Apple’s Computer Inc PCs are rotting away in resellers’ dark storerooms according to market research firm Computer Intelligence and the Wall Street Journal, which reported Mac sales dropped 30% to 50% in April and May compared with year-ago levels. Analysts had predicted a 20% decline. Apple’s unit shipments were down 29% in April and 27% in May as the shares fell $1.25 to $19.75. Meanwhile, CEO Gilbert Amelio has brought Ellen Hancock over to Apple to sit in the chair left vacant by David Nagel, who left Apple in April for AT&T Labs. Hancock, who starts today, reports directly to Amelio and will oversee the AppleSoft division, Apple Research Laboratories, AppleNet division and Apple Reliability & Quality Assurance group. Hancock was chief operating officer at National Semiconductor when Amelio was CEO there, and was with IBM Corp for 28 years prior to that. But even with her stint as head of IBM’s networking business it’s uncertain if she’s enough of a techie to be Apple’s chief technology officer and executive VP of research and development. Hancock left National Semiconductor in May having been passed over for the top job there after Amelio left (CI No 2,912).
