From SiliconValley.com

Globally, Apple sold 7.8 million desktop and notebook computers, capturing 3 percent of the market last year, according to research firm IDC. Worldwide, the company experienced a 38 percent growth rate, which was more than double the industry average.

In the United States, Apple sold 4.2 million units, which was 6 percent of the market. That was a 34 percent increase from 2006 and five times the industry average.

“What always gets lost – because everything is focused on iPhones, iPods, iPills, whatever – is Mac sales,” said Scott Rothbort, president of LakeView Asset Management, which is a longtime owner of Apple shares. “Mac sales, Mac sales, Mac sales – that is the story of this company. The Macintosh is capturing more and more market share.”

Mac sales were $3.49 billion, a 54 percent jump from the same period last year. Revenue from the company’s iPod business increased 7.6 percent to $1.81 billion.

“The iPod is not the story,” Munster added. “The portable music player market just isn’t growing a lot.”