We have created an awesome list with details on the best Computer Brands of 2013!
We have always placed importance on the compatibility of a machine to the design its’ user has for it. A computer built for office applications is ill-suited to an individual who intends to use it for gaming. That being said, there are general rules in the computer industry related to the effective combination of a user and a specific brand. We have used standardized methods to test and rate each of the top computer producers in the industry, and have ranked them according to online reviews of their respective products. We used several statistics in order to do this. They were:
1) Customer Reviews
2) Design and Ergonomics
3) Keyboard/Touchpads
4) Tech Support
5) Visuals and Audio
6) Device Selection
7) Innovation
8) Software
Customer Reviews
/20 Points
First and foremost, a product must be judged by those who are using it. This statistic was rated as the most important factor in terms of how well a product is received by the public. We rated machines and the overall brand by comparing their respective user reviews to their official recognition (potential awards, etc). This can be somewhat misleading given the tendency of many product users to rate a device based on their personal experience rather than on the specifications of the device itself. That being said, it stands as a fair judgement given the immense numbers of people who rate each of these machines.
Design and Ergonomics
/15 Points
This heading takes into account device design and the ability of a customer to use the device easily. This takes into account device aesthetics, speaker, touch pad and keyboard location, parts and overall production quality. Color, size, weight and accessible ports also factor into a devices’ rank.
Keyboard/Touchpad
/15 Points
This heading is self-explanatory. Keyboards and touchpads are how a user interacts with a computer, so it is necessary that these attachments operate effectively and are easy for customers to understand and use. Computers also received points for keyboard and touchpad longevity – the ability of a device to take punishment or extended use and still operate effectively.
Tech Support
/15 Points
No matter what, eventually a customer will require technical support with a device. This heading takes into account results from the annual Tech Support Showdown which ranks companies based on their customer service, error-removal frequency, and overall accessibility.
Visuals and Audio
/10 Points
This heading takes into account screen brightness, viewing angles, resolution and touch responsiveness on the visual side, while also looking at speaker quality, software and hardware designed for effective sound production. A device with aesthetically pleasing visuals and sound will rank higher than those that do not have them.
Selection
/10 Points
Each of the brands we reviewed is expected to turn out multiple devices annually, each theoretically designed to be better than the last series of machines it put out on the market. The ranks for this section are determined by the number and relative value of machines each company releases to the market.
Innovation
/10 Points
This heading takes into account new technologies that different brands have adopted or created with a look to the future. Ranks are based on how useful a new technology is, and how well it is incorporated into the system.
Software
/5 Points
Each device must come with some form of software for users to be able to use it. This heading is based on whether software on a new device is effective for the purposes it is intended for, and whether there is anything new that might make a users’ experience of the device any better.
After doing our comparisons of different products and brands, we came up with the following ranks:
Apple
Apple products have received high marks across the board, both in official reviews and through online customer reviews. Their tendency towards easy-to-use technology and innovative technology sets them apart from most of their competition. There is rarely a device Apple releases that receives poor reviews. On average, we found that Apple reviews were 30% more positive relative to reviews of similar products from other companies. This may be because Apple customers are notoriously loyal to their brand, but in order to gain loyalty a company must first prove itself, and Apple has done just that for years.
Lenovo
81/100 Points
Lenovo has stood in second place to Apple for three years running by providing excellent products with new developments at decent prices. The one key deciding factor that separates Lenovo from Apple is customer reviews. Our theory is that Apple customers are more likely to voice their support of the brand than those that use Lenovo products. Technologically speaking, we ranked their products roughly equal to anything Apple has come up with. New products such as the Thinkpad have us very excited to see what Lenovo will come out with next.
Asus
Traditionally treated as a gaming brand, Asus jumped from #5 to #3 this year by offering greater selection and value in regards to their products. Touchpad and keyboard improvements also made many Asus products the betters of their competitors. The big hold up that Asus faces is its customer reviews. Much like Lenovo, these reviews have not been particularly friendly to the products which have received such rave technological reviews. We again attribute this as a reflection of Apple customers’ tendency towards supporting their particular brand.
HP
HP has received a #4 ranking this year predominantly based on the fact that the company seems to be resting on its laurels. Instead of innovating new designs and technology, HP has focused on improving the systems it had in place last year in order to build on success. While this hasn’t done the company any favours in terms of innovative recognition, it still stands as one of the best-selling brands in terms of computer sales.
Samsung
Samsung fell into a 3-way tie for last place in terms of customer reviews, but again was technologically sound. That being said, it was one of the few companies not to be officially recognized this year, meaning that it had several computers that showed well, but fell short of winning any awards. This is the predominant reason for its fall from #3 to #5 this year.
Sony
Sony has dropped a few places this year, resulting in a disappointing finish for a company that has been producing some excellent customer-conscious designs. That being said, Sony stands to make significant strides next year with different laptops and devices to be released early in the new year.
Dell
Dell collapsed around its customer service and tech support. The struggling company lost about 12% in sales over the last year, but this is not reflective of a lack of technological improvements. The tech support (or lack thereof) of Dell was enough to reduce Dell from #5 to #7 in the laptop sweepstakes.
Acer
Acer’s biggest failing point was its’ customer reviews. There is little to complain about technologically speaking, but a lack of innovation and selection has left customers wanting more from the computer brand.
Toshiba
Toshiba faced disaster this year with poorly designed products incorporating poor-quality materials. Tech support and repetitive laptop designs were the companies’ signature this year, resulting in a fall from #4 to last place in this years’ review. There is really not much to talk about that could be construed as positive in our review of Toshiba. Here’s hoping they can right the ship before it’s too late.
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