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noleafclover803 · Jun 28, 2006, 02:01 PM

I work at a local Micro Center. I actually work in the software department, but always end up helping/filling in at the Mac department. I can say first hand that since the intel macs came out, I have seen a huge growth in Mac sales. Not only are we selling more macs to people who already had them, but I am getting more and more questions and sales from people who have never even used a mac. At least once a day I get a customer who is sick of windows and all their spyware problems and "heard macs don't do that." I demonstate OS X, iLife, and Parallels desktop to them and they are sold about 95% of the time. Parallels Desktop has made SO many more people apt to getting a mac...most of the time they don't even buy it or a copy of Windows for their mac, but just seeing that it can be done assures them they will not have a problem switching.

Has anybody else that works in Mac sales noticed a big difference? At my store, the macs are actually some of the cheapest laptops you can get with the 1.83/2ghz Core Duo.

TheCreator · Jun 28, 2006, 03:05 PM

I believe it... I'm not completely switched myself yet, but I am definately thinking about it... I just recently bought a new macbook.

production_coordinator · Jun 28, 2006, 03:33 PM

My friends sister purchased a Mac because of the good costumer service she received... and because the noticed that my iBook took a beating and still worked well.

It's also stylish. She's going to run Windows on it... but hasn't installed it yet... so she is playing around with OS X. (talk about a good sales strategy).

I wonder how many people find out they don't need Windows?

eobet · Jun 28, 2006, 03:54 PM

Not to derail the thread, since the original poster asked for people with retail connections, but I also made the switch because of the ability to install Windows... but even after three months, I find myself not having done that yet, and not wanting to (as soon as Xara LX is released, the only critical app for me is OpenCanvas, since there are no drawing apps with Wacom support which have universal binaries out yet).

analogika · Jun 28, 2006, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by noleafclover803

Has anybody else that works in Mac sales noticed a big difference?

Yes.

I do wonder how many switchers who come in and are convinced by the fact that they can run Windows XP on their machine as an option actually end up installing it...probably not all that many.

Apple, you sly bastards. Going Intel and offering Boot Camp is such an insanely brilliant strategy, I can't help but admire their brazenness.

production_coordinator · Jun 28, 2006, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

Yes.

I do wonder how many switchers who come in and are convinced by the fact that they can run Windows XP on their machine as an option actually end up installing it...probably not all that many.

Apple, you sly bastards. Going Intel and offering Boot Camp is such an insanely brilliant strategy, I can't help but admire their brazenness.

I think the "It runs Windows" rubber stamp makes the sale a little more palatable to those on the fence (or those with a wife/husband/brother/sister that will also need to use the computer.

I can hear the sales person now "And if you really don't like OS X, which I know you will just fall in live with, you can always install Windows, in fact, bring it in and I'll help you"

PurpleGiant · Jun 28, 2006, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

I do wonder how many switchers who come in and are convinced by the fact that they can run Windows XP on their machine as an option actually end up installing it...probably not all that many.

I know three Windows geeks at have bought MacBooks, 'just for the hardware' so they can install Windows. Buy. Bring home. Setup OS X. Don't get around to installing Windows. Now love OS X.

BRussell · Jun 28, 2006, 07:16 PM

Eh, I'll believe it when I see it pan out in real numbers. I've just seen year after year, since Jobs came back, of "people are switching!" stories, all the while Apple's market share declined. The iMac, the switch ads, the iPod halo effect, etc. It never seems to translate into real, objectively verifiable numbers.

Kerrigan · Jun 28, 2006, 07:17 PM

It highlights the bizarre way that PC users' minds work.

Lack of Windows is the reason they won't by a Mac
Macs offer Windows in an unsupported emulation environment which requires extra work on behalf of the user
The user buys the Mac and then forgets to install Windows and doesn't notice the difference

ghporter · Jun 28, 2006, 07:17 PM

My wife switched in 2004 when she needed a light laptop for school. If luck holds, I'll be a primarily Mac user soon as well.

ghporter · Jun 28, 2006, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

It highlights the bizarre way that PC users' minds work.

Lack of Windows is the reason they won't by a Mac
Mac's offer Windows in an unsupported emulation environment which requires extra work on behalf of the user
The user buys it and then forgets to install Windows and doesn't notice the difference

I'd say it's more not knowing what a Mac can do, rather than "lack of Windows." Windows is placed wverywhere, and most poeple have an idea of what it can do, while Macs are placed sparsely, and often with really odd apps. If a user just wants to do the "basic tasks," like email, surfing and word processing, they won't know from just looking around that a Mac can not only do all of those things, but do them more smoothly and usually better than a PC. And the rather geeky nature of forums like these doesn't help. People discussing lots of different word processors, some with weird or even silly names, doesn't get newbies that warm feeling they have from knowing what Word on a PC does.

Person Man · Jun 28, 2006, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

Eh, I'll believe it when I see it pan out in real numbers. I've just seen year after year, since Jobs came back, of "people are switching!" stories, all the while Apple's market share declined. The iMac, the switch ads, the iPod halo effect, etc. It never seems to translate into real, objectively verifiable numbers.

You fail to take into account the "non home PC" numbers. The marketshare numbers usually take into account things like PCs as cash registers, etc. Things that aren't related to home use.

Numbers should be adjusted to take that into account.

Kerrigan · Jun 28, 2006, 09:31 PM

I think the best way to guage how many home users are using a mac is to look at web statistics and see how many people are using Safari or other Mac browsers. If I recall it's near 10%

ink · Jun 28, 2006, 09:36 PM

Everywhere I look in Salt Lake, I see MacBooks all over the place. It's bizzare.

real · Jul 3, 2006, 02:43 PM

Its about options everyone likes options, One computer 2 or 3 OSes.

You can't beat that. It also sounds like you getting more for your money.When you buy a windows box you get Windows(I'm not talking about the geeks that dual boot Linux or something) and thats it now you can buy a Mac and get both.

Uriel · Jul 3, 2006, 02:54 PM

I used to be the only one with a Mac in my area of town that I knew of. I used to get criticized all the time in my local coffee shop for having "a computer that didn't work with any software".

In the last 2 months I have seen over 10 of my friends purchase Macbook/Pro's and have also converted about 10 more acquaintences to purchase them.

I am amazed at the mass influx of Apple users around here.

Eriamjh · Jul 3, 2006, 09:28 PM

I switched 6 years ago. Do I still count?

I think switchers are less worried about what a Mac CAN do, but rather what it CAN'T do and that is run Windows apps. Although, now that is shot down, there still leaves whole hassle of multi-booting, etc. To the average user it is a HASSLE. Why do it at all if you can just buy a PC?

As long as I can do what I want to do, I'll stay Mac. I like being the odd-man-out.

wataru · 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

good costumer service

So what kind of costume did she get?

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

I think the best way to guage how many home users are using a mac is to look at web statistics and see how many people are using Safari or other Mac browsers. If I recall it's near 10%

Probably not. Safari itself has only 2.5% and I doubt any other browser has a significant share of Mac users.

KeriVit · Jul 3, 2006, 11:03 PM

The only reason on want Windows is to run the silly low-end school apps. I wish.../

- - e r i k - - · Jul 3, 2006, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by wataru

So what kind of costume did she get?

Probably not. Safari itself has only 2.5% and I doubt any other browser has a significant share of Mac users.

http://www.pegasus3d.com/osshare.html

Hawkeye_a · Jul 3, 2006, 11:36 PM

Yes. there's been a surge. In my opinion:
-Mac users waiting for the upgrade to intel
-Windows users who couldnt justify loosing compatibility

Either way...it is my opinion that AAPL will experience a surge once the Mac Pros come out. Thy will be firing on all cylinders once Leopard is released as well (hopefully with much better optomizations for Mactels)

Cheers

wataru · Jul 3, 2006, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

http://www.pegasus3d.com/osshare.html

According to that site, Mac OS has about 3% of all installed base. If Safari has 2.5%, then other browsers have about 17% share on Mac OS. So what was your point?

- - e r i k - - · Jul 4, 2006, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by wataru

According to that site, Mac OS has about 3% of all installed base. If Safari has 2.5%, then other browsers have about 17% share on Mac OS. So what was your point?

Does everything have to be an attack if you are replying to a post on this board? What has the world come to?

I was merely supplying additional data to back up and enhance your statement.

wataru · Jul 4, 2006, 01:26 AM

I just honestly didn't know what point you were trying to make. Thank you for clarifying.

©öñFü$íóÑ · Jul 4, 2006, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by PurpleGiant

I know three Windows geeks at have bought MacBooks, 'just for the hardware' so they can install Windows. Buy. Bring home. Setup OS X. Don't get around to installing Windows. Now love OS X.

LOL!!!

phantomdragonz · Jul 4, 2006, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

-Mac users waiting for the upgrade to intel

this is me... I have an old 400mhz sawtooth g4 (now at 1ghz though)

I am trying to save my pennies fora mac pro when they come out... if my desktop mac that cost twice as much as any PC at the time has lasted me three times as long as a PC the same age, then I will fork over $2k for a new mac... it will last a long time, and work DAMN well at it...

I hope I dont have to spend that much though!!! I have issues saving money it seems

Zach

JoshuaZ · Jul 4, 2006, 09:05 AM

Honestly intel and Windows on a mac is the worst thing ever for me. Now I have no excuse when my friends tell me I should play MMRPGS... Think of all the hours I will be wasting. Curse you Macbook. Curse you!!!!!

Adam Betts · Jul 4, 2006, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

Honestly intel and Windows on a mac is the worst thing ever for me. Now I have no excuse when my friends tell me I should play MMRPGS... Think of all the hours I will be wasting. Curse you Macbook. Curse you!!!!!

Go play WoW. It's healthy for you