People, don't forget these comments are written for people who are thinking of buying AAPL or current shareholders so they get an idea on whether to buy more, hold or sell.

Why do people buy stock? To make money. How are you gonna make money off a stock of a company that's not growing as fast as the industry? If it's not growing as fast as the industry (and Apple sales are not) then it's a possible sign that there are better places to put your money.

You can be a profitable company, turning out consistent profits, but if you don't grow that profit, there's no reason for people to buy your stock or appreciate the price. On top of that, analysts and shareholders are trying to get AAPL to start offering a dividend, what with that 4+billion in cash and all, but they're completely closed to that option.

I don't see this as a doom and gloom story, all they're saying is that Apple still hasn't found a way to grow its profits beyond this baseline they've seemed to find, which, face it, is pretty much true. G5 sales has been dismal, they lost the momentum from its initial introduction because no updates have been released, on top of version 1.0 problems that haven't been resolved to many customer's satisfaction. iMac sales haven't been doing well either and iPod sales haven't translated into increased CPU sales for Apple.

And for the BMW/Apple analogy: even BMW is trying to find ways to grow. Witness the 1/2 series, they expect it to sell hundreds of thousands a year worldwide.

"Sounds like The Cube could make a comeback of sorts..."

So they can run Linux on a XBOX, why not OSX on a GameCube ... with the built-in handle, it'd fit in perfectly for a Lan Gamer's party. On that note, why aren't all GameCube games made to run on OSX? Both PowerPC with equivalent ATI graphics cards ... can the conversion be so bad?

Apple should team up with Nintendo and promote a new emulator that will sell more nintendo games. And with Sony and XBOX switching to PPC based machines, gaming on the Mac should get better?????

I certainly don't think Apple has a healthy image when it's own loyal customers hold out on buying revision A products that have been highly anticipated for over a year, because of the known problems Rev A's had.

I just hope Apple's numbers pull up real well when IBM starts outputting at a good rate. I'm sick of hearing about delays when this company has such a small marketshare.

If you want to break it out by markets, go do it yourself instead of bagging on others.

The fact is everyone knows that marketshare means share of new computers shipped. Loyalists can bicker all day (and do) about how that does not represent the # of people using Macs but the fact is Apple is not shipping as much PC by % as the rest of industry.

I mean it is great for me to sell 5% more widget than the prev quarter prev year and you all can cheer that because you like me but it does not erase the fact that others are selling 15% more widgets!

Apple can pat itself on its back saying that all it needs is to stay healthy, make profits, etc which is true but don't you think within Apple, they are not wishing they can sell more computers/widgets?

And what is with all these lame conspiracies with analysts harboring an agenda for Apple? As cmoney point out, they are focused on making money! If the stock is for eMachines and suppose for this argument, they created and sold iPod like crazy but are lagging in PC sales, the analysts would make the exact same comments. Stop with the self-persecution complex!

The title of the article should read "Steve Jobs not helping Apple's eroding marketshare". He _may_ be a visionary, but a good CEO doesnt make 75M and BLOW serious marketing opportunities. He failed to capitilize on the iMac,the cube and now he is failing to fully capitilize on the iPod.

PS. He isn't really a "visionary" he is just good at stealing other peoples ideas and calling them his own.

iPod supply will catch up to demand as they rev up production, and when it begins to slow Apple will have another miraculous products and most likely it will be another multi platform device.

Madflower, you mad. Jobs is a great CEO. However you have people that Like it, people that admit it and people that refuse to believe it and then a few blind. Which one are you?

You're right. The marketshare numbers are just the numbers. But, by themselves numbers do not mean anything.

But it's funny that you say "break it out by markets". What do you think "marketshare" means? It means share of the market. Why is "total systems sold" any more relevant than "total laptop systems sold"?

It's when you try to say "because of the declining marketshare of Apple xxxxx" that the argument arises. And in that situation looking at market segments may be meaningful.

Can someone explain why "market share" is relevant in the limited sense used here? Apple has 100% marketshare in the elegant desktop operating system market.

I'm sooooo sick of hearing of marketshare! Marketshare is like the Megahertz Myth!

How many "PC"s are use in grocery store scanners, ATMs, traffic lights, McDonald's cash registers?!

This is a bit off topic, but...
What's this major G5 Rev A bug everyone keeps talkin about. I have a dual 2G G5 and that thing is a workhorse 24/7. In fact, I have had no significant issues to date. It's by far the fatest, most stable and problem free mac I've ever had. I've had it since Oct and I am currently running 10.3.3. Am I missing something??? Just curious????

Same here. Rev A dual G5 2G, workhorse. Only reboot it when I have the occasional security update from Apple.

How many "PC"s are use in grocery store scanners, ATMs, traffic lights, McDonald's cash registers?!

I don't know but would love to know. Do you?

And why are you listing them as if they are a bad thing? If Apple can make inroads by selling to those industries and make a profit and increase # of units shipped, you don't think they would/should do it?

What's this major G5 Rev A bug everyone keeps talkin about.
You know, 100 more people could post more about how their Rev A G5 works great but that won't help the other G5 owners who are "living with G5 freezes" and hearing "Firewire Noise with Pro Audio Equipment". See G5 usage forums under http://discussions.info.apple.com/. This is also discussed elsewhere on Macnn, Macrumors, xlr8yourmac, etc

Maybe there in the US marketshare doesn't matter but here in asia and in some parts of the world, it directly affects us Mac users. I've been a mac fan long before WIndows 95 came up . But now, not only that it is an expensive investment, but nowadays its more difficult to own a mac because there are less companies that support it. How can you guys expect us to defend and promote mac realistically to our friends.

Thanks for the link. I fortunately have not experienced these problem, but I have a question for you...

Are you this much of an a** in real life or is it just on the Macnn forums?

I don't think Apple's new products suffer from "Revision A problems" any more than the competition's new products do, but because Apple doesn't sell anywhere near what the competition does, one Revision A problem does a lot more harm to the company than to the competition.

Analyists live in their offices--I've been seeing more and more Powerbooks and ibooks everywhere I go since their release and I've personally converted a half dozen windoze users over the last six months. This is just contrarian BS from a soon-to-be-laid-off stock snoozer.

You know, 100 more people could post more about how their Rev A G5 works great but that won't help the other G5 owners who are "living with G5 freezes" and hearing "Firewire Noise with Pro Audio Equipment".

Well, the same can be reversed. It could be 100 people have problems, and the rest are working fine.

The Rev A's that people are trying to skip is more 'theoretical', in the sense of that there's always issues with Apple hardware when a new line comes out. That's just the nature of hardware (as well as software). Only in the field use sometimes finds problmes that never crop up in internal testing (some are only issues over a period of time). This is why people wait (its similar as to people who say "Never use a new version of MS software until the third service pack", although they've changed their service pack releases such that they rarely make it to three now-a-days.

iamnoone, I promise you that in real life, I am every bit as analytical as I am on Macnn. You asked "what's this major G5 Rev A bug everyone keeps talkin about?" and I point them out to you. Is that being an a**? If so, so be it.

LouZer wrote: "Well, the same can be reversed. It could be 100 people have problems, and the rest are working fine."

Yes, I agree. I would love if all Apple products are flawless but we all know that does not happen. I hope that you agree with me that problems like G5 freezes, 15" Al white spots, and product delays (XServer, Mini) make Apple look bad just like how similar issues make other companies look bad (MS with security, Longhorn, etc).

In no way am I saying Apple is any worse than other companies but to insinuate Rev A G5s' are problem free from anectodal evidence or calling a black kettle while ignoring Apple's own issues is simply disingenuous.

Apple can develop coolest peripheral as they want, but it is still not enough to convince computer users to migrate a platform that is only 2% of the marketshare. And at present the de facto standard OS remains M$ Windoze. Human nature-- people just don't want to be left outside of the circle. Its either uncool or too risky.

The success of linux however, only proves that there is still a market for a new platform among pc users. Software that is. Although consumers maybe interested to try out new and stable software, they are however not yet ready to invest on a new box altogether. What I think Apple should do, is introduce or contribute to the development of the next possible standard platform, be it Darwin or Linux. It would be then easier to sell the hardware once the OS is accepted by the greater market.

When it comes to computers, I believe consumer thinks that hardware are all the same. Sell the software, the hardware will follow.

30th post!!!!!

With the success of Firewire, QuickTime,iPod, iTunes, Apple has realized thatthe greater market share the -- wintel based users-- are open to Apple products . Therefore these pc users are also potential Mac users. However, although peripherals like iPod will make them appreciate Apple, in the long run it will only make them continue feel secure with their pc. Like Linux, Darwin or OS X must be exposed to the pc users in order for them accept it. In this way they will choose a Mac on their next investment.

Who cares. It seems Apple is content in being just a simple peripheral company in the IT industry while surrendering the development of desktop computers to us dying breed of mac fanatics.