Remember Apple’s recent comments it did not believe the iPad would cannibalize sales of other products, such as the iPod or Mac? While many considered such a positive outlook as whistling past the graveyard, one analyst Wednesday came to the Cupertino, Calif. company’s defense.
“Although both iPhone and iPad have crossed over and are selling more units than their internal competitors, the old guard has not faded away,” writes Asymco analyst Horace Dediu.
Dediu released two graphs (above) illustrating both Mac and iPod sales holding their own. “Indeed, the Mac shows resilience and the iPod, although not growing in units has maintained sales value. What we don’t see is a clear gain for the entrants at the expense of the incumbents,” according to Asymco.
Last week, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, filling in for CEO Steve Jobs while out on unspecified medical leave, tried to calm worries, telling analysts and reporters the iPad ‘halo effect’ is actually helping Mac sales.
“Last quarter, the Mac grew at eight times the PC market rate of growth, so as far as we can see, there’s no cannibalization on Mac sales by the iPad,” said Cook. “If this is cannibalization, it feels pretty good,” he joked.
Cook mentioned a potential trend we reported earlier today: analysts are now viewing lumping iPad sales in with other PCs. Already with a low percentage of the PC market, if Mac sales slide and iPad demand continues to grow, this “cannibalization” could turn into a positive.
“So we actually have a lot more to win because of that, while our competitors have a lot more to lose,” said Cook.
