[Dr. Sivana]

Since that is a growth chart, and the numbers remain positive, even if lower than the peak, it is still excellent compared to other large industries such as airlines and automobiles and other electronics, where the numbers often go below the zero.

[dayglored]

> Since that is a growth chart, and the numbers remain positive, even if lower than the peak, it is still excellent...

Ah, but you see, whenever someone wants to make things look grim, but they can't because the numbers are good, they take the first derivative and don't make it obvious that's what they did.

Hell, I've seen these statistical hoodlums take the SECOND derivative when necessary, because the first was still too positive for their desires to trash the subject. You know, the ones that trumpet, "OMG! END OF THE WORLD! THE RATE OF INCREASE IS GOING DOWN!"

Tech writers whores are nothing more than click-bait factories. It's depressing that Forbes has fallen this low.

[bigbob]

Ah, but when public companies face the investment analysts, it is only “what have you done for me this quarter” that sustains confidence in a company, no matter how large the top line is.

[adorno]

"...it is still excellent compared to other large industries"

Yeah, there's a silver lining even for disasters.

But, Apple is the darling of the industry,and when the darling starts looking ugly, the investors might get spooked and so might the consumers. In fact, the consumers might start thinking that sales are bad because the device is less than the 'perfection' the expected from Apple, and could start looking for other makes/models. It doesn't take much to spook investors and consumers.