Cool Tech Reviews

Market research company NPD released some of their statistics on PC sales at US brick and mortar stores that are causing a flurry:

You need look no further than numbers released today by NPD to understand Apple’s strategy. Its revenue share of the “premium” price market — that is, computers over $1,000 — is a staggering 91%. This means that 9 out of every 10 retail dollars that is spent on PCs in that price range, goes to Apple, as Betanews’ Joe Wilcox points out. That, for lack of a better word, is insane.

Analysts and journalists are often quick to point out Apple’s relatively low overall market share (less than 10%). But that completely misses the point of Apple’s Mac business. If Apple wanted to make a range of low-end computers, it absolutely could. And such machines would sell like crazy, boosting Apple’s market share. But there would have to be some trade-off in quality, and perhaps more importantly to Apple, to its high margins. And as it has proven time and time again, it has no desire to give up either.

I have no desire to own an Apple PC since I have too many applications and tools that require Windows, but I have always regarded them as the "high priced spread" or the "Mercedes" brand and respect them for it. The systems, peripherals, and software work nicely together without the "fit and finish" problems that plague Windows PCs because Apple tightly controls the ecosystem.

And that’s why Microsoft’s recent Laptop Hunter commercials really never made a lot of sense. Sure, from a marketing perspective, I understand the idea: It’s a down economy, lets play up the fact that our computers are cheaper. But in many of the spots, the shopper’s stated desired computer was simply not something that Apple even made. In the famous first commercial, Lauren wants a laptop with a 17-inch screen for under $1,000. Okay, Apple doesn’t make that product. So of course she’s not going to buy a Mac.

I was similarly puzzled - if you want a bargain PC, Microsoft is the only real choice so the ads were merely stating the obvious. If you want to go first class and unlike me have no need to run Windows applications, then head on over to the Apple Store and indulge yourself. If you are on a budget and want value, head on over to Amazon or TigerDirect or NewEgg or a hundred other places and do some serious shopping for a Windows PC.

Buy.com seems to have declared a Cyber Week, not just Cyber Monday, since many (but not all) of their deals are good through December 7. Here are a few of the many bargains on their list that looked interesting:

SAVE $90.04 - Toshiba Satellite L305D-S5904 Laptop AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-60 2GHz,3GB, 250GB, 15.4”, DVD±R/RW, Webcam, Vista Home Premium. FREE BUDGET SHIPPING. Buy.com price: $569.95 (expires 12/1/08), List price: $659.99

SAVE $199.01 - Samsung 2233BW 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 20,000:1 (DC), 5ms, 1680 x 1050, DVI. FREE BUDGET SHIPPING. $50.00 Mail-in Rebate $179.99 After Rebate (expires 12/5/08). Buy.com price: $229.99, List price: $379.00

SAVE $99.01 - Magellan Maestro 3140 3.5" GPS w/ Text To Speech and Bluetooth - Refurbished. FREE BUDGET SHIPPING. Buy.com price: $79.99, List price: $179.00

It looks like most online merchants started their sales on Black Friday, but they haven’t forgotten Cyber Monday. Here are some bargains from TigerDirect who is also offering $1.99 shipping and  a free 2009 (5-user) CA Internet Security Suite w/purchase of any desktop or laptop.

SAVE $220 - Acer Aspire Laptop Bundle w/D-Link WBR-1310 Wireless G Router -  Intel Celeron 2.13GHz Wireless 1GB DDR2 120GB HDD DVDRW 15.4" WXGA Webcam Vista Home Premium $399.99* (US) Price after $39 MIR, rebate expires 12/02/08

SAVE $80 - Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS 3.5" Touch Screen Display MicroSD Card Slot Voice Prompts $119.99 (US)

SAVE $60 - I-Inc 28" Widescreen LCD Monitor 3ms WUXGA 1920×1200 HDMI Built-In Speakers $299.99 (US)

SAVE $150 - Samsung 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor 5ms 8000:1 DCR 1440×900 WXGA+ DVI Black $139.99 (US)