Leopard spurring Mac sales to new highs
updated 06:40 pm EST, Tue December 11, 2007
Leopard Mac sales
Adding to the already swelling analyst enthusiasm over Apple's current and future financial prospects, ChangeWave is predicting that Leopard is making consumers more likely to buy Macs now and in the near future, leading to optimistic sales forecasts. "Apple computer sales continue to show strong consumer momentum. Not only is Apple maintaining the highest satisfaction levels among all manufacturers, but consumer purchases over the next 90 days look exceptionally robust." According to the company's survey data, nearly one-in-four respondents (24 percent) say that the release of Apple's new Leopard operating system makes them more likely to buy a Mac in the future.
The company says that on the corporate front, Macintosh purchases also appear set to reach new highs. "Over the next 90 days, Mac laptop and desktop sales to consumers will remain the biggest growth story in the PC industry -- driven in part by the new Leopard operating system. Moreover, Apple's corporate market share is increasing as well."
Research firm Goldman Sachs is also predicting strong holiday sales for Apple's iPods and Macs, and remains confident about the Cupertino-based company's forthcoming products in 2008. Goldman analyst David Bailey foresees the new iPhone arriving in the second half of 2008, with a smaller upgrade and more flash memory surfacing earlier in the year.
not a surprise
12/12, 08:57am reply
since it seemed so many people were holding off on a new mac until leopard was released, because they knew apple wouldn't offer any cheap upgrade for those who bought, say, 2 months earlier.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
you're harshing my buzz
12/12, 11:44am reply
testudo. But it is kinda lame they don't give you a coupon to at least get it at, say, $20. BTW, testudo, do you have a mac?
tindrum
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Joined: Apr 2004
the rub is...
12/12, 12:00pm reply
even at the current iteration 10.5.1 - Leopard has had more glitches and bugs and instabilities than most of the previous versions of OS X_
UberFu
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Joined: Oct 2002
Re: waiting for Godot
12/12, 12:33pm reply
Apple's sales during the year do not support your contention that increased sales were simply delayed sales. While it is true that some folks (myself included) were waiting for Leopard, Apple's sales have risen steadily year over year.
palane
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Joined: Feb 2005
re: the rub is...
12/12, 02:03pm reply
I agree Leopard is not a perfect OS by any means. But the fact remains, its much more stable the the OS that comes installed on a PC. And of course Windows XP is more stable... its had 7 years to get there. Macs are gonna continue to expand simply because they are still a better overall machine.
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
More problems?
12/12, 07:20pm reply
I think not. Its wonderful how time can "heal all wounds". There were major issues with 10.4 and even 10.3. Anyone recall the external FireWire issues?
10.5 has some issues, but they do not affect everyone and they are not as numerous as portrayed - there are a great deal more initial Leopard users out there than Tiger users. That alone can make the problems seem more wide-spread.
But I agree there were some delayed sales. I also was one who waited for Leopard. But according to the local Apple sales staff, the spike in sales was minimal. Only those "in the know" waited, most of the public is still learning that Macs dont come with Windows!
unity@mac.com
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windoze
12/13, 12:05am reply
Leopard sales will soar higher and higher in the time to come as windows vista and ie7 and too buggy to use. the other days I installed ie7 and after restarting my machine it just crashed the hdd. I hate windoze.
Sachin
sachxn
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