Impact spreads from iPods, Windows systems

iPad sales are beginning to affect not just Windows PCs, but Macs as well, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty. The argument is based on new NPD Group numbers for July, which show US Mac sales growing 14 percent year-over-year, actually beating the prior month's figures and overall computer industry growth of 11 percent. Consumer PC growth slowed to 3 percent year-over-year versus June's 6 percent, and May's 8. Compensating for this was the business market, up 39 percent against 2009.

The problem with the Mac number, Huberty observes, is that 14 percent is still below the 25 percent Apple managed to achieve in a previous three-month average. "iPad momentum is likely contributing to the moderation of both broader PC and Mac unit growth," she writes. In past months, the iPad has typically been seen as eating into iPod touch, netbook and Windows desktop/notebook sales, not Apple's own computers.

ASUS recently dropped estimates for future Eee PC shipments in reaction to the iPad. While more expensive and lacking some of the features and flexibility of the Eee, the iPad does address many of the same purposes as the netbook, such as web browsing and e-mail.

by MacNN Staff