PC Gains, Mac Falls in January 2009 Sales
While most computer companies faced hard times last year (especially in the fourth quarter of calendar 2008), Apple saw growing sales throughout the period. That said, things took a downturn in January 2009.
According to data from NPD Group, unit sales of Apple computers fell 6 percent as compared to sales from January 2008, while revenue of Mac sales fell 11 percent.
Interestingly enough, unit sales of Windows-based PCs rose 13 percent as compared to the same month last year, though revenue stayed at the same level -- signifying that consumers were purchasing more PCs but at lower price points.
According to InformationWeek, NPD analyst Stephen Baker believes that Apple sales fell because of the relatively high price of Macs (which are definitely unattractive during tough economic times) and that there haven’t been a new product for Apple desktop users, who haven’t seen an iMac refresh since in April.
Could price sensitive Mac users be switching to PCs due to price? Baker doesn’t believe so, saying, "I don't think there's a lot of Apple people switching. We think people just aren't buying."
Those who are die-hard Mac users tend to be pretty loyal to Apple and will wait for the next big thing from the company rather than switch platforms. The fact is, though, that the so-called “Apple tax” is undoubtedly a heavier weight during a recession.
A new iMac, and especially a new Mac Mini, could reinvigorate sales. Of course, the next version of both products are still in the rumor stage, so we won’t know for sure until the next Apple media event.
So if Mac faithful aren’t switching, what has Windows PC sales up 13 percent over last year? It could be the cheaper prices brought on by sales and other pressures to move excess inventory left over from 2008. The growing popularity of netbooks -- an area of continued growth -- is likely another big helper in the segment.
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mac is a pc
A lot of the increase of windows-PC sale was due to the increase popularity of netbooks.... I guess
I feel specifically left out here... I've built perhaps 100 "PCs" and since I buy them piece-by-piece I'm pretty sure nobody is able to count my purchases. Let's get onto fixing that.
good point a mac is a pc, it's just comes with another os installed.
i think pc sales are up because of the lower price. in this economic crisis mac prices have not come down, have not been discounted, it's basically the same old list price maybe a small discount or they introduce new model with higher price, but dont continue to offer older model at lower price. also, i would think people who don't want to run windows would just run some flavor os linux on their windows pc.
I have heard people using "Wintel" PC a lot. Should we start calling Mac as "Mactel" PC instead?...
I don't think the "Mac IS a PC" argument flies anymore, considering Apple themselves made the distinction in THEIR OWN COMMERCIALS.
Boo yah.
I feel specifically left out here... I've built perhaps 100 "PCs" and since I buy them piece-by-piece I'm pretty sure nobody is able to count my purchases. Let's get onto fixing that.
OK, we will go ahead and use that number as a baseline to compare the number of Macs that were underreported due to being built ala carte by enthusiasts... Let's see is that 100/0 or 0/100?
Seriously, we do know how many computers are built and for what purpose (give or take a few percent). Apple buys chips from Intel, and we know how many. The number of Intel chips left over is how many went into windows or Linux systems. AMD sells chips only for windows/Linux systems. Microsoft sells a license for every PC legitimately built for windows. With these numbers, you know how many Macs there are, how many Windows PCs there are, and how many pirated windows/Linux pcs there are. Your computers certainly fall into one of these categories, unless you are building them with VIA processors in which case no one really cares. Don't worry, you aren't as special as you think.
Is it just me, or is Tom's Hardware slowing down on news? Other tech sites have had this news up for days. Hell, the front page of Tom's wasn't even updated for a day.
I'm not complaining, just wondering what has happened with the editorial team.
I don't think the "Mac IS a PC" argument flies anymore, considering Apple themselves made the distinction in THEIR OWN COMMERCIALS. Boo yah.
? mac is not a pc, a pc = personal computer, isn't mac a personal computer, how is the hardware different from anyother laptop, the only difference is the os, the hardware is fairly generic.
mac is hard to find support for games O.o
If MAC cuts down the prices on their pc's they might make a fight. But as long as the cheapest macbook is at $1000 it wont sell more than more powerfull dell and hp notebooks at the same price.
Yes, but the assumption here is that the numbers in the article are from PC unit sales (i.e. pre-built systems).
i swear toms is always one day behind anandtech for news. Still, we tend to have funnier comments over here...
Toms hasn't been the same since Best of Media took over, They are completely ruining Toms Games, and Toms hardware is starting to slip too, I miss being able to watch the Spotlight, and Second Take. That, and I don't really care for this new format of the page either. Best of Media hasn't done anything good to these sites, its all been bad.
Yes, but the assumption here is that the numbers in the article are from PC unit sales (i.e. pre-built systems).
PC's are "personal computers"not "pre-built systems" and macs are "personal computers".
Toms hasn't been the same since Best of Media took over, They are completely ruining Toms Games, and Toms hardware is starting to slip too, I miss being able to watch the Spotlight, and Second Take. That, and I don't really care for this new format of the page either. Best of Media hasn't done anything good to these sites, its all been bad.
i agree, i've been visiting this site since the beginning, i mean year one, and i've noticed a difference.
i come here for the hard core hardware benchmarks, articles, reviews, ect.
i don't much care for all the toms' sections, games, media, ect. it'll end up like ign, which now even does comic books. :-(
what tom hardware has do is spin off , fire a lot of people and go back to being a hard core hardware site.
If MAC cuts down the prices on their pc's they might make a fight. But as long as the cheapest macbook is at $1000 it wont sell more than more powerfull dell and hp notebooks at the same price.
They've been outselling Dell on the laptop front for 2 years now. I don't think that talks to the hardware, you are paying more for similar hardware from Apple, it talks to the software. Consumers are either frustrated or tired of Vista and want a change. OSX is a much better OS than Vista is, not to mention the bundled software with it is actually useful.
The netbook idea doesn't hold water, not a 13% increase. When I go to retailers I have no problem finding in-stock netbooks at the $250 to $400 price points, but the $699 laptops are usually sold out. And there's a LOT more $699 laptop models available.
I don't think the "Mac IS a PC" argument flies anymore, considering Apple themselves made the distinction in THEIR OWN COMMERCIALS. Boo yah.
I know the truth hurts, so here it is agagin:
I think part of the reason is Windows 7 is having amazing reviews, This could give Windows buyers hope, but im only saying that can be part of it.
I think part of the reason is Windows 7 is having amazing reviews, This could give Windows buyers hope, but im only saying that can be part of it.
the reason that windows 7 is getting amazing reviews is that microsoft is paying off the reviewers... isn't that always the case...
The truth hurts? Don't take yourself so seriously.
I wasn't arguing the definition of a PC, because anyone with half a brain knows what PC stands for, and knows what falls into the category. However, when Apple computer's own commercials make the distinction by saying "Hello, I'm a Mac...and I'm a PC," all the folks who've been repeating the same "mac is a PC too" line for the last 15 years just got shut down by their own team.
Bummer. Guess you didn't think hard enough before posting your "rebuttal."
Guess you didn't think hard enough before posting your "rebuttal."
You're a little thickheaded. I'll help you out:
mac is a pc
epic fail!
Everyone, its time to bust out your FLAMEtrhowers!!!
Maybe he will undersatnd if you say "mac is a crappy pc"?
They've been outselling Dell on the laptop front for 2 years now. I don't think that talks to the hardware, you are paying more for similar hardware from Apple, it talks to the software. Consumers are either frustrated or tired of Vista and want a change. OSX is a much better OS than Vista is, not to mention the bundled software with it is actually useful.
LOL! Let me know when Apple has been outselling Dell in laptops. As of the past year, Dell has been outselling them by at least 2 to 1. And that is just one "PC" company.
Maybe he will undersatnd if you say "mac is a crappy pc"?
mac is not a crappy pc, macs are crappy expensive pc used by newbies and academics with masters and phds who are too much into themselves to learn how to use a pc.
You're a little thickheaded. I'll help you out:
Seboj, take the gloves off, sweetheart, and really come at me. I wanna see an argument with something to back it up that actually refutes the point I have made above, which is: how can you continue to spout "mac is a pc" if APPLE THEMSELVES have stated there is a difference in their own television spots. Let's here it?
Or perhaps you'd just like to concede that Apple really doesn't know their own product?
Scoop your brain back into a bucket, and throw it at your keyboard. Let's see what you've got.
Of course Apple will say that their computers are different from the competition. It's called marketing. The fact remains that a PC, by definition, is a personnal computer. iMacs, Macbooks, Mac minis and the rest are PCs. Well, not Xserves. Those are servers, which is another thing. Hmmm... maybe Apple should say their Xservers are NOT servers? I'm drifting away from the point: macs ARE PCs.
Chrysler may claim their PT Cruiser is a "different" car, but it's still a car...
IF Apple would lower the price on stuff they would sell more. They are not using brains on this. Apple should give up on charging 3 times more for their hardware. They should open the os up to everyone they would make a killing...
I HEARD APPLE WAS CHANGING THEIR NAME FROM MACINTOSH TO CRASH AND TOSS!!