Back to Mobile View

Skip to Content

Analyst: Apple sold 1.1 million MacBook Airs in 2010

by Kelly Hodgkins Mar 7th 2011 at 9:30AM

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities predicts that Apple sold an impressive 1.1 million MacBook Air units in the last few months of 2010. Kuo originally predicted sales of 700,000 units but bumped up his estimate after receiving new information from Asian supply chain sources.

The second generation MacBook Air debuted in October 2010 in 11- and 13-inch models and is reportedly selling at a brisk rate. This boom in sales is casually evidenced by the growing number of MacBook Air models spotted in the wild. Its slim and sexy form factor, coupled with favorable reviews have only bolstered the popularity of this model.

Apple has not released sales figures for the MacBook Air, but its Q1 2011 financial earnings report confirmed the Cupertino company sold 2.9 million notebooks during the 2010 holiday shopping season. This sales number includes MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. If Kuo's 1.1 million estimate is accurate, then over 40 percent of Apple notebook sales came from the MacBook Air.

Kuo is not the only analyst to take note of the MacBook Air. Shortly after launch, Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar suggested the popularity of the MacBook Air may cannibalize iPad sales. We recently took our own look at the question of the MacBook Air versus iPad and came to the conclusion that the two devices target different audiences. The question is not whether the MacBook Air is superior to the iPad, but which device is best suited to your needs.



View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

Mac

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities predicts that Apple sold an impressive 1.1 million MacBook Air units in the last few months...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum Comment Moderation Enabled. Your comment will appear after it is cleared by an editor.

10 Comments

Filter by:
Aaron H.

I have been jonesing to get a new MBA since the beginning of the year, but now that it is clear Apple is going to be going the Thunderbolt route for it's new peripherals, I just can't pull the trigger until they add that.

Now, please let that happen sooner rather than later. The day it's available is the day I spend my cash.

March 09 2011 at 3:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kelmon

I'm still trying to decide between an iPad and MacBook Air as a convenience computing device to use in tandem with our current iMac. The MacBook Air will do more but won't be as convenient as the iPad and costs more so I'm left deciding if the extra flexibility is worth it. However, I have to confess being very impressed with the MacBook Air when I tried one out a few months back and I wasn't expecting that.

March 08 2011 at 5:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
junkie

I went and played with the new MBP with the HD Facetime cam and I have got to say I am not sure I would want to buy a computer without that. The old iSight looks like crap compared to the new stuff.

If you want to see the difference, get in front of one of the newer MBP. load up iMovie and press the cam button.

So between new cam, Thunderbolt, new CPU, kinda think MBA is due for an update. I hope Apple does not leave it to wait a long time.

And personally, I'd like to see pretty much the same machine as the 13" with a 15" screen. I'd switch for that...

March 07 2011 at 1:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to junkie's comment
Kelmon

In all seriousness, are people really that bothered about the camera? For all the hoopla about FaceTime it's just video conferencing and we've had that for decades. Do people really use their webcams much and is anyone really using FaceTime on the desktop rather than more platform agnostic solutions?

However, I'd agree that I'd be interested to know when the MacBook Air will be updated to relative parity with the rest of the MacBook Pro line and how much of a difference that would be.

March 08 2011 at 4:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
junkie

I'm not bothered by the camera but the HD version is much nicer. I have not seen any reporting on it but it is a big step up compared to the old one.

I don't think people use cams that much and of course the cam can be used with any software, not just Facetime. Facetime itself is not that critical. It is handy if someone wants to show you something but beyond that I think most people use Skype or iChat.

The reason I want them to update is that I think the MBA is just a cool machine and have been recommending it to people. I just had an older couple ask me what to get to do Skype with their granddaughter. Well usually lately I would suggest the Air. I just think it is nice that it is so light and thin. Now though, for people like this, I would be more inclined to suggest the 13" MBP solely because the camera is nicer and that is their main reason for getting a new computer.

March 08 2011 at 10:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brian

I just want Apple to bring back light-up keyboards to the Air.

March 07 2011 at 1:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John.B

Imagine how many MBAs they'll sell when they get updated for the *much* faster Sandy Bridge processors, not to mention Thunderbolt support for fast external drives for media libraries,etc. The best of both worlds.

I'll be first in line...

March 07 2011 at 10:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Albenheimer

Put an SSD in your mbp and the MBA becomes a toy.

March 07 2011 at 10:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
W Park

You need both. And in a pinch, you have a rocking dual screen workstation!

March 07 2011 at 9:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Samuel H

As someone who recently went from a MBP 2010 to the macbook air (5 days ago to be exact) i am pleasantly surprised by its capabilities as a fast computer for someone who is always on the go, so it dose not surprise me at all that its selling well, the test i ran in the apple store i purchased it from was to run all applications installed at once, and the results were amazing with the air being usable in about 20 seconds where the pro was still loading 1 min later, if your not a graphics designer or gamer i see no reason why the air isnt an option, as the article says suit around your needs.

March 07 2011 at 9:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.