Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

"The worldwide PC market began a slow rebound from the recession last quarter with overall home sales surging, and strong Mac sales with business buyers."

The totals for Apple overall weren't great (5.5% gain) but much better than being in the negative numbers like the overall market was for PCs (-2.4%). From the chart you can tell the only bright spot was when they segmented the markets and Apple gained 14.6% in the home category, and the market overall gained 18.5%. Apple also had a 2% gain in the small office segment. You sure can tell where Apple needs help: Government growth was a dismal -66.9%.

"Despite many other companies releasing employees during the current economic situation, Apple always stated they had no plans to show any employees the door. But now it seems that for both business and financial reasons, they've had to let 50 employees go, according to CNET News."

CNET refers to two reports by ValleyWag and 9to5mac that state 50 employees were laid off. An entire sales staff in Austin, TX and several at the Apple Campus in Cupertino, CA were the casualties of "business and economic" problems. This was denied by Apple, even though several sites were reporting similar information. The start of this bagan last year when Apple de-emphasized the direct enterprise sales force in favor of using resellers and channel partners to get the products out there into the hands of businesses. It appears to be working as this recent article in Apple Thoughts noted.

On the Apple Store side of things, they seem to be cooking right along. According to www.ifoAppleStore.com, Apple is planning a 2nd store in Scotland, a new store in the Boston area, have started construction on a 5th store in Toronto, and are close to getting plans approved for the Georgetown store. Oh and don't forget the recently opened Greensboro, NC store.

""A slowing global economy had little impact on Apple's computer business last month, as consumers willingly plunked down their cash for the company's new MacBook offerings, helping to drive Mac sales up more than 25 percent year-over-year," Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider. "According to data from market research firm NPD, which was relayed in a research note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, sales of Macs during the month of October were up 28 percent compared to the same month one year ago. They benefitted largely from the October 14th launch of the Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro, which began shipping immediately thereafter," Marsal reports."

The truth is, it's Gene Munster who is an eternal optimist where Apple is concerned, but that being said, numbers are numbers and the fact that Apple's new MacBooks are attracting buyers when everyone said they were nuts for introducing new products a few weeks ago proves that the economy isn't always a barrier to buying or an indicator of an intent to buy. It also proves that if you have a product people want to buy, they'll be at least somewhat willing to throw caution to the wind and buy it.

I know I did!