Apple Macintosh computers continued to gain popularity in the USA, according to market tracking company NPD. But while the overall market share remains on approximately the same level as a year ago, the market share among systems that cost $1000 and over is whopping 66%.

According to NPD, the share of Apple Macintosh personal computers was 14% in the U.S. retail in Q1 2008 with Mac desktops and Mac notebooks commanding 14% of their respective markets. Perhaps, 14% is hardly impressive, but what is important is that 2/3 of customers willing to pay for their systems over $1000 prefer Apple Macintosh and not Windows-based personal computer. It should be kept in mind that Apple sells only two Mac items at below $1000 price-point – Mac mini systems for $599 and $799 – which boosts overall spending on Macintosh systems.

A year ago Apple’s desktops and notebooks sold through conventional retail stores as well as online stores reached 13% in May, according to figures by the market tracking firm. The share of Apple’s desktops was 10.4%, whereas the share of notebooks was 14.3%.

“In notebooks they’re growing two times the market. Windows notebooks are pretty much flat right now. For the first quarter, Windows notebooks had ‘zero percent’ growth year over year, by comparison, Apple notebooks had 50% to 60% growth. [Apple desktops] are up 45%, [whereas] Windows desktops [are] down 25%,” said said Stephen Baker, NPD’s vice president of industry analysis, in an interview with eWeek.

NPD market tracking company covers retail and sometimes certain online stores. Therefore, figures from NPD do not include corporate purchases as well as sales through the Internet, particularly by companies like Dell, HP or Lenovo.

NPD did not outline exact reason of Macintosh’s popularity, but noted a combination of pleasant user experience, recognition of Apple brand in general and so on.