BusinessWeek Online “Byte of the Apple” columnist Charles Haddad examines the latest premature rumors of Apple’s demise in a new column entitled Why Apple Keeps Clicking.
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Haddad’s comments come in response to a recent Giga Information Group report that said Apple’s marketshare is dwindling in almost every market segment, with the exception of home users. “The report maintains that [corporate] buyers have become more conservative than ever and are shunning non-Windows computers,” said Haddad.
Haddad said that despite Apple’s meager marketshare, the company maintains one of the highest profit margins in the computer business, which has managed to keep the company profitable for the last two years (this past quarter’s performance notwithstanding).
Haddad also adds Mac users’ loyalty to the list of things that work in the company’s favor, though he admits that there are fundamental problems — and he doesn’t contradict Giga’s findings. Educational sales, for example, dropped precipitously, despite efforts like the Maine iBook program.
Haddad said the continued success of the iPod is one reason to remain optimistic about Apple’s outlook, especially now that it’s being carried by mainstream retailers like Best Buy and Target. Xserve is another reason to cheer, though Haddad admits that Apple “will never dominate the server market.” And Apple Stores continue to drive sales of consumer Macs, especially to first-time Mac owners.
“With successful stores and the clamor for the iPod, Apple will again rise from the ashes, avoiding the industry’s obituary page once more,” he concluded.