If there are "sources" why not list the URL for them in your post, at least one must be available, right?
or has Apple 'stuffed the channel' with the new 'mini-Mac' to account for the sudden increase in sales for the last several quarters and nobody wants to actually post this info on the Internet?
or is Apple marketing/communications to afraid of viruses to log on to the Internet to post any current data?
You want sources? OK:
Apple grabs 6.6% market share of U.S. personal computer retail market through AugustTuesday, October 11, 2005 - 09:56 AM EST
"Apple Computer reports fourth-quarter earnings later Tuesday, but it's what the company says on Wednesday that may grab investors' attention this week," Troy Wolverton reports for TheStreet.com. "Apple has scheduled a press event Wednesday where analysts expect CEO Steve Jobs to unveil a new, video-enabled iPod music player. The move would mark a significant evolution for the iPod, which has rapidly become one of Apple's most important products."
Wolverton reports, "The focus on Wednesday is emblematic of investor attitudes toward the stock. The general assumption is that the company is doing well, but that notion is dwarfed by the anticipation of -- or even concern about -- what comes next. It's not so much 'What have you done for me lately?' but 'What will you do for me later?'"
"Wall Street is betting that Apple was on track with that growth in its fourth quarter, which ended last month. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call are expecting the company to post earnings of 37 cents a share for the quarter on $3.73 billion in sales," Wolverton reports. "That projection is ahead of the company's own estimates and would mark a big gain over last year's results... But Wall Street has reason to be bullish. Apple has consistently delivered better-than-expected results in quarters of late. And recent data bode well for the just-completed one; studies indicate that Apple is gaining share in markets for PCs and digital-music players."
"Through August, Apple's share of the U.S. retail market for computers, excluding online sales, grew to 6.6% from 4.3% in the same period last year, according to market researcher NPD Group," Wolverton reports. "And even without taking into account sales of the newly introduced iPod nano, Apple's share of the U.S. retail market for digital-music players edged upward in recent months to 74%."
MacDailyNews Take: Keep in mind that excluding online sales also excludes Dell. Note that it also excludes Apple's online sales. The important fact is that NPD's measure of Apple's share was 4.3% in the year ago period and it has grown to 6.6% in a year.
TUAW article on Apple's 6.6% market share
Apple's Marketshare climbs to 6.6%Posted Oct 11, 2005, 3:00 PM ET by Dave Caolo
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Apple FinancialFor as long as I can remember, the mantra has been "Apple's market share is at 5%." Today, this article at The Street reports, "Through August, Apple's share of the U.S. retail market for computers, excluding online sales, grew to 6.6% from 4.3% in the same period last year, according to market researcher NPD Group." Furthermore, Apple's share of the digital music player market is at 74%, and that's not including sales of the iPod nano.
Before you say the iPod is solely responsible for this climb, consider this quote from a related article on Money: "...analysts also agree that Apple enjoyed high shipments of its personal computers for the quarter, benefiting from promotions tied to the back-to-school season." Apple has long been innovating with highly desirable objects, as you and I (read: the Mac faithful) have long known. It would seem the that the general public is starting to catch on. Apple's timely, steady and very patient climb was (and continues to be) strategically orchestrated by Steve Jobs. Which makes me wonder: Just what will Apple do after Steve's retirement? We all joke that Steve routinely "sees the future," but his calculated patience and foresight are very real.
For now, I'm just looking forward to Wednesday.
Here's one that uses IDC's deflated 4.3% figure:
Monday - October 24, 2005
Macs dominate Amazon PC sales bestseller's list
By Jonny Evans Apple is the brand of choice for Amazon US shoppers looking for a new computer.If nothing else, this clear endorsement of Apple products by US consumers shows how much the company has returned to grab its slice of PC industry "lebensraum".
Apple computers in every stripe account for 12 of the online giant's top 20 computer sales this morning. (Amazon UK doesn't carry computers).
iBook leads the pack The iBook is the number one biggest computer-seller at Amazon as the back-to-school season begins in earnest, closely-pursued by the new 20-inch iMac. The 12.1-inch SuperDrive PowerBook is in third place.
Remaining list leaders, in order of preference are: fourth, the 14.1-inch iBook; fifth, 17-inch PowerBook; sixth, SuperDrive-equipped Mac mini; and seventh the Old-style 20-inch iMac.
Sony and Toshiba finally show up in eighth and ninth place, with a CD-RW/DVD Mac mini seizing tenth place.
Apple's heavy presence on the giant Amazon site reflects the new impact the company has on personal computing, thanks to the iPod, which keeps the brand in the public eye.
Apple to hit five per cent US share in 2006?
The news suggests Apple may see even more market growth in its current quarter, as its computers cease to be the oddballs of the home PC set. This should cast Microsoft protagonists into the same role that Apple defended during Cupertino's lean years.
Last week analysts at IDC and Gartner revealed that Apple had finally become one of the top five US PC makers in the third calendar quarter of 2005. Apple's growth absolutely outperfomed the industry average, with US PC shipments climbing 11 per cent to 17 million.
IDC claimed Apple to be the fifth place PC maker in the US, with 737,000 units shipped. Its market share climbed from 3.3 per cent to 4.3 per cent for an astonishing 44.6 per cent year-on-year growth.
Gartner declared Apple to be the fourth place PC maker with 744,000 units shipped for 4.2 per cent of the market.
Wearing shades in Cupertino
In tandem with the iPod, Apple's market momentum helped drive the company to deliver a new corporate record in its fourth quarter 2005, reporting the highest revenue and earnings in its history. Revenue hit $3.68 billion for a net profit of $430 million.
With recent new Mac announcements and the migration to Intel processors promising further speed and power enhancements, analysts remain optimistic for the company's future growth.
Apple senior executives must remain steady and avoid being blinded by the sweet sunlight of success.
The company will report its first quarter 2006 results on January 18.
That's enough quoting the exact articles... but here are more links to other discussions of the 6.6% market share.
Arstechnica Article referring to 6.6% market share