Computer Support Blog

RESCUECOM’s 2014 Q3 Computer Reliability Report results are in, just in time to allow you to compare tech devices before buying on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. With all of the deals on technology this time of year, you want to make sure to get the best device you can for your money. Whether you are looking for a computer or a tablet, RESCUECOM’s Computer Reliability Report will give you all the information you need to make the right purchase. Even if you are looking to buy a device for someone else this holiday season, RESCUECOM’s convenient reliability grades will help you choose the perfect fit.

One of the first facts that stands out when looking at the reliability scores this quarter is the level of improvement, regardless of the manufacturer’s position in RESCUECOM’s reliability rankings. Every company that has a ranking on RESCUECOM’s 2014 Q3 Computer Reliability Report has seen an increase in reliability score since the last report, and there was not a single “F” grade this quarter. In fact, the majority of companies have shown consistent improvement throughout the year. Acer in particular has achieved drastically higher reliability scores this quarter than the company did last quarter, moving up in grade from an “F” to a “C”.

RESCUECOM’s reliability scores are determined by comparing the amount of tech support calls RESCUECOM’s Certified Level-3 technicians receive against a manufacturer’s market share of computers and tablets. The full list of reliability rankings is as follows:

1 – Computer repair share percentages and computer reliability scores include tablets.

2 – The computer reliability report does not include “other” manufacturers, defined as all manufacturers that have below 1.0% market share.

3 – Market share numbers are provided by IDC.

At the top of the list, Apple and Samsung once again compete neck and neck for the highest reliability score. While both received an “A+” grade, Apple has pulled ahead of Samsung for this quarter. The companies have been frequent rivals in the one and two positions recently, with Samsung coming out ahead in the previous quarter. In fact, this is the first time during 2014 that Samsung has fallen from the top ranking. Both companies have steadily held high reliability scores for some time, and are often far ahead of the competition.

Apple placing first in reliability is quite the feat when you consider the number of devices the company has sold. Apple’s computer and tablet sales account for just over a fifth of the total number sold in the United States. It is worth noting that this is almost as many sales as the rest of the top five put together! The fact that Apple has consistently maintained its low number of calls for computer support with such a high market share, including tablets, is no small accomplishment on its own, but to go beyond that and reach the top position is truly impressive.

Ranking next below Apple and Samsung is IBM/Lenovo. RESCUECOM CEO David Milman notes, “Lenovo, a stalwart in reliability, comes in at a solid third. This is interesting since they just purchased the server business from IBM.” IBM/Lenovo has long maintained its reliability score with very little variance throughout the year. While the manufacturer’s reliability grade of “A-” is not quite as high as that of Apple or Samsung, the company has demonstrated that you can count on it through the steady scores over an extended period.

Asus and Toshiba round out the top five in computer and tablet reliability for the third quarter. Notably, Asus has been steadily rising throughout 2014 so far. However, the company still has a long way to go to catch up with the top contenders for reliability. Meanwhile, Toshiba has maintained its position as number five for reliability across all three quarters this year, despite small fluctuations in its score.

Relative to the other major computer manufacturers, Acer, Dell, and HP are still struggling to keep up. Particularly noteworthy, however, is the shift in positions among these three. “Acer has moved up in quality by a large margin over previous reports,” comments Milman. In fact, Acer has achieved a higher score in computer and tablet reliability than competitors HP and Dell for the first time this year; a commendable improvement from its previous position at the bottom of the rankings. By the numbers, Acer has seen an increase of more than four times its score in the last two quarters. HP and Dell have both increased their reliability scores gradually this year, and this quarter is no exception. While this improvement is not as substantial as Acer’s, steady progress in reliability is a good sign for both companies.

The last thing that you want when you give someone a gift is to have it malfunction soon after they start using it. The stress of needing to find computer repair can ruin what would have been an otherwise great present. Luckily, RESCUECOM’s Computer Reliability Report can save you the headache and help you find the right machine before you buy this holiday season.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman
CEO
david@rescuecom.com
1-315-882-1100

Filed under: Acer, apple, ASUS, Computer Reliability Report, computer repair, dell, hp, ibm, lenovo, Reliability study, rescuecom, Samsung, tablets, Toshiba