Apple to report results on Monday, expect to be dazzled
It’s earnings season and evident joy is emanating from 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California. Moreover, the stars and planets are aligning to both humiliate Microsoft on the eve of the Windows 7 launch and deliver another stunning holiday quarter for the Mac, iPod and iPhone maker.
When Apple announces its 2009 fourth quarter fiscal results on Monday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. (EST), assuming the analysts are even close to right, the company will deliver some exemplary, industry-topping numbers.
As Blorge reported earlier, Mac sales grew 7 to 12 percent year-over-year last quarter versus an industry average of 2.5 to 3.9 percent growth. This impressive disparity led IDC vice president Bob O’Donnell to say, “Everyone is guessing at Apple’s numbers. Here’s the interesting thing. Last month we called Apple [sales] low, and we got it wrong. I take full blame for that. I thought, ‘How can they possibly maintain share?’ But they defy logic.”
Cheap is as cheap does…
Mac Blorge has maintained for some time now that the whole Windows PC market is deeply mired in a protracted, intractable malaise and most products in this category should be considered crap at any price. With PC makers’ build quality and after-service ratings at least 10 points less than Apple, it’s little wonder that the Mac, iPod and iPhone continue to post growing volume and market share numbers.
Seriously, if you have less money, do you go out and buy some junk that won’t last from a company with a poor service record, or do you buy best of class tools (i.e. you can’t afford to replace them) that include industry-best after service and great resale at no additional charge?
Whatever the case, be here at Mac Blorge come Monday at 5 p.m. for blow by blow reporting as Peter Oppenheimer, Phil Schiller et al deliver fiscal fourth quarter data. It’s gonna be a party…
What’s your take?
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October 16th, 2009
There are still those that claim that Apple product quality or performance is no better than the common Windows PC and that Apple is only charging for a logo. 90% of the switchers I’ve spoken to say that they are happier using Macs and they love the customer support. They are not technically adept and need hand-holding at times and it’s there for them, but for the most part Apple product’s ease of use is more than enough.
For Windows users that do have tech skills this sort of hand-holding may not be necessary and they can easily do with less expensive computers or as they typically say, they can build a better computer for half the money that Apple charges. Clearly, from the computer users I know, these high-tech users are definitely in the minority. Most PC users I know bought computers similar to what they used at work or if they went to a Best Buy or some other store that sells computers, the salespeople would push Windows machines on them. Most had never even known much about Apple Macs, but now they seem to be more aware of Apple and are able to make a choice. Usually it’s because they bought an iPod or iPhone, liked the product and then decided why not buy an Apple computer, too. The said the quality and support helped them make that decision.
I like to talk to people about their decisions and question them directly, so I’m not sitting around just dreaming this stuff up. If people are said to be buying Apple products just for the logo, then I’m sure that logo stands for more than just the shape of the logo itself. If the products weren’t living up to buyers’ expectations then they wouldn’t have high customer satisfaction, but they do.
October 16th, 2009
I say they will have a blow-out quarter. I think there is a very slow migration to the Mac, as there has been for the last three years since Apple went Intel, and it hasn’t stopped. It’s not a rush, but when you factor in the huge margins it quickly makes for huge profits. Combine that with the record iPhone/iPod Touch sales plus the new GAAP accounting methods and we will see Apple once again crush the competition. Also look for MSFT’s numbers to be down next week when they report their financials.
Apple is a financial juggernaut! Now bring us the iTablet and change the PC industry again
That would humiliate Win7 and leave MSFT holding an empty bag of old technology.
October 17th, 2009
Apple makes nice tech and the current economy actually favors them, they are a consumer business and while consumers belt tighten they would need to start booting out members of the household to equal the business sector. Microsoft will continue to rise and fall on the business sector.
It’s funny how Microsoft has maintained it’s early stance of not building computers since the beginning correctly seeing that proprietary hardware was a dead end. All the companies have either died or embraced the same common platform, including Apple the visionary.
The only people who build their own rigs are enthusiasts. Other than wanting to have control over the exact components, there is no financial benefit, especially once most of the functions moved to the motherboard. People who buy from Best Buy and other consumer big box stores looking for the cheapest stuff get what they deserve.
I use various OSes and am responsible for matching tech to solve business issues efficiently and don’t really care about forcing some strange idea of good versus evil on it. Sometimes it’s Linux or a flavor of ‘nix and sometimes it’s a Mac. The vast majority are Microsoft solutions because of support issues and breath of options and resources. I’d just as soon slap Linux on every box but they don’t pay me to spread religion.