cases.
I Would also like their laptops to be more upgradable and serviceable. Another of my criticisms of Apple is that as a result of extreme advertising, it grants a make-belief sense of technological sophistication on sheeple who think flashing the Apple logo while wearing clothes that color match their Macs is synonymous with being a member of the technocracy. Sadly, Euclid's dictum about geometry also applies to technology-- "there is no royal path to technology". You've got to do your homework and keep up with the times, or you could end-up living on some cloud bankrupt and
clueless. No pun intended.
So wrong, on every front....
DRM infested? I`m guessing you are referring to itunes, in which case you can use VLC or any other music application. Ditch OSX, no problem easily done, subit query to your favourite search engine and be amazed. On the topic of upgradeability my 13" MPB is one of the easiest laptops to upgrade I`ve owned. Doubt it? try ifixit.com.
You claim technological sophistication yet these simple facts effortlessly slipped by you.
LOL