Apple notebook sales up

Apple could be looking at a very strong year for its notebook sales, as the company prepares to report its June quarter sales numbers on July 19th. A new report indicates that sales of Apple's Intel Core Duo-based MacBook laptops have been stronger than expected, bolstering the top line for Taiwan-based Asustek Computer. Digitimes reports that the manufacturer sold about 120,000 units in June, up from about 100,000 units when the company started shipping the new computers in April, an increase of almost 20 percent. The report says that shipments will continue to increase in the second half as the notebook's competitive pricing for the MacBook is expected to stimulate demaind, which could yield a 39 percent increase in unit shipments over last year. Earlier this year, Apple and HP were expected to benefit as a larger proportion of laptops sales were expected via retail channels to end-users. Apple has also been strengthening its consumer retail presence by expanding its presence at Best Buy.

"For all of 2006, Apple may deliver two million iBook and MacBook laptops in addition to one million MacBook Pro notebooks, the sources estimated. If realized, Apple's notebook sales in 2006 would represent a 39% increase from the 2.16 million units shipped in 2005 as estimated by IDC."

The report notes that Chinese-language Commercial Times said that shipments of MacBooks already reached 300,000 units in June, up from 200,000 in May and 100,000 in April, but such numbers were not in line with the publications own estimates.

by MacNN Staff