Apple sold 1.8 million notebooks and 728,000 desktops in its first fiscal quarter, which ended Dec. 31, 2008, an increase of 34% for the former, but a drop of 25% for the latter over the same quarter last year. Overall, Apple sold 9% more Macs during the period than it did in the last three months of 2007, although Mac sales revenue was effectively flat year-to-year.

The number of Macs sold in the quarter was down 3% from the previous quarter.

"Mac sales have not suffered as much as one might have feared," said , an analyst with Technology Business Research Inc. "Apple's rate of growth was much slower, but it's clear that the new MacBook was a major winner."

Apple unveiled new in late October, and counter to what many thought at the time, reduced the price only for the remaining low-end MacBook with the plastic case.

During the quarter, total revenues were $10.2 billion, a new single-quarter record, said Apple chief financial officer in a Wednesday afternoon conference call with Wall Street analysts.