Apple's Mac Is Now the Only Major PC Brand That's Growing. But Is That Enough To Save It?

The strategic question is whether being the dominant force in what appears to be a dying industry sector justifies the time, attention and resources it requires from Apple management. JL

Dan Frommer reports in Quartz:

It was the 22nd time in the last 23 quarters that Apple’s Mac shipments outpaced the broader PC industry.

Apple’s Mac continues to be one of the few bright spots in the PC industry.

• Mac shipments reached 5.1 million during the second quarter, according to research firm IDC, representing 16% year-over-year growth.
• Apple was the only of IDC’s top six global PC makers to grow shipments last quarter.
• Overall industry shipments declined 12% to 66 million, according to IDC.
• Lenovo, the global leader, increased its share to 20%.

It’s the continuation of a long trend. The broader PC industry hasn’t grown quarterly shipments on a year-over-year basis since 2012, according to IDC. Last quarter’s decline was anticipated, with reasons including inventory reduction ahead of Microsoft’s Windows 10 launch later this year and foreign currency weakness.

Meanwhile, Apple launched its thin new MacBook during the quarter, and it is still backordered—Apple’s online store currently projects a 2-3 week wait for delivery. Still, it was the 22nd time in the last 23 quarters that Apple’s Mac shipments outpaced the broader PC industry.

Rival research firm Gartner, for what it’s worth, says global PC shipments fell 10% to 68 million last quarter. It does not include Apple in its top five, and a Gartner rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Apple will report actual Mac shipments as part of its June-quarter results on July 21.