Sales of Apple devices forecasted to equal those of Windows PCs this year

[Shawn Knight]

It’s no secret that Apple devices are a hot commodity these days while sales of Windows PCs are simultaneously on the decline. In charting the phenomenon, Asymco analyst Horace Dediu shares just how well each category is doing and ultimately believes that sales of Apple devices will equal those of Windows PCs at some point this year.

Dediu found that as of last year, Microsoft was only selling 1.18 more Windows PCs versus Apple devices. But before you read into it too much, it’s worth pointing out that the comparison isn’t exactly apples to apples (no pun intended).

When charting Apple device sales, Dediu is including the Mac, iPad and iPhone but for Microsoft, it’s strictly Windows-based PCs. Again, he isn’t including sales of Windows Phones or Windows-based tablets, just PCs. Even still, current charts probably aren’t too far off base when you consider Microsoft hasn’t had a ton of success in the mobile sector just yet.

The data is particularly interesting because it points to shifts taking place long before Apple launched the iPhone. Dediu and John Gruber from Daring Fireball have a couple of theories as to why that is and it all starts with the iPod.

Millions were first introduced to Apple through the company’s iconic portable music player. This led many to question what a computer from Apple might be like and helped ease the barrier between switching from a PC to a Mac. The arrival of the iPhone only helped to drive this point home.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/55332-sales-of-apple-devices-forecasted-to-equal-those-of-windows-pcs-this-year.html

 

[Chazz]

Say what you want about Steve Jobs, but he seriously outplayed Bill Gates.

 

[RH00D]

Say what you want about Steve Jobs, but he seriously outplayed Bill Gates.

Outplayed him how? Because Apple is now doing better in the mobile consumer market? Apple is almost exclusively consumer focused meanwhile Microsoft is both enterprise and consumer focused. In fact Microsoft earns more of it's revenue from businesses than it does from consumers.

So I could equally say, Bill Gates seriously outplayed Steve Jobs in the enterprise.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Thats right compare an Apple device that needs to be replaced every two years, with a PC that has a life span three times that if not more.

 

[Chazz]

Thats right compare an Apple device that needs to be replaced every two years, with a PC that has a life span three times that if not more.

And a large sum of the folk replace them every year, willingly! I've had my PC for 4 years now and the one before is still with me bout 10 years now.

 

[Adhmuz]

Don't get me wrong here, I understand the world is moving to mobile platforms, ie Tablets and Smart Phones. But this is literally comparing Apple to Microsoft in such a way that makes zero sense, you might as well throw Android in there to balance things out. At least they included on the chart were Macs compare to PC's and it's still not great. Also you have to remember people buying PCs and Macs pay full price, unsubsidized by a contract, example I can get an iPhone for 0$ with a 2 year contract, I certainly can't say the same for a PC or Mac. So really what do these numbers mean? If your including devices that are given to people vs something that just is not. I don't know, maybe it's a big surprise to some,but I see Apple, and some BS play on numbers plain and simple.

 

[Chazz]

I love Microsoft. Bill outplayed Steve in the PC sector and still has. Steve outplayed him in the mobile sector and did it to such effect that he made the mobile sector far more important for money than the PC sector so far and it's still growing.

I'm not proud of that, I don't like Apple products, but still.

 

[oldikes]

Slightly off topic but serious question. Why is everything moving to arm instead of everything moving to x86? I know arm was originally needed for mobile devices due to power usage issues but as I understand it alot of AMD/intel CPUs now use significantly low amounts of power. And since the architecture is more developed upon since its been around longer, wouldnt it be better to use? I guess im missing something obvious.

 

[St1ckM4n]

Slightly off topic but serious question. Why is everything moving to arm instead of everything moving to x86? I know arm was originally needed for mobile devices due to power usage issues but as I understand it alot of AMD/intel CPUs now use significantly low amounts of power. And since the architecture is more developed upon since its been around longer, wouldnt it be better to use? I guess im missing something obvious.

Even the lowest power-sipping x86 CPU is a power-hungry beast when compared to ARM. Battery tech can't support it.

 

[sapo joe]

Cool... If you get EVERYTHING Apple sells together, it is, in numbers, the same as Windows PCs...

C'mon, this is not a valid comparisson.

An iPod can't do what a Windows PC does. This is BULLSHIT!

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

What this article fails to mention is that Asymco and Dediu (never heard of either) are probably paid by Apple to make up this garbage.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Slightly off topic but serious question. Why is everything moving to arm instead of everything moving to x86? I know arm was originally needed for mobile devices due to power usage issues but as I understand it alot of AMD/intel CPUs now use significantly low amounts of power. And since the architecture is more developed upon since its been around longer, wouldnt it be better to use? I guess im missing something obvious.

Intel is still a noob in the SoC space. They don't have a reputation yet.

 

[DDG4005]

So sales are forecast to equal Windows-based PCs? Let's look at this again at the end of the year after everything is said and done.

 

[Wagan8r]

On a related note the number veggie burgers, veggie bacon, vegetable juice boxes, and individual vegetables will equal the number of hamburgers McDonald's sells.
Take THAT McDonald's!
Or something like that...

 

[rub900]

No one has said it so I will. It is like comparing apples to oranges. There I said it.

 

[Holotus]

Tablets & Smartphones sadly aren't capable of working in the business world. They're merely meant for Facebook, Youtube, and porn. This is why PCs as a form factor won't go away completely, it'll be more tailored for people who have to create something rather than **** around on useless apps and meme browsing.