Posted on 07/10/2009 12:53:32 AM PDT by Swordmaker
In the last few weeks numerous technology and mass media web-sites published hundreds of stories about Apple, its products, their availability or their issues. But does that enthusiasm towards the company have any correlation with Apple’s actual market share? It seems that not really.
Apple is a company that has been extensively covered by media, especially in the USA, for many years now without an obvious reason: apart from the iPod, all the products from Apple are hardly used by a lot of people around the globe. But the latest load of rush coverage about Apple on the Internet more resembles hysteria rather than a normal exposure of a popular topic.
The most recent wave of wide-ranging coverage of Apple began with the pending release of the iPhone 3GS: almost all the tech web-sites published rumoured specifications of the device, some were correct, some were wrong. Then, after the 3GS was finally launched and the press released a load of ecstatic articles on the matter despite of the fact that nobody has tried to use the device, the media rejoiced over the return of Steve Jobs, chief exec of Apple, to his position at the company. Virtually all tech and mass media web-sites decided to inform their readers that Mr. Jobs had liver transplant in April and was back in the office on time.
After the state of Mr. Jobs’ health was discussed completely, the press found numerous new topics to talk about: availability of iPhone 3GS, overheating of iPhone and iPod devices, the future of relationship between Apple and Nvidia, demand towards certain Macbook notebooks, the number of applications available for sale in Apple’s store, installation of cameras on next-gen iPod players, unlocking iPhone 3GS (some went as far as advising business users to hack iPhones and use them for business purposes) and numerous other topics.
But does the media coverage correlate to actual usage of Apple’s products? Or is it just a cult inside the heads of a certain group of people? Let’s see the numbers!
Apple Macintosh: 3.33% Global PC Market Share
According to Apple itself, it sold around 9.92 million of Apple Macintosh computers in calendar 2008 across the world. According to IDC market tracking company, worldwide PC shipments totaled 297.24 million units in 2008. Therefore, Apple supplied no more than 3.33% of personal computers last year, definitely not a significant number.
Some may argue that Apple is very popular in the U.S., which is why the enthusiasm towards Macs in the country is so high. Well, if truth be told, Apple was the fourth largest PC vendor in the USA in 2008; but it only had 7.7% market share and is behind Dell (29.5%), HP (24.9%) and Acer (9.1%).
It does not look like the Macintosh systems are truly popular globally. Moreover, they have a number of drawbacks too: notebook batteries that cannot be replaced, rather controversial keyboards, incompatibility with the vast majority of video games, insufficient amount of ports on some Macbook notebooks, inability to configure them in accordance with personal needs before purchase, etc. So, Macs are neither the best, nor the most popular on the market.
Apple iPhone: 1% Global Cell Phone Market Share
Apple iPhone is among the most demanded tech gadgets of our time along with Nintendo Wii and Apple iPod. Nevertheless, its actual popularity seems to be greatly exaggerated. Its actual market share is very low and that points to the fact that iPhone cannot suit everyone, either because of the functionality or because of usability or because of the price.
Apple itself said that it sold 13.675 million of iPhones in 2008. According to Gartner market research firm, Apple’s sold-through figures for the iPhone series were considerably lower: 11.4175 million units.
Total mobile phone sales reached 1.22224 billion units in 2008, claims Gartner. Therefore, depending on whose sales numbers to consider real, Apple’s cell phone market share is either 0.934% or 1.118%.
Since Apple iPhone is a smartphone, it makes sense to consider its potential on that market too. Gartner claims that Apple had rather high market share of 8.2%: of 139.287 million smartphones sold in 2008, 11.417 million were Apple iPhone or iPhone 3G. Still, 8.2% market share means that 91.8% of end-users around the globe preferred non-Apple mobile phones. Indeed, 43.7% acquired Nokia smartphone, 16.6% bought Research in Motion’s Blackberry. Many other preferred phones from companies like HTC (4.2%, Gartner only lists HTC’s own-brand devices under its name and considers HTC-made phones sold under operators’ brands separately) or Sharp (3.8%).
Perhaps, it is Mac OS operating system that attracts attention to the iPhone? Well, based on the research from Gartner, Apple’s Mac OS X with its 8.2% market share is considerably behind Symbian (52.4%), RIM Blackberry (16.6%) and Microsoft Windows Mobile (11.8%). In fact, Linux-based phones rival Mac OS X with 8.1% market share.
Maybe Apple iPhone is the best (smart)phone on the market right now? Well, it may be rather trendy, but there are devices like Nokia 8800-series that are, subjectively, more stylish and that attract much more attention. Apple iPhone also does not have long battery life: almost any business-oriented (smart)phone is a far cry from the iPhone when it comes to battery life. Moreover, maximum operating temperature of 35°C limitation practically cuts off the iPhone from hot countries and from people who travel to those destinations. Obviously, it is more comfortable to surf the Internet or watch videos on iPhone than on other (smart)phones thanks to large screen, but these are basically the only clear advantages the iPhone series has over rivals.
Apple iPod: Walkman of Our Days
The actual popularity of Macintosh computers and iPhone cell phones is clearly low. But Apple iPod family is definitely the Walkman of our time.
In calendar 2008 Apple sold 55.434 million iPod music players. Sales of iPhones are not driven by product launches: in Q1, Q2 and Q3 the company sold roughly 11 million devices per quarter, whereas in Q4 the number doubled to 22.727 million, probably because a lot of people acquired iPods as gifts for Christmas or New Year.
Unfortunately, there are no credible reports concerning the global market of portable digital media players (PDMP), hence, it is hard to estimate the actual market share of Apple iPod. Still, according to predictions from iSuppli back in 2007, total available market for PDMP would total about 240 million units in 2008. Therefore, Apple probably commanded about 23% of the PDMP market last year, a very high figure that may mean that the iPod is the most popular personal digital media player in the world.
The popularity does not automatically mean that those players are much better than the rivals: they are tied to iTunes software, their batteries cannot be replaced and some customers complain about firmware-related problems. Nevertheless, the iPod ignited the Apple cult in the computer and consumer electronics world.
Apple TV, Apple Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, Xserve: Gadgets Not from the Cult Obviously, Macintosh, iPod and iPhone are not the only products offered by Apple. The company also offers TV set-top-box, external hard disk drive, a router and even a server! However, popularity of those products is rather low, which can be explained easily: they are not a part of the cult and do not have a chance to become as popular as the “headline devices”.
The Apple cult supposes devices that one can show in public to attract attention (Macbook, iPhone, iMac) or be like the others (iPod). Meanwhile, set-top-boxes, servers or external storage devices are not supposed to be demonstrated publicly since they are just made to provide certain functionality and not meant to be eye-candy. In fact, the lack of popularity of Mac Pro and Mac mini desktops points to the same conclusion since neither of those desktops are supposed to catch anyone’s attention.
The Passion, or a Simulation of a Cult?
To sum up, the only Apple product that seems to be truly popular on the market remains iPod. Of course, sales of iPhones, Macintosh systems and other products contribute to Apple’s revenue and profitability. But while they may be admired and discussed in the press, but they are rather rarely bought, as it can be seen in various market researches.
So, when it comes to the extensive coverage of Apple on the Internet, is it a passion for unpopular gadgets, or is it a type of a simulated cult created by rather vocal PR specialists, end-users and journalists?
> So, Macs are neither the best, nor the most popular on the market.<
Different brands excel at different tasks. And who wants to own the “most popular”? As long as the product meets the needs of its market, and is reliable, who cares if everyone else owns it?
We better not say anything bad about this author. He may start weeping uncontrollably.
The most popular car of all time is the Toyota Corolla. If you need a vehicle to haul around 7 people, the Corolla isn't going to cut it. You need the best vehicle that can carry 7 people.
Same way with computers. Lots of people can make due with cheap computers they replace every two years or so. As long as they get on the Internet, word process, and maybe play some games, they are happy. This probably covers 70% of the computer buying public. If you need access to high end graphic programs, build web sites, the ability to read and edit ANY graphic file thrown at you, run Quickbooks Premier Contractor version, process credit cards, digitize files for embroidery, etc, your choices become considerably narrower.
As a person who as build dozens (maybe hundreds) of PCs since 1984 all I can say is...
I love my Mac.
Apple supplied no more than 3.33% of personal computers last year, definitely not a significant number.Some may argue that Apple is very popular in the U.S., which is why the enthusiasm towards Macs in the country is so high. Well, if truth be told, Apple was the fourth largest PC vendor in the USA in 2008; but it only had 7.7% market share and is behind Dell (29.5%), HP (24.9%) and Acer (9.1%).
. . . now let's talk about market share ranking of operating systems. In that, Apple's OS X comes in second (admittedly distant) to Windows. And as Avis said back in the day, when you're Number 2, you try harder. With the original Macintosh OS, Apple was the first to bring out a GUI OS for personal use. Nobody thinks that Apple copies Windows.
Obviously not.
Let’s see......our media fawns over......
Apple and Obama
Apple fans may not like it, but it is the truth
I was there at the start and in the belly of the beast. I got out in 98 after being a Mac Cheerleader for too long.
Macs are very popular in design (mostly gay) circles which seem to intersect with media circles (somewhat gay), thus all the favorable press.
Umm Android is not the only Linux based Mobile OS out there. You are spreading your own FUD.
Hwn I read that 1 million iPhone 3gs were sold how many of them were from iPhomne 3g owners doing an exchange?
Which is why he also included that in his rant. Or did you get red faced too soon and not read that far?
Sal Alinsky:
Attack the person not the facts.
English 101:
Attack the facts not the person.
Only one of those will get you a passing grade in school, the other makes you a commie.
Did I hit a nerve?
It is what it is. Go visit some ad/marketing/arch/design firms. See the macs? See all the gay men?
I’m not saying all mac users are gay, but I’m betting mac’s have penetrated the gay demographic pretty deeply.
You don’t have to be gay to use a mac, but it helps.
Do you has a grammar editor?
I can has cheezburger?
Do you honestly believe that you invented the “all Mac users are gay” canard? We generally just have this kinda crap pulled.
That was a million in the first weekend. I would guess the numbers actually trading them out was a relatively small number of that total. And I would guess since that time I would guess the ratio stays pretty consistent. Certainly some but not most. Either way moving a million units of anything that costs a (subsidized) $200 in 3 days is a pretty impressive number.
Yes but it’s just as speculative a guess as yours is.
We? How many of you are sharing that account?
Just to refresh, I never said Mac users were 'homos', you did. I never said "all Mac users are gay", you keep putting that out there.
Having worked in the Mac community for years with thousands of users, I can state authoritatively that gays prefer macs over PCs by large numbers, and that they are found in the professions I mentioned, design and media, in numbers far outside their percentage in the general population.
Pull you own damn crap.
Did I mention that mac users were crabby? This is why I don't miss working with fanboys.
Demographics rather than raw numbers give Apple its strength. Their products are bought by consumers who spend money and care about what they buy.
The mass of Dell and HP computers are corporate purchases. The majority of Apple computers are personal purchases.
iPhones may not be the mass-market choice, but in the US smartphone market, there are Blackberries, iPhones and everything else. Cheap cell phones are just commodity items that don’t fill the same niche as a smartphone.
Oops, sorry. It was 98 when you got out.
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