Apple\'s June quarter strong as consumers switch to Mac for security

Studies are showing that consumers are indeed flocking to Macintosh platform these days, but not necessarily due to the much-hyped iPod "halo effect " — a notion that positive experiences with an iPod are leading consumers to run out and buy a Mac. Instead, an increasing number of studies are showing that most PC users switching to the Mac platform are doing so because they're fed up with the security and stability woes currently plaguing the Wintel platform.

The most recent study comes research and investment firm PiperJaffray, which earlier this week spoke with 20 of Apple's specialist resellers regarding business in the June quarter and trends with various products. On average, Apple specialists said that over 16% of customers who buy a Mac from their stores are PC switchers. In Apple's own retail stores, this figure is closer to 50%.

Several channel partners indicated that they are constantly seeing an increase in the percentage of Mac buyers that are "switchers," the firm said. "There are several reasons that channel partners hear related to why PC users move to Mac, but the key reason is system stability/security." An approximate 70% of Apple specialists in the PiperJaffray study said PC-to-Mac switchers are making the move primarily because of concerns and annoyances related to stability and security of the Wintel platform.

And the majority of those switching to the Mac in recent months are choosing Apple's recently revamped line of iMac G5 all-in-one computers. According to AppleInsider contacts, as well as PiperJaffray checks, the iMac is seeing the highest demand of all Apple CPU-based products. PowerBooks are said to be the next most popular Apple CPU-product, while Power Mac sales remain in the doldrums.

On the subject of software, Apple's Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" operating system is making a bit of a splash. Specifically, 60% of Apple specialist stores polled by PiperJaffray believe the launch of Tiger is having a small impact on Mac sales. Another 25% said the launch of Tiger has had no measurable impact, while the remaining 15% claim the new OS has triggered a significant up-tick in Mac sales.

iPod sales remained steady in May, but with Apple improving its production capabilities in recent months, most resellers have witnessed a slowing of demand for the players. Approximately half of the resellers polled by PiperJaffray felt iPod demand remained flat since March, while another 40% believed demand had actually fallen over this time period. Still, the research and investment firm is modeling 5.5 million total iPod shipments during Apple's June quarter, up from the 5.3 million the company shipped last quarter.

Through its checks, PiperJaffray found iPod mini to be the current leader of the iPod family of digital music players. " In our recent conversations with Apple specialist stores, iPod mini was cited as the most popular iPod by 50% of stores in our sample, shuffle and 20GB iPod were pointed to as the highest demanded products at 20% and 15% of stores, respectively," the firm said. It believes continued strength in demand for the mini is an indicator that shuffle sales are not significantly cannibalizing demand for the other products in the iPod family.

While Apple's June results will likely provide only slight upside, PiperJaffray remains bullish on the company given confidence that business will accelerate in the September and December quarters. "Our checks, along with IDC market share changes, suggest the halo effect is real. We believe this trend will allow Apple to continue to gain market share over the next several quarters," the firm said.