Desktop computers are suddenly hot again, seeing double-digit growth in the new year

“Desktops have been the surprise consumer technology growth category of 2010,” said Stephen Baker, NPD’s consumer technology analyst.

Desktop sales in February increased 30 percent in units and 33 percent in dollars year-over-year.  In fact, February marks the third time in the last four months that desktop revenue grew faster than notebooks, and the fifth consecutive month of desktop revenue and unit increases.  Average selling prices (ASP) climbed almost 3 percent versus February 2009 to $670 and were far above the notebook/netbook ASP of $602.

Desktop growth has come from both PCs and Macs.  Windows 7 has been propelling the PC side of the market where desktop ASPs have been higher than notebook/netbook ASPs in three of the last four months. We are also seeing tremendous growth numbers from the iMac after a few lackluster quarters from Apple.

Windows desktops saw a 15 percent rise in units and an 8 percent increase in dollars over the four months since Windows 7 launched.  This increase, while modest, is a positive trend considering that prior to the introduction of Windows 7 desktop sales declined 21 out of 22 months.

For more insight into the February PC market, read Stephen Baker’s blog post.