Apple Loses In Education Market

Apple Computer Inc.’s share of the education market fell to 26.8 percent in 1997 as financial difficulties, management shuffles and a lack of cheap machines had schools buying from competitors, a research firm said.

Apple, which in 1993 had as much as 61 percent of the education market, slipped from 41.4 percent in 1996, according to Dataquest Inc. Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple is still the largest seller in that market.

Apple has suffered because customers worried about management turmoil, including the ouster of Chief Executive Gilbert Amelio, most of the board of directors and some top executives, coupled with losses of $1.05 billion last year threw the company’s future in jeopardy.

Also, competitors such as Dell Computer Corp. and Compaq Computer Corp. have been aggressive in targeting schools as customers.