The popularity of Apple Computer's iPod digital music players is helping it sell more Macs, but so far it hasn't been enough to spark a rise in the company's share of the personal computer market. According to research firm Gartner, worldwide PC shipments totaled 57 million units in the first quarter of 2006, representing a 13.1 percent increase over the same period last year. But in that time, Apple's share of the worldwide market slipped from 2.2 percent to a mere 2.0 percent. 
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Well, Apple previously was more lock-in than Microsoft. Nobody really cares about that, because with 2-5% Marketshare you don't have the power to really lock someone in without locking him out at the same time (which would result in even less marketshare).
And the second thing is applications. For some niche markets apple platform has THE professional software to do things right, but for lots of other areas they even lack behind Linux (CAD/CAE software for example).
Getting OSX into the Dell Stores will only be possible if Apple gives away OSX for free.
Member since:2005-07-05
I don't think the reality of price or choice has anything to do with it, but you may be right. Perhaps the percieved price and choice is the problem.
If you go look at a top of the line MacBook Pro, you're looking at forking out around $2,500.00 to $3,000.00. That is little than the top of the line Dell laptop (at least last time I checked) plus you get a nice metal case instead of a nice plastic one.
Member since:
2006-04-04
Apple has to offer more choice and probably lower prices if they're really interested in gaining market share. The problem with being content with being boutique is that it wouldn't take much more of a marketshare drop and the ISVs start dropping OSX as a target.
The next 6 months seem to be the critical period before Vista comes out. Lower the prices and offer more choice even if it comes at a loss of profits for the PC division. The IPod/Itunes division can subsidize for a while.
Of course the wildcard is if Apple will allow 3rd parties to offer OSX on a selected lineup. Depending on how scared Dell is of Microsoft retaliation, Apple could allow Dell to offer OSX under some special deal.
On the other hand, Apple (jobs) seems to be riding the IPod/ITunes success for all its worth. The question is if Apple really cares about gaining more market share and if they're willing to risk an even further drop in market share with the ramifications that brings.
Time will tell, but I know that I'm not interested in the OSX lineup with the current offerings.