Channel Best-Sellers: Peripherals

According to data from The NPD Group/Distributor Track, NEC Display Solutions came out on top for the former category, which focused on LCDs between 19 and 30 inches. NEC claimed 24.9 percent of the U.S. revenue share, measured in terms of U.S. dollar volume generated through certain distributors, including members of the Global Technology Distribution Council.

Partners said one major reason is simply an excellent product. "They're one of the inventors, to start with," said John Samborski, CEO of Arlington Heights, Ill.-based Ace Computers.

"[They have] always been ahead of the crowd as far as quality and technology. And they have been very proactive in having channel programs that people are interested in selling in."

Still, NEC Display slipped in terms of share percentage points for the year, losing almost as much ground as that gained by the No. 2 best-seller, ViewSonic, which grew 2.6 percentage points to 19.6 percent share.

Some partners attribute ViewSonic's growth to well-received changes in its channel policies, such as the ViewSonic Access program.

"The reason we converted the bulk of our business over to ViewSonic is [because it] has a strong partner program," said Steve Shark, vice president of sales and marketing at DakTech Computers, Fargo, N.D. "They're very much more focused on customer service than any other vendor," he said.

Of special note was Hewlett-Packard, which came in a close second in market-share growth, somewhat surprising considering it doesn't exclusively sell desktop displays. Solution providers and industry experts cited the vendor's attractive attach-rate incentives.

"The PC business is doing extremely well, [and] most of [HP's] displays are sold as part of bundles," said Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research at iSuppli.

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