This Interview with one of Apple's European managers, Pascal Cagni, details some of Apple's European market position.
Notably, there are no current plans for Apple Stores in Europe... Cagni admits Apple Europe isn't competing for the sub $800 market, but is selling a complete solution for the $1000+ market.
Cagni, himself, apparently hadn't been a Mac-guy until he got this job in 4/2000.