Apple Computer, which makes the iPod MP3 player and the Mac computers last year sold products worth some three million euros on the domestic market, double as much as in 2004, Cristian Teodorescu, sales manager of IRIS (Integrated Romanian Information Systems) - sole distributor of Apple Computers in Romania, told ZIARUL FINANCIAR. "This year, our goal is to double sales of Apple products," specified Teodorescu.

iPod accounted for 35% of the turnover derived from Apple sales in Romania, and this year, iPod sales are estimated to grow by 300%, according to IRIS officials. Sales of Macs also rose by 40% in the first six months of this year against the same period of last year.

Laptop sales currently account for about a third of the total number of PCs sold by Apple in Romania, but Teodorescu expects they will soon reach 50%.

"In terms of our development strategy, we are planning on opening an Apple store network in the big cities of Romania. There is currently one exclusive Apple store in Bucharest, which is being refurbished according to the new Apple standard and design, and another one will be opened in the near future," added Teodorescu. The second Apple store in Romania will most likely open in September.

As for a direct Apple investment in Romania, it will surely happen, according to Teodorescu, but he could not give a specific time. "Anyway, as far as I know, Apple will open its first office in Eastern Europe in Warsaw, followed by Prague, Budapest and then Bucharest. Maybe the integration into the European Union will speed up this process to a certain extent," explained Teodorescu.

Teodorescu thinks the average PC Romanian user, associates Apple computers, with "state of the art systems, with an exquisite design, a bit on the expensive side and targeting an elite working in graphic, video or audio design." "I for one don't thin