Remember when Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook described netbooks as ‘junky’ at a time PC makers were flooding the market with the low-cost computers? A new reliability survey seems to defend Apple’s decision to avoid entering the netbook arms race. Apple has earned the top spot as most reliable computer maker, dethroning ASUS, creator of the Eee PC netbook.
Apple’s score of 374 reverses the lead ASUS had in late 2008 and earlier 2009, according to computer repair firm RESCUECOM. “Now that many of the netbooks by ASUS have been out for a while, there is obviously a higher need for service,” said the repair company’s CEO David Millman.
ASUS earned 166 points, dropping it to third place behind Lenovo’s 320 points. The study tracks both computer construction and manufacturer support after the sale. Although Apple accounts for around 9 percent of U.S. computer sales this summer, it comprises only 2.4 percent of service calls.
Toshiba reliability ranked fourth with a 165 score while HP and Compaq together were in fifth place. HP shipped 24.9 percent of PCs but accounted for 18.5 percent of support requests.
One analyst recently said the netbook push was actually “the implosion of PC prices.”
[Via Electronista and RESCUECOM Announcement]
