Walking that tight-rope is Kaufman Brothers’ analyst Shaw Wu. Wu told clients Apple hasn’t fallen victim to the economy like PC makers because of the Cupertino, Calif.-based company’s well-maintained elitist image.
A number of technologies, ranging from PCs to cell phones enjoy a commodity status. In a poor economy, companies fear being “commoditized.”
However, why avoiding the commodity trap, Apple’s products, such as the iPod and iPhone, are now viewed as “necessities,” Wu told investors.
In an economic twist on the ‘security through obscurity’ meme, Wu argued Apple’s single-digit marketshare in PC and cell phone sales makes it less vulnerable than huge players such as HP, Dell or Nokia.
Although Apple has some advantages it could use to avoid a bruising economic period, Cupertino may be hurt as consumers turn away from the higher prices of iMacs and other Apple products toward less-expensive alternatives, according to the analyst.
