Microsoft's profits in the three months to the end of March dropped slightly but the results still beat analysts²' expectations after a surprise rise in sales of its Windows operating system.

截止三月底微软盈利略微下跌，但由于Windows操作系统的热销，最终结果仍然突破了分析员的预期值。

The world's largest software firm made a net profit of $5.11bn (£3.2bn), compared with $5.23bn a year earlier.

Sales rose by 6% to $17.41bn.

Windows sales rose 4% against forecasts of a 4% decline, though sales at its entertainment division, which includes the Xbox console, fell 16%.

Its business division saw revenues increase 9% "reflecting the continued strength of Office 2010", the company said.

Brendan Barnicle, analyst¹ at Pacific Crest³ Securities, said the results looked good.

"Particularly good was the Windows business, which grew about 4%, more than PC industry growth. In the last few quarters, Windows has been growing less than PCs overall," he said.

"It's not clear yet what drove this change, but it could be that the negative impact on PCs from tablets has peaked. The Office business was particularly strong too, which is encouraging."

Microsoft shares rose 3% in after-hours trading in New York.

The company also noted⁴ that the results for the same quarter a year ago had been boosted by a $461m tax benefit.