Market research business firm Cowen & Co. recently completed a consumer resume that has some good and bad tidings for Apple . The report shows that despite cautious microcomputer demand , the outlook for the Mac looks strong ; the potentially bad news is the report shows a significant deceleration in growth of the iPod . The findings have led the company to maintain a Neutral military rank on Apple ’s stock .
“ We are maintaining a neutral [ paygrade ] because it is not a sleazy blood , ” Richard Chu , Cowen & Co. Managing Director , tell Macworld . “ We opine Apple is incredibly positioned strategically , but it ’s incumbent on the fellowship to keep on redeem somewhat dramatic surprises quarter after quarter . That gets tough to do . ”
While it is difficult for a company with the market place contribution Apple has in the iPod segment to keep up with ever increase pressure to grow , Chu feels that Apple could potentially pull more customers into the flexure with new intersection .
“ Apple for sure has the capacity historically to consistently surprise and that may inject newfangled multitude , ” said Chu . “ However , there is a clear caveat pin that we ought to be prepared for outgrowth charge per unit to fall . ”
Chu does n’t look iPod sales agreement to fall through the floor , but meter reading from the sketch show that the iPod is stabilizing instead of boom . Even with that Chu said , “ Apple ’s iPod will likely continue to maintain a very material share lead over all other challenger . ”
The Mac time to come is look unspoilt
Chu said that 23 percent of respondents to the company ’s survey indicated they have no plan to bribe a computer in the next 12 - 18 month — that is the lowest identification number the company has seen in a study since late 2003 .
However , Apple fared much better among definite emptor . The Mac among definite buyer lifted from 6.1 pct in October 2005 to 7.0 percent in December 2005 and 7.8 percent in the most recent view ( April 2006 ) . Planned purchases for Apple ’s notebook since the launch of the Intel - based MacBook Pro has proceed from 7.5 percent in December 2005 to nearly 10 percentage in the April survey .
Chu said the Intel transition has been good for Apple . “ A considerably higher pct of respondents ( 8 percent ) indicate that they are more likely to buy a Mac over the next 12 to 18 calendar month as a consequence of Apple ’s decision to migrate to Intel , ” said Chu .
Boot Camp “ Resoundingly Positive ”
Chu characterise Apple ’s move to include dual - boot financial backing with Boot Camp as “ resoundingly incontrovertible . ” Twenty percent of answerer to the survey said that Boot Camp hold it more probable they will buy a Mac in the next 12 - 18 months .
Many people hypothesise that with the acquittance of Boot Camp Apple had the potential to deal more hardware — Windows substance abuser that wanted a Mac but had to use a Windows - only program could now have both in one motorcar . Although it is still very early on , that may be working .
Among responder with definite plan to buy a PC in the next 12 - 18 calendar month , 42 percent registered a more likely voting for a Mac leverage because of the ability to dual - boot .
“ Not surprisingly , virtually all respondents who indicate that Boot Camp will tempt their Mac buying plans say that the encroachment will be positively charged ; plainly , with disc and primary retention remain to commoditize , the ability to run Windows and Windows app even with all the shortcomings of Boot Camp ( come to to the necessity of rebooting , XP rather than Vista , etc . ) as it is presently see , is viewed as a positively charged rather than a negative , ” say Chu .
Lots of room for Apple increment
Apple has made some small attempts to estimate consumer reaction to an Apple branded digital home base theatre practical app . An expand Front Row is what many mull will power the Mac mini as Apple ’s answer to a centralized home base theatre component .
Chu is n’t worried as Apple keep to duck its toes in the home theatre market as others like Microsoft bounce headlong into the section . He said it Apple will release its products when they are good and ready to do so .
“ Apple has a strong desire to be a major player in the home , but they have n’t played their cards yet , ” articulate Chu . “ They have been very heedful to bring together a economic value proposition that ’s consistent with everything else that they do , which is well-situated to apply and integrated . ”
