The leader in big-name tech decliners, surprising or not, is Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) whose shares are down about 14% 17.9% to below $110 per share! - a 52-week low. Apple was downgraded by two firms today:

Analyst Kathryn Huberty of Morgan Stanley downgraded Apple from Overweight to Equal-weight and cut its price target to $115 from $178 as "PC unit growth is decelerating and the company faces difficult near-term comparisons for the iPhone." She also said that "Even in the best of scenarios, Apple's EPS growth will decelerate meaningfully from June quarter levels." As consumers tighten their belt, Apple needs to move away from products that cost more than $1,500, she said.

Well regarded RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky downgraded Apple from Outperform to Sector Perform, reducing his price target from $200 to $140. The company is not recession-proof, and there's higher risk to the growth story, he noted. Abramsky cited a recent survey that shows Mac purchase intentions are suddenly moderating as are electronic purchase intentions overall. Abramski would like to see an introductory iPhone for $0 subsidized pricing. Similarly, other Apple products would have to be introduced at lower prices for it to swing back momentum to its side.

And let's not forget the recent plunge of Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) after it reported earnings last week. Shares of the BlackBerry maker are down another 6% 12.8% today to below $66 $62 a share - its own 52-week low.

Even what once were high-flying stocks (not that long ago even) -- especially the 52-week low club of Apple, RIM and Google whose shares' 52-week highs were over $202, $148 and $747 respectively -- are now being now hit. This is eye opening to say the least, and signals investors have moved beyond the immediate impact of the financial crisis to the broader impact of the economic slowdown, which would hit even the beloved high-growth tech.