Apple MacBook Sales Begin to Decline

Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows PC sales are not the only computer products that took a dive during the last quarter, as Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) machines, which include the iMac, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, are also feeling the burn of declined demand.According to Computerworld, research firm International Data Corp. has announced that Apple sales dropped 1.1 percent during the second quarter, which ended June 30. During this period last year, Apple sold 18.3 million Macs. This year, the company sold 18.1 million units.The presumed decline comes only weeks after Apple unveiled new upgrades for four of its leading laptops -- the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Airs, and the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros.Apple also introduced the next-gen MacBook Pro before the end of the second quarter. The new computer differs from the other MacBook Pros by including a solid state drive, a thinner and lighter design, and a high-resolution Retina Display.Sales of the new MacBook have reportedly surpassed expectations. However, it is difficult to determine the true success of the device without any formal numbers provided as IDC's numbers are not the official sales figures from Apple.Due to the fact that the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro refresh occurred at the end of the second quarter, any sales boost that followed may not be noticed until the end of the third quarter. "We looked at the sequential movement for Apple, which generally is a good predictor of what to expect," IDC analyst David Daoud told Computerworld. "We believe there will be a normal pattern from Q1 to Q2, but we [lowered Apple's growth] for a number of reasons, including very weak demand in the broader economy."If IDC's expectations are correct, that could explain why Apple decided to lower the price of the 13-inch MacBook Air. Previously retailing for $1,299 for the base model, consumers can now acquire the upgraded MacBook Air for $1,199.Follow me @LouisBedigianBZ