OK, this has to be the exact opposite of what we were being told not all that long back! So now they are doing fine with the Mac in addition to the iPod sales?

The phenomenal growth of Apple Computer’s (Profile, Products, Articles) iPod music player was joined by strong growth in Mac shipments during the company’s third quarter, leading Apple to the best financial quarter in its history, it announced Wednesday.

However, Apple’s guidance for its fourth fiscal quarter indicates that the Cupertino, California, company is not sure whether it can sustain its momentum following the news that it plans to start using Intel’s (Profile, Products, Articles) processors next year.

Overall revenue was $3.5 billion, up 75 percent compared to last year’s third fiscal quarter, or the period ending June 25. This exceeded the estimates of analysts compiled by Thomson First Call for $3.33 billion in revenue.

Net income was $320 million, up a whopping 425 percent from the year-ago period. This resulted in earnings per share of $0.37, six cents better than analyst estimates of $0.31 earnings per share.

“We are delighted to report Apple’s best quarter ever in both revenue and earnings,” said Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and chief executive officer, in a press release. [Read the rest]