"I'm a PC" Marketing Pays Off for Microsoft, OEMs

Microsoft (MSFT) and its partners are reaping big rewards from the $300 million Windows marketing campaign.

That’s my conclusion after reviewing February U.S. retail PC sales data released by NPD on March 16. Apple’s (AAPL) steep U.S. retail sales declines continued in February, comparatively worse than January’s already dismal showing. Meanwhile, Windows PC sales continued their recent year-over-year growth rally.

The contrast is startling. U.S. retail Windows PC unit sales rose 22 percent year over year in February compared with a 16.7 percent Mac sales decline. By revenue, Windows PCs posted modest 1.4 percent growth, compared with a stunning 23.3 percent Mac revenue decline. It’s not a Mac bloodbath, but massacre.

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