Reliability and Service: The Best Companies to Buy From

Desktop PCs: Few PC Manufacturers Excel Across the Board

It was a relatively good year for PCs made by small, independent shops: Even though such systems tended to have more than the average number of failed components, readers felt they received superior service from small companies on virtually all measures, an improvement over last year's results. Readers were satisfied with the reliability of Apple and Alienware computers, but Apple's scores for failed components and failed core components slipped into the average range, a drop from last year's high ratings, while Alienware customers were more satisfied with the reliability of their machines than they were last year. CyberPower, a high-end gaming PC manufacturer, earns the dubious distinction of having the worst reliability scores among desktops. Nearly 46 percent of CyberPower owners reported having at least one problem. ABS fell behind other manufacturers in reliability of components.