MacBook Air sales lagging?
It looks like the MacBook Air might have a long, hard road ahead. Apple’s diminutive notebook has been met with more public resistance than most of the company’s recent introductions. Consumers and critics alike have seemed wary to adopt the new computer due to the compromises its small stature demands. Apple clearly knew that they were taking a gamble, but seemed to think that the lack of an optical drive, fewer external port connectors, and a sealed battery bay would be overshadowed by the sheer thinness of the thing. It looks like they may have been wrong. According to Piper Jaffray, 60% of retailers are seeing less demand for the MBA than they did after the introduction of the MacBook Pro. According to the same survey, this lack of interest should be partly responsible for a 18% drop in Apple sales over last quarter’s numbers, though the holiday season certainly gave the latter a bit of a boost. Nonetheless, Apple has some serious work ahead if it hopes to make the MacBook Air as successful as it would like.
Please note: we’re only reporting on Piper Jaffray’s findings. We haven’t had a chance to independently check this out with some of our sources, but from what we briefly heard, MacBook Airs are selling tremendously well. Go figure!
All they had to do was just take the Macbook and remove the optical drive. That would have been thin AND functional. I DO think they went a little overboard.
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Hmm, looking at the Apple online store, default builds of Macbook and Macbook Pros ship within 24 hours and Macbook Airs are 7-10 days. Doesn’t look like they have a glut of them hanging around the warehouse.
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Maybe more people figured it out early that if they wait, they won’t be screwed by Apple with an overpriced and under performing cool Apple gadget. I have learned my lesson…. wait a while before buying a new Apple product, the price will drop and they will correct shortcomings after a while. Of course, they still have not fixed some significant shortcomings of the JesusPhone (3G, MMS, crappy battery)
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I think it just cost to much for some people. Now isnt the time for most people to buy a 1800 toy.
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From what i’ve heard they cannot keep them in stock at the apple store
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I agree with Sam.
People are being more cautious and are recognizing Apple trying to ride the Iphone train grabbing a few more dollars on those who want the next best thing. It’s not hard to figure Apple isn’t going to change how they sell something to we the people stop buying it right away always wanting that next upgrade. People in general are to impulsive and Apple knows it.
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It would be nice if Piper Jaffray were aware that an 18% drop in sales post-holiday would be *good* given historical precedent. Last year, the quarter post-Christmas saw net sales dropped _26%_ and that’s not an unusual amount.
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I wouldn’t hold my breath on a better battery life. The last I heard, Apple didn’t put 3G on the first iPhone because it drained the battery too fast. But who knows, I know they’ve been working on improving the battery life. Here’s to hoping.
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i think at $1399 or $1499 they would move more of them
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The screen is too big, at the same size as a MBook this isn’t really a subnotebook more weightwatchers. Try using this on a domestic flight in an airplane
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It’s a niche product and therefore will never sell the same numbers as the other macbook lines. That said, it is an image product, and apple is an image company looking for that buzz.
Also, jeremiah nailed it, with the economy up in the air, its not the best time for most to be dropping $1,800 on a 1 dimensional product.
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well if you look at the price of the air thats one way to scare people off it is going to go to the way of the g4 cube a collectes item
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This is about a troubling as Lexus selling fewer cars than Toyota.
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Silly, very silly.
Of course it’s sales don’t match the MacBook Pro. That is a notebook designed for a larger audience than the Air. That much should be obvious. Once again people are trying to put an Apple product in the “toy” category I see on this sight. Sigh. Look people your views are valid to a point but the greater mass of consumers will decide the Airs fate and it’s far to early to write it’s epitath yet at least. You maybe surprised. Also enough about the iPhone insulting it won’t make Apple change it too meet your individual needs or wants. So far Apple is doing quite well with it so perhaps based on sales and owner satisfaction Apple did find the right mix?
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I have seen two people purchase them already. And everyone who saw them thought they were great and unbelievably thin. The biggest reason for purchasing one is strictly usability. If you don’t need heavy lifting and Firewire access, then it is a perfect laptop.
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The article compares sales of the MBA with the orginal macbook, not the macbook pro. And to compare sales of the MBA with the macbook is very misleading, due to price differentials and the target markets for each machine.
The MBA is cleary aimed at a very specific market niche; the macbook is aimed at the masses and priced as such.
Plus, as others have noted, with the economy kind of uncertain right now, I think people are more hesitant to spend the kind of money to buy an MBA.
That all being said, I do think the MBA is selling well for what it aims to be, and will continue to do so. In no way do I think the MBA will be failure.
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TKB and Sylvester both have good points, about the price and the economy. I think they are looking for that niche product in this, not as a huge seller. Certainly don’t see a ton of the other ultra thin models selling a ton either.
Anyone else notice the the Jaffray article compares Air sales to MBP? i don;t think thats a fair comparison as the Air is designed for a much smaller customer base compared to the MBP which can do and handle about anything.
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Come on Apple now, you need to bring out full featured Macbook Pro 12 inch instead of just a Macbook air that can’t do nothing.
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I am planning on purchasing one in a month or so myself. For me the price is not that big of an issue. I travel EXTENSIVELY & anything that makes it a little easier to move about the cabin is worth it in my opinion.
I do agree that its probably NOT going to sell as well as the MBs & the MB Pros of which I also have one of each. Its more expensive & the storage space is so much smaller but the market I believe apple is trying to cater to here does not generally need all that additional space.
And as far as stock is concerned, where I live at & one of the larger metropolitan areas I travel to, NEITHER one of them can keep the MBA in stock in stores.
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@Dtest5477 yeah, I did not think that was a very fair comparison either. The MBP is a beast & tested, the MBA really is not yet.
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I’ would say with th economy and sagging mba saes an the stock prce dropping it’s a big wakup call for crapple. You la la land just got forclosed on an this may push apple towers som gommon sense we can all hope
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sales should pick up. . .about 8500 were holding off because they thought BGR was going to give em one. haha.
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Yep, Apple goofed. The people that will need this product will absolutely love it to death. The problem is: they are only a small fraction of the laptop users. Most laptop users would have preferred that Apple had spent it’s time making the MacBook Pro a couple of mills thinner, several ounces lighter but, people want all the ports and the optical drive –they want choices and as much power as you can cram into the laptop. They will not sacrifice ports or drives for a few ounces or a few mills thinner. Given the power of laptops, people understand and can lived with the fact that there is a lower limit (now) for weight and size. The air will go the way of the cube.
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Read carefully: “According to Piper Jaffray, 60% of retailers are seeing less demand for the MBA than they did after the introduction of the MacBook Pro.” In other words, 40% of retailers are seeing demand for the MBA that is equal to or greater than demand for the MBP upon its introduction.
How, exactly, does this support the conclusion that MBA sales are poor? Answer: It doesn’t. Only if MBA sales were expected to be the same as or higher than MBP sales (at 100% of Mac retailers) could that be evidence for the proposition that MBA sales are poor.
Who, exactly, expected MBA sales to be the same as or higher than MBP sales? Answer: Not the major Mac magazines and commentators, all of whom identified MBA as niche product.
Conclusion: This report is intended less to inform or enlighten and more to generate unthinking woe-is-Apple commentary. Judging by the comments here (see, for example, Galvatroll), it seems to have succeeded. Who knew Piper Jaffray aspired to be Paul Thurrott?
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ryang thats brilliant. I might have been one, but probably not.
Gal, thank for the troll, some might have thought you stopped posting.
Fyre, its not a fair comparison either way, the Macbook’s prices make it a bigger seller. I know alot more college students want macbooks than Airs. Either way MB or MBP its a flawed comparison for a new product.
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