The US market research company said sales had risen 33% in dollars compared to the same period a year ago, according to a new data from the group's Retail Tracking Service. The firm said that February marks the third time in the last four months that desktop revenue grew faster than netbooks, and the fifth consecutive month of desktop revenue and unit increases. Average selling prices also rose almost 3% from February 2009 to $670 and were far above the netbook price of $602.
According to NPD, the Windows desktops saw a 15% rise in units and an 8% increase in dollars over the four months since Windows 7 launched. Although modest, the increase is viewed as positive as, prior to the introduction of Windows 7, desktop sales declined 21 out of 22 months.
Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD, explained that Windows 7 was fuelling the growth in the PC market and that sales of the iMac had started to pick up. "Desktops have been the surprise consumer technology growth category of 2010. Desktop growth has come from both PCs and Macs," he said.
