June 18th, 2009 | 
Author: Deciphering the iPod effect. In early 2000 Macintoshes were not faring well internationally. During the first two quarters of iPod sales—in 2002—Apple’s PC sales accounted for approximately 2.23% of all PC sales worldwide. In the following year, Apple’s PC sales dropped below 2% for the first time in the 21st century. Nevertheless, something notable began to occur two years after iPods where first launched on the world field. In 2004, Apple’s PC sales started to rise—at least in the US in the zones that wholesale iPods seemed to be popular. By 2005, three years after the launch of the iPod, sales of Apple PCs almost two times to 4% of all US PC sales.
Some speculate that the rise in Apple PC sales is in part caused by the popularity of iPods; that a part of those who bought iPods where then turned onto the notion of having an Apple PC. But, during early 2000, constomers of PC sales surged, irrespective of PC sales. Was the iPod effect truly caused by turning PC loyalists onto Apple PCs or were Apple PC sales surging as a result of the strong performance of all computer sales?
Some argue that for many PC owners, purchasing an iPod constituted their first exposure to the world of Apple. Most studies conducted which tried to testify this fact did in practice find a relationship between first time iPod owners put up their inclination in Apple electronics. One investigation implied that iPod possessors with Windows PCs were more than three times as likely to buy a Mac.
Actually, after its introduction a little over half a decade ago, the iPod still dominates the MP3/MP4 player market. Not only has Apple been challenging itself with the iPod, the domination of iTunes software, both for PC and Mac users, as a media player and music and multi-media purchasing and downloading software. In the first half of 2007, more than half of Apple’s total input came from iPod sales and iTunes downloads. Besides music videos and Podcasts, iTunes is revolutionizing the way that music is purchased and consumed—at the same time, having a profound effect on the music industry. Until April 2007, it was already clear that iPods where the most popular selling MP3 player in the history of music players as Apple company.
Kitty Hill has been in the wholesale business since 2000. She became one of the largest wholesale ipod importer in China.
Article Source: How the popularity of Apple iPods affected the rising sales of Macs
