By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-01-17 08:11:26 | Word Count: 664
2010 was a banner year for Apple. The release of the iPad and the iPhone 4 revolutionized the mobile world. And, sales of Mac computers hit an all time high in the U.S. market.
Despite losing a few slots in the fourth quarter due to business sales, the company still had the biggest growth rate out of all its competitors by a pretty large margin. Analysts pointed to business growth for Apple’s fourth quarter slump. HP and Dell claim a large portion of the business market and Apple hasn’t had too much luck breaking into that yet. Most likely due to the computer’s cost – you could buy two Dells for your entry level employees for the price of one Mac.
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However, that fourth quarter slump didn’t hurt Apple overall last year. During this recession, Apple’s sales on computers were 23.9% higher than they were during the same quarter last year. Toshiba was the only other computer maker to post positive growth numbers last year, while all other manufacturers saw significant drops – Acer saw the biggest plunge with a 30.4% drop in growth.
So, what does all this mean for the general public? It means Macs are getting more popular. They’re no longer just for professional photographers and artists. They’re being used as home computers for surfing the internet, gaming and word processing. Personally, I blame Apple’s recent success with mobile devices for the influx in sales of their computers. Without the iPhone, iPad and what started it all – the iPod, Apple would still be playing second fiddle to PCs – and Microsoft for that matter.
But, this influx in popularity also means Apple needs to step up their security. Previously, Macs were never really targeted by hackers and viruses, but as each year passes Macs claim more and more of the home computer market share, making them more appealing to such criminals. Users will need to use more caution than they are accustomed to if they want to keep their machines safe. Because, not only is the initial cost of a Mac more than a PC, it can also more expensive to fix one, particularly if you don’t invest in the warranty when you purchase your Mac. Virus and security protection software tailored specifically to Mac computers is sure to follow this influx in sales.
Elsewhere in the World of Apple…
A beta version of iOS 4.3 has been released to developers for testing. The biggest feature it boasts is the ability to make your iPhone a wireless hot spot – regardless of what network you’re using. This can be extremely useful if you want to do some work at the park, or the beach, or anywhere really where there isn’t any wireless connectivity. It eliminates the need for air cards for those business travelers that have an iPhone anyway.
