Interesting report on notebook failure rates

Didn't know where else to post this so thought I would dump it here seeing as I own a lenovo.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/most-least-reliable-notebooks-laptops,news-32276.html

Full report linked at the bottom.

Does this fit in with most people's perception or is anything unexpected?

 

Thing is though is that it also includes consumer models within all of those companies. Consumer laptops aren't engineered as much as business laptops. I'd like to see stats comparing Thinkpads, Latitudes and Elitebooks.

Thanks though

 

Take into consideration that this company handles warranty outside of the manufacturer warranty. What models do they handle? what type of customers is getting 3rd party warranty? it's really hard to judge by this figures.

 

Another question is what they define as a 'failure'... seems like all warranty issues are treated exactly the same there.

 

Below is Consumer Reports reliability ratings published on their website.
Toshiba and Sony are tops on both reports. Therefore, I'd tend to believe
that both brands are tops in reliablity. Also, the report states differences
of fewer than 3 points aren't meaningful. Since the spread from the top
ranking brand to the lowest ranking brand is just 5 points, means
all laptops are about the same in terms of reliability. Like others
posted maybe there would be a difference if we compared just business laptops
and could see the types/causes of failures?

BRAND/%Repairs and Serious Problems
Toshiba - 16
Sony - 17
Compaq -18
Acer - 19
Apple - 19
HP - 20
Gateway - 20
Dell - 21
Lenovo - 21

 

Are you sure Consumers Union gives permission to quote their findings here?

Maybe, but see below.

The brand-wide laptop reliability figures you posted are analogous to CAFE figures for motor vehicles. The CAFE figures include everything from sub-compact cars to large SUVs. The numbers are useful for governments who try to regulate each company's overall green-ness, but not so useful to consumers. Because a consumer doesn't buy a mythical "average car" or an "average laptop" from any of these manufacturers. Instead, we buy a particular product that has been engineered with a particular use in mind, with trade-offs appropriate for that use. Because almost every vehicle and laptop brand includes many different product lines tailored to different uses, it's really no surprise that averaging over all of these product lines gives a result that varies little from brand to brand.

So yes, as you suggest, it would be far more interesting to compare specific product lines. Like, as StealthTH said: Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, HP EliteBook.

Edit: What would be appropriate Toshiba in this comparison? Satellite Pro?

 

You hit the nail on the head. I can't imagine anyone with a business-class laptop buying a 3rd party warranty. I would guess that these figures apply only to consumer laptops, the type of stuff you see at Best Buy.

 

You hit the nail on the head. I can't imagine anyone with a business-class laptop buying a 3rd party warranty. I would guess that these figures apply only to consumer laptops, the type of stuff you see at Best Buy.