macnn
03/26/2008, 2:25pm, EDT
Wednesday, March 26th
Mac demand to stay strong during downturn
Although the U.S. economic slowdown has led to a pullback in PC spending by both consumers and corporations, planned purchases of Apple computers remain relatively strong, even in the slower buying environment according to a new study by ChangeWave research. Apple is the leader among consumers who plan to buy a laptop (31 percent) over the next 90 day. Similarly, Apple planned desktop computer purchases (28 percent; down 1 point) are close to record levels. The study also finds that Apple continues to set the standard for customer satisfaction among corporate respondents who use the Leopard operating system – with 53 percent saying they are Very Satisfied with the software. In comparison, Windows XP Pro has a 40 percent Very Satisfied rating and Microsoft Vista Business achieved just 8 percent.
Meanwhile, Apple's consumer market share is up more than 50 percent from a year earlier. Moreover, corporate Mac purchases are also near record highs, with laptops (7%) unchanged from previously and desktops (6%) down just 1 point.
On the corporate side, a February ChangeWave survey found planned PC purchases also slowing sharply, with just 73% of 2,204 respondents reporting their company plans on buying laptops in the next quarter – down 4-pts from a year ago. The same pattern was also seen for corporate desktops (70%), with planned purchases down 5-pts to a 12-month low.
Filed under: computers, Apple
Other story tags: Microsoft, Leopard, Vista, Windows, research, satisfaction
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BTW, now that Apple is up to 8% we're sure to see an outbreak of Mac viruses... right, PC fanboys?
I refuse to participate in an economic slowdown. If you want to do your part in heading off an economic slowdown, get off the computer and go spend some money...
Yeah, Apple will be fine. They've got their footing now and are seemingly hell bent to get people thinking that there has to be something better than windows. As expected, Windows converts often become the biggest Mac supporters. Its out of gratitude mostly, like someone telling you that a ride is much better without square tires.
Cap this off with a salesman as a CEO--Ballmer--and there you have it, Apple's future success. Apple only has to worry if Big Redmond's corporate culture changes and they make an OS that isn't out to screw the user. Fortunately, Ballmer has a few good years in him, by then Mac's market share should be in the twentieth percentile or so.