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eWeek, quoting NPD data for the first quarter, reports that Apple holds a 66% share of the retail market for computers that sell for $1,000 or more. Of the sub-grand market, Apple-branded computers account for a "mere" 14%. Money quotes from Stephen Baker, NPD, vice president, industry analysis: • In notebooks they're growing two times the market. Windows notebooks are pretty much flat right now. • [In the desktop segment,] they're up 45 percent. The [overall] market is down 20 percent. Windows desktops would be down 25 percent. • I don't believe that Vista's to blame. The vast majority of consumers don't care [about the installed operating system]. • Consumers don't care about features.People see a value proposition in an offering that gives them a great experience. • Apple has got better distribution than it's had in the last 15 years. They're in the right spot right now. There's the iPod advantage. But the big thing is the stores. • What Apple drives home: This is a product that we own from factory to finger. We exert some control so that you get the best experience. When you get in the store, we get you what you want. Even if Vista per se isn't to blame, the first element of change is always dissatisfaction. It may be that Apple offers a simply superior experience, but that "experience" doesn't exist in a vacuum. And, isn't it more than a little amazing that Apple's taking 14% of the sub-grand retail market with a single, over-priced, long-in-the-tooth offering (the Mac mini)? If there's a single takeaway NPD's data and analysis, it's that Apple could sell a lot more units if it expanded its sub-$1,000 offerings. I guess the question is, "Could they make more money at the same time?" What's your take?
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