Apple MacBook Air Update: Most Reliable in a Recent Survey; MacBook Pro Follows with 9% Reliability Rate; Windows-Based Gateway, Samsung, Acer, Asus and Dell, Have High Failure Rate

Apple's MacBook Air, according to surveys, is the most reliable laptop out on the market to date. This survey stated that it has a failure rate of only seven percent within the first three years of its service.

Apple MacBook Air survey was participated by nearly 60,000 American consumers. Most of them have chosen the ultra-light notebook as the top choice when it comes to reliability. Those who answered where the consumers, who have purchased a laptop in the last five years, Computer World reported.

MacBook Pro, the higher priced device, came in second with a nine percent reliability rate. When combined, Apple's laptop has a 10 percent failure rate, still the lowest among other laptop OEM or original equipment manufacturer.

The laptop survey also stated that it is more expensive to repair an Apple laptop than a Windows one. Repairs for Apple machines cost $300 dollars more, Ubergizmo reported.

Apple laptops owners according to reports should also purchase AppleCare, as well. AppleCare is an extended warranty offered by the manufacturer. This gives an Apple laptop owner a total of three years of warranty coverage plus three years of free technical support. Without one, an owner is entitled to a one year warranty and a 90-day free technical support.

The survey also showed that more than a third of the participants also purchased AppleCare with their Apple laptop. More Windows-based users actually purchased an extended warranty and the reason is AppleCare is expensive. It is $249 for the 13 inches MacBook Air, 13 inches MacBook Pro and 12 inches MacBook. The 15 inches MacBook Pro's AppleCare cost $349.

Based also on the survey, Windows-based laptops have a higher failure rate. For example, Gateway and Samsung laptops failure rate is 16 percent in the first three years while those from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba were pegged at the 18 percent to 19 percent range.

Laptop survey also said that Lenovo ThinkPads has an estimated failure rate of 15 percent, while Dell's XPS also pegged at 15.

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