NPD: mp3-player sales tank


NPD data shows that sales of "other brand" handheld media players dropped by an average of 16 percent in the first half of the holiday shopping season (Nov 18 ~ Dec 9), according to an Electronista report. Apple's market-leading iPod is the exception the trend and is still experiencing modest growth.

NPD claims that the iPod's growing market penetration may have forced some brands into decline, as Apple has pushed into chains that previously sold other-brand players exclusively.

Also, NPD largely attributes the sales decline of "other brand" players to market saturation and a trend to purchase lower-cost, flash-based products.


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MacBook rules

Like the iPod, the MacBook is also a top-seller at online retailer Amazon. Apple's consumer-grade notebook tops Amazon's Computers & PC Hardware list.

The MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac all placed in Amazon's Top 20.

Editor's note: Lumps of coal for everyone except Apple? So much for a surging Zune...

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