Apple iPad
Early adopters of the iPad prefer free content and ad-supported apps on the device rather than paying for content directly. REUTERS

Russian home electronics retailer M.Video's December sales grew 39 percent year-on-year, lifted by strong demand for laptops, game consoles and Apple's iPad tablet computers.

Sales totaled 17.2 billion roubles ($572 million), Russia's only listed white goods retailer said on Monday.

New technology products continue to be the growth engine of the business in all core categories and we are well positioned through innovative product developments to look forward to a year of continued positive sales growth, chief executive Alexander Tynkovan said.

Like-for-like sales were up 18 percent.

(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Dan Lalor)

($1 = 30.06 roubles)