During the quarter [url=http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/apple_sells_more_macs_than_in_any_previous_quarter]Apple shipped more Macs[/url] than it ever has during a single quarter. Apple shipped 2,496,000 Macs during the quarter, representing 41 percent unit growth and 43 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. Mac sales growth were approximately three times the industry average, according to the latest stats from the NPD research group. Mac desktops and laptops both have cleared the 40 percent growth mark for several consecutive quarters.

In a note to clients, Gottheil wrote that Apple looks to be in a strong position to grab even more of the computer market and that Macs will continue to grow in both the personal and business sectors. In discussing the latest financials, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said Apple had a [url=http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/apple_has_secret_future_product_transition_in_the_works/]"product transition"[/url] planned for the September quarter. Gottheil thinks the mystery product is a revamped laptop line.

"TBR believes Apple will refresh its notebooks with the latest Intel Centrino 2 processors, which will improve performance and increase battery life," he said. "We think the company will do more than update internals, however. In addition to a redesign, TBR believes Apple will add TV tuners and may introduce a larger screen MacBook."

The analyst thinks that that Apple will use quad-core processors in the redesigned MacBook Pro to help keep a clear differentiation between the pro and consumer laptops.

Meanwhile, the Piper Jaffray research firm thinks that Apple planning to drop the base price of the MacBook to US$999, and the MacBook Pro to $1,799. The firm also told clients that Apple would probably release new iPods and/or other portables in the September quarter, likely including new, cheaper touchscreen iPods.

The Needham research group told clients it's "impressed" with the latest Mac sales figures. They also think that, in 2009, for instance, the company may cut prices on its laptops, as well as its iMac line.

Toni Sacconaghi of Bernstein Research [url=http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2008/07/22/apple-slides-on-margin-worries-estimates-targets-fall/?mod=yahoobarrons]also thinks[/url] there's “a potentially significant forthcoming set of re-pricing actions on new products, most likely in Apple’s notebook or iPod lineup.” He says that Apple appears to have decided to drive gross margin dollars with high volume and lower margins, not unlike its recent price cuts for the iPod Shuffle and the iPhone.

On the other hand, Bill Fearnley of FTN Midwest thinks the "mystery product" is a laptop revamp, but doesn't expect Apple to lower its pricing.

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