Consumer satisfaction with PCs has hit an all-time high, lead by Apple.
The computer industry had an overall satisfaction rating of 78 out of 100, up 4% from last year, according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which annually ranks US consumer happiness across a variety of products.
Apple leads the way for the seventh straight year, adding 2% to its score of 86 points - its highest score yet, up 11 points from a decade ago. That score is nine points ahead of any other computer firm in the ranking, the ACSI noted.
"No other company in the ACSI has as formidable a lead within its own industry," ACSI said. "Innovation and product diversification, along with strong customer service, have long been at the center of Apple’s success."
Windows-based PC brands appear to have recovered from the problems associated with the Windows Vista software
Windows-based PCs also saw improvement, with no computer manufacturers losing points. Dell gained 3%, while Acer and HP were up 4%. Those brands, along with Toshiba and Samsung, were tied at 77 points. HP's Compaq brand stayed flat at 74 points.
One possible reason for the increasing satisfaction is the arrival of Microsoft's Windows 7. “Windows-based PC brands appear to have recovered from the problems associated with the Windows Vista software,” said Claes Fornell, ACSI's founder.
“Barely a year into the release of Windows 7, satisfaction with these brands has returned to, and in some cases even surpassed, the levels prior to the launch of Vista,” he added.
In 2008, after the launch of Vista, Acer scored 72 points, HP won 73 and Dell had 75.
This article originally appeared at pcpro.co.uk
