Kent Pribbernow
05-12-2004, 01:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2004/tc2004047_5468_tc056.htm?c=bwinsiderapr9&n=link15&t=email' target='_blank'>http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2004/tc2004047_5468_tc056.htm?c=bwinsiderapr9&n=link15&t=email</a><br /><br /></div>"Still, the proof is in the number of new Apple users, and that remains discouraging. In tech tracker International Data Corp.'s latest tally of computer market share, Apple's piece of the U.S computer pie slid from 3.5% in 2002 to 3.2% in 2003. The decline also speaks volumes about Apple's campaign to woo switchers -- if they were coming over in any significant numbers, then Apple would be growing faster than the broad PC market.<br /><br />Clearly that's not happening. Sure, IDC numbers are imperfect measures. A huge chunk of PC purchases come from big companies, and Apple doesn't compete in that market at all. Still, it has to show some improvement in market share to convince Wall Street it has long-term legs."<br /><br />A good critique of Apple's retail strategy. The more Apple pushes its own retail stores, the more it squeezes Mac resellers out. We'll see how this plays out over time, but I don't believe the Apple stores are a slam dunk success.