Apple reported all-time record sales of both the iPad and the Mac last quarter, and 15.4 million units sold and 5.2 million, respectively. Compared to HP’s global sales of 14.7 PC’s, Apple has easily surpassed the company to become the world’s largest PC manufacturer (if you count the iPad, that is).
The company promises to compete with other tablets by continuing to “innovate like crazy” with the iPad rather than focusing on producing a low-cost tablet to compete directly in the low to mid range tablet market.
Apple also significantly exceeded expectations, reports Apple Insider, with many estimates predicting that they would sell around 13 million iPads. Tim cook also noted that he was “really happy” with the iPad, stating that sales numbers had exceeded their expectations, leaving Apple with strained inventory of the popular tablet.
Contrary to some expectations, the iPad is not causing a dent in Mac sales, however the device is gobbling up PC sales at an extraordinary rate:
Demand for iPads helped to blunt growth among generic PCs across the industry, with Microsoft reporting a 6 percent decline in Windows revenues for the same quarter. However, Apple’s iPad sales haven’t had a negative impact on the company’s own Mac sales.
Instead, it appears that iPad, along with iPhone and iPod, continues to exercise a halo effect that draws customers to Apple’s notebooks and desktops. The company pointed out that it had strong sales in both notebooks and with its desktop iMacs, with average weekly Mac sales being up in every geography.
All in all, things look pretty great for Apple right now – record sales of both Macs and iOS devices, record high revenues, and no sign that their upward spiral will stop any time soon.