Posted on 12/02/2015 8:47:54 PM PST by Swordmaker
Whatever brand you swear by (or at) there's good news, and bad, in the findings. But this Consumer Reports survey of 58,000 notebook owners finds one vendor has a huge edge in reliability and satisfaction - and it probably isn't yours.
Notebook computers can be one of the most maddening consumer devices ever - especially when they break. A survey of 58,000 Consumer Reports subscribers adds some welcome evidence into just how likely notebooks are to break - by brand.
Consumer Reports is the world's largest independent, nonprofit, consumer product testing organization. They buy the products they test, don't accept advertising, and don't allow their results to be used for promotion. I'm a fan of their work.
BIG PICTURE
In the survey, almost 20 percent of respondents reported a breakdown in the first 3 years of use, most of them seriously affecting system use.
Apple, as in year's past, has the most reliable notebooks by far - a 10 percent breakdown rate in the first 3 years - with Samsung and Gateway distant seconds at 16 percent, and the rest of the industry - including Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba, HP, Dell and Asus, at 18-19 percent.
Windows machines used more than 20 hours a week - average for Windows systems - have a higher break rate. Apple users report using their machines an average of 23 hours a week, 15 percent more. More hours, fewer breakdowns, what's not to like?
WHEN BREAKDOWNS OCCUR
Yet Apple buyers face problems too. While overall reliability is good, Apple notebooks have a consistent 3-4 percent annual breakdown rate, while Windows machines are much more likely to fail in the first year, often under warranty.
While Apple notebooks break less often, when they do they are often more expensive to fix. That's one reason why CR advises Apple buyers to consider the Apple Care extended warranty, especially since Apple's phone support is highly rated. On Windows machines, they advise you to save money by skipping add-on warranties.
However, Windows machines are more likely to be lemons: among those that broke, 55 percent did so multiple times. The figure for Apple was 42 percent.
CUSTOMER SAT
Psychologists have found that an early negative experience takes many positive experiences to overcome. A rational economic actor - if there was one! - might think that sure, Windows notebooks fail more often, but they cost less, so OK.
But people aren't rational.
High early failure rates may be a key factor in another of CR's findings: 71 percent of Apple notebook owners were completely satisfied with system reliability; only 38 percent of Windows notebook owners were. Ouch!
THE STORAGE BITS TAKE
The survey results - 58,000 is a big sample size by any measure - should end the argument over whether MacBook hardware is better or not. It is. Get over it.
But you - and probably the survey respondents - can buy a $400 Windows notebook, so I'd like the results better if they'd controlled for product price. Maybe a $850 Windows machine is just as reliable as an $850 MacBook Air.
One would hope!
Pinging dayglored and Shadow Ace for their ping lists.
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You Apple guys really know how to rub it in.
Where can I trade in my Gates garbage laptops to scrap together enough dough for a MacLaptop / Airbook?
I sent an Acer laptop to my protegeÌ in Việt Nam five years ago and it still works fine.
Johnny One Note blows his horn again. Terrorist massacre in our homeland, and in response, this worshiper of false idols posts another praise to his deity.
freaking repulsive.
Macbook, mini-ipad, and i-phone - all 3 dead within a year in my house. no thanks.
My experience with my Macbook over 3 years was 1 MB replacement, 1 keyboard replacement, 2 HD replacements, and eventually the LCD developed lines. This was over a 3 year period of some pretty hard use. I think all the laptop hard drives are prone to fail due to the fact that they have moving parts, so I don’t count that against Apple.
The Asus I have at work, has already had the M2 SSD replaced once, and the MB replaced twice (!) due to a design flaw with the power connector. Plus the power adapter failed. Unlike the MacBook, I babied this thing. That’s over a 2 year period.
So small sample size, but the MacBook wins. I have a SurfaceBook now. Will see how that holds up.
I’ve had three Dell laptops. I had to replace a hard drive on one after a funky electrical problem in neighborhood. I had to replace the hard drive. The computer is eight years old. It came with Vista, upgraded to Windows 7 then Windows 10.
When you pay a premium price for a high end product, I would hope the reliability would be better. When you buy an expensive Windows machine, I think they can sometimes have more problems than the cheaper ones. I’m kind of surprised Apple doesn’t come with a better warranty. Of course, sometimes they will fix out of warranty stuff if there’s a known manufacturing defect.
In addition, it was purchased second-hand for less than half-price. I can still make money on it!!! It replaced an 2 year older MacBook which my daughter is still using...
Before I moved to the Philippines, I also had a 24" iMac which was purchased second hand. It was 4 years old when I bought it, and sold it for more than I paid after 2 more years of my use. I am a good buyer and a good re-seller!
(Not mine. For reference only)
Yes you are...
With 3 kids, my wife and me, I’m guessing 40 - 50 Apple products through our household in the last 30 years — I think we’ve had one iPhone fail.
Apple II, IIe, iMac, iMac “Flavors,” iMac G5, LaserWriter, original Mac, Mac SE, Macintosh III, Quadra 700, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV...I can’t even remember them all any more.
Of course, there was the time my daughter snagged her foot on the charging cord on my old tank-like MBP and it crashed to the floor doing a lot of internal damage, but that was our fault.
Actually, they will fix things more than two years out of warranty sometimes. I had a problem with a hard drive on a G4 Powerbook (wow, that was a long time ago), and they sent me a shipping box, prepaid, replaced the HD, and shipped it back. No charge.
I have had Macs since 1984!
YMMV!
Terrorists do what they do to disrupt our daily lives. I am damned if I will let them do that. If we let them do that, their tactics are working. THAT is damned repulsive, John.
You can't even name the Apple products correctly, or even know that every one of those products has a one year warranty. Why would I ever believe a think you claim, Alma?
Clickbait headline
My experience as well.
I have a been a Mac user and buyer since the mid 80s. Every time I have a problem, warranty or no, I take it into the local Apple store and they fix it--free. They look me up in their database, see how good a customer I am, and just take care of the problem.
Right. If the terrorists interrupt your daily Holy Apple Devtional, they win!
I think Mac fetishists are creeps in the first place. Thanks for confirming.
C’mon man, be fair. Did you go to work today? Paid social marketers also have to keep earning their living even when terrorists are on the attack.
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