3 ms·

The 91% retail computers number is crazy. My guess is it has to do with several different factors, a few of which might be: * Circuit City going under * Best

The 91% retail computers number is crazy. My guess is it has to do with several different factors, a few of which might be: * Circuit City going under * Best Buy now stocking Apple merchandise * Wal-mart going almost entirely sub-$1000 * No one wanting a computer that comes with Vista (even my Mom bought a laptop the other day b/c it was $400 and came w/ XP) * More Apple stores, meaning more free tech support (which is why Microsoft's going down that route soon)

Kadin 17y ago
I think it's probably due in large part to near-total destruction of the $1000-plus PC market. It's not that Apple has really gained there as much as the numbers would suggest, it's just that they've managed to hold on and get people to continue shelling out, while other computer manufacturers have been forced into a price war. I suspect, if you were to go into Best Buy or Walmart, you would find only a handful of non-Apple PCs for $1k+, if any at all. Apple is doing well in the high end because they've successfully resisted commoditization in a way that none of the other manufacturers have. (Sony has tried hard, but they're not half as cool as they want to be in the eyes of the average buyer.) Toughbooks are probably the only other brand that stick out as demanding a premium and being likely to get it, but they're a specialty product.
- potatolicious 17y ago
  This is something I've been saying all along - and Sony too. Last year someone at Sony lambasted the Eee PC, saying that netbooks will destroy the industry by causing a "race to the bottom". People fought against that idea - and many loudly proclaimed Sony to be a sore loser and sells overpriced crap. Quote here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9879798-7.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9879798-7.html And then it turns out they were right. The netbook has absolutely gutted the over-$1000 PC market to the point where Apple is now the only real player. Margins are thinner than ever and I would not be surprised if manufacturers start keeling over from selling too many netbooks. I mean, that's what happens when you give up the business of selling kobe beef and get into the business of selling grade-D ground beef...
  - netsp 17y ago
    In a competitive market like this, it is not really about companies 'getting into the business of selling...' Consumers are buying it.
whatusername 17y ago
And don't forget Lenovo / Dell XPS / etc all being sold online / direct to businesses.
Hexstream 17y ago
I'm surprised at the lengths some people will go to save a few puny letters on "because" and "with" while otherwise using perfect spelling. (Achtung!)

Kadin 17y ago

I think it's probably due in large part to near-total destruction of the $1000-plus PC market. It's not that Apple has really gained there as much as the numbers would suggest, it's just that they've managed to hold on and get people to continue shelling out, while other computer manufacturers have been forced into a price war. I suspect, if you were to go into Best Buy or Walmart, you would find only a handful of non-Apple PCs for $1k+, if any at all. Apple is doing well in the high end because they've successfully resisted commoditization in a way that none of the other manufacturers have. (Sony has tried hard, but they're not half as cool as they want to be in the eyes of the average buyer.) Toughbooks are probably the only other brand that stick out as demanding a premium and being likely to get it, but they're a specialty product.

potatolicious 17y ago
This is something I've been saying all along - and Sony too. Last year someone at Sony lambasted the Eee PC, saying that netbooks will destroy the industry by causing a "race to the bottom". People fought against that idea - and many loudly proclaimed Sony to be a sore loser and sells overpriced crap. Quote here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9879798-7.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9879798-7.html And then it turns out they were right. The netbook has absolutely gutted the over-$1000 PC market to the point where Apple is now the only real player. Margins are thinner than ever and I would not be surprised if manufacturers start keeling over from selling too many netbooks. I mean, that's what happens when you give up the business of selling kobe beef and get into the business of selling grade-D ground beef...
- netsp 17y ago
  In a competitive market like this, it is not really about companies 'getting into the business of selling...' Consumers are buying it.

whatusername 17y ago

And don't forget Lenovo / Dell XPS / etc all being sold online / direct to businesses.

Hexstream 17y ago

I'm surprised at the lengths some people will go to save a few puny letters on "because" and "with" while otherwise using perfect spelling. (Achtung!)