This photo of iBook-wielding students at the Missouri School of Journalism reminds us of the “stat” that keeps getting rolled out about is that Apple only make 5-6% of the computers sold in the US. The thing about that statistic is that it covers all the PCs that ever get sold - and that includes all the dull boxes that get shipped to all the dull business blocks, government agencies and admin centers around the country. If you were just using a computer for admin or data input, of course you don’t need an Apple computer.
80% of the kids in this picture have an iBook and if you go to a cafe near to a NYU and find someone with a PC laptop you know that they’re embarrassed by the thing and it’s only because their parents went out and bought it without asking them in the first place. No? The creative class and the emerging generation of super-creative-class do not drive a PC.
Why are we counting apples with oranges when it comes to computer sales? How about this: let’s guess that purchases for computers that help the US tick-over account for 70% of purchases - and then ignore this group as unimportant to the US creative productivity: That would mean that Apple sells about 20% of the market that matters - and who knows maybe they sell to more.
Just a theory.
Photo viaRocketboom
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Piers,
Interesting article. Laptops are extensions of ourselves and we have an emotional bond with them. Laptops = personal. The reason Dell is rushing to setup brick and mortar distribution is to facilitate the laptop purchasing experience. People want to hold it, to touch it, to cradle it. This is where Apple is kicking serious butt. They are really the only mainstream laptop brand that means anything and the in-store Apple experience is second to none.
That said I still prefer PC laptops. My father was a designer and I grew up on Macs my entire life until around 14 when I had to buy my own computer. Do I buy a $2,000 mac or build a $1,000 PC that rocks the socks of the Mac? It really was a economic decision + I personally love to tinker and you simply can’t do that on the Mac.
However, these days I have stopped gaming and the power to price ratio is less important, but custom PCs that are cheaper look more unique. I went to NYU and in a sea of generic MacBooks my proud Ferrari red custom laptop just looks prettier.
Just my 2 cents.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:00 pm