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The biggest issue with the presentation of numbers like these, assuming numerical accuracy, is equating an Apple PC with a Dell PC. Not only are they apples and

The biggest issue with the presentation of numbers like these, assuming numerical accuracy, is equating an Apple PC with a Dell PC. Not only are they apples and oranges (pun intended), it also puts a zero-sum total into the conversation. If anything, the specific quarter numbers aren't nearly as important as the trailing 8-12-16-however-far quarters to consider the trend of where things are headed. Because Apple devices have a premium price point against those from HP and Dell, there's a natural market effect where the ceiling of Apple customers exists that doesn't apply to HP and Dell. What we don't know is where that ceiling exists, since Apple continues a near-linear trajectory growth line. Additionally, I'm not sure that growth is a negative to HP and Dell, i.e. a customer chooses Apple OR HP/Dell, in a one-or-the-other scenario. Simply showing Apple growing it's market share here doesn't necessarily mean HP or Dell shipped fewer units. Nonetheless, Apple is the only one on the list making material gains with its products, not anyone else.

mcritz 15y ago
* Simply showing Apple growing it's market share here doesn't necessarily mean HP or Dell shipped fewer units. Simply, HP & Dell shipped fewer units. Evidence: Gartners’ chart headings. One of which read, “4Q10 Shipments” the other, “4Q11 Shipments”. But I went to art school, maybe a decline in shipments doesn’t mean they sold fewer units? Looking forward to your thoughts.
- jroseattle 15y ago
  Missed those numbers, didn't see them for some reason (blaming it on coffee, at the moment.) As for art school, they obviously set you up with snarkiness. :-)
mikeash 15y ago
HP and Dell did ship fewer units. That's not to say it's Apple's fault, but Apple was the only top-5 PC maker to see growth this past quarter. All of the other four (HP, Dell, Toshiba, Acer) saw a decline. Whether they're in direct competition or not is, I think, less interesting than the simple fact that Apple is seeing solid double-digit growth as a top PC manufacturer when all the others, and the market as a whole, are shrinking. And that despite the fact that making PCs is far from Apple's core focus at this point.

mcritz 15y ago

* Simply showing Apple growing it's market share here doesn't necessarily mean HP or Dell shipped fewer units. Simply, HP & Dell shipped fewer units. Evidence: Gartners’ chart headings. One of which read, “4Q10 Shipments” the other, “4Q11 Shipments”. But I went to art school, maybe a decline in shipments doesn’t mean they sold fewer units? Looking forward to your thoughts.

jroseattle 15y ago
Missed those numbers, didn't see them for some reason (blaming it on coffee, at the moment.) As for art school, they obviously set you up with snarkiness. :-)

mikeash 15y ago

HP and Dell did ship fewer units. That's not to say it's Apple's fault, but Apple was the only top-5 PC maker to see growth this past quarter. All of the other four (HP, Dell, Toshiba, Acer) saw a decline. Whether they're in direct competition or not is, I think, less interesting than the simple fact that Apple is seeing solid double-digit growth as a top PC manufacturer when all the others, and the market as a whole, are shrinking. And that despite the fact that making PCs is far from Apple's core focus at this point.