buoy up by ever increasing lading of Macintosh computers , Apple has quieted its Intel passage detractors by post doubled - digit grocery store share increases . Two market research firms have pegged Apple ’s growing at over 15 percent with one giving them a 16 pct increase .

With Mac shipments rising from 655,000 to 760,000 twelvemonth - over - year for the 2d one-quarter , Apple ’s U.S. market jumped from 4.4 percent in 2005 to 4.8 pct in 2006 — a duple - digital ontogenesis of 16 percent , according to market research business firm IDC .

IDC reference step-up in Apple ’s retail sector of 50 percent , as well as growth of 60 percent in its portable grocery for the steep increases .

“ The strong growth reflects a successful changeover to Intel - based organisation – a critical conversion for the company that sets the stage for future growth , ” said Richard Shim , senior psychoanalyst with IDC ’s Personal Computing curriculum .

While the news was practiced for Apple , HP and Gateway — all grew by double - digits — the word was a bit more unforgiving for food market leader Dell . While maintaining its lead , the ship’s company ’s growth was significantly under that of the top performers , as the company posted a 6.4 percent increase .

“ HP , Apple , and Gateway take the charge with two-fold digit emergence rates outpacing the industry norm , ” enunciate Shim . “ Dell slightly lagged the market while maintaining its leaders position by a wide tolerance . ”

The news show for Apple was just as near from market research form Gartner , as it clocked Apple at a 15.4 per centum class - over - yr increase for the 2nd fourth . Gartner has Apple increase sales from 663,000 to 766,000 , moving its grocery store share from 4.3 per centum to 4.6 percent in the U.S.

Like IDC , Gartner has the top four players in the U.S. personal computer market as Dell ( 32 percent ) , HP ( 18.9 percent ) , Gateway ( 6.2 percent ) and Apple ( 4.6 percent ) .

Apple beat analyst ’s earnings consensus on Wednesday posting a profit of $ 472 million or $ .54 on receipts of 4.37 billion for the party ’s financial third - one-quarter . mackintosh shipments grow 12 percent year - over - yr as Apple shipped over 1.3 million computers for the quarter .

Macworld and IDC are both own by IDG .