The Mac keeps on going strong (better than the industry average)
Don't write off the Mac just yet (as if anyone seriously has). Apple sold 4.9 million Macs during its fiscal 2012 fourth quarter that ended Sept. 29. That's an all-time high for Apple computer sales during the September quarter.
That compares to an 8% contraction of the overall computer market during the quarter. Mac sales have exceeded overall computer industry averages for 25 consecutive quarters. Look for that to continue with ever-increasing MacBook Pro and MacBook Air sales -- and the iMac remaining Apple's (and the industry's) hottest desktop model.
Mac retail stores -- which now number 390 (140 outside the US) -- also saw record Mac sales. They sold over 1.1 million Macs.
As far as other hardware, some interesting tidbits:
° Apple TV units totaled 1.3 million during the September quarter -- that's a 100% increase year-over-year. For the past fiscal year, Apple sold five million units of its "hobby" product.
° The iPod touch accounts for 50% of all iPods sold in the September quarter. The iPod is still the top-selling MP3 player in most countries.
° The iTunes Store generated almost US$2.1 billion last quarter.
° The iPhone saw 58% year-over-year compared to 45% growth for the smartphone market overall.
° Average revenue per Apple retail store was $11.2 million per store compared to $10.7 in the year-ago period. The stores had 94 million visitors (an average of 19,000 per store per week) compared to 77.5 million visitors during the year-ago quarter.
-- Dennis Sellers