Survey: Apple's Mac customers highly satisfied
Mac customers report high satisfaction scores in ChangeWave's latest survey.
(Credit: Apple)Apple may be in for some short-term pain when it comes to the Mac, but it can take comfort in the fact that recent buyers seem very satisfied with their purchases.
ChangeWave released another one of its surveys Wednesday, which chart the likelihood of respondents to buy a personal computer over the next 90 days from one manufacturer as opposed to another. As we pointed out earlier this week, Apple appears to have finally run into the economic storm that is hurting the tech industry, although the more interesting number was the various customer satisfaction ratings assembled by ChangeWave.
Apple customers over the past 90 days reported by far the highest level of satisfaction in ChangeWave's survey, with 81 percent of Apple customers saying they were "highly satisfied." Asus customers were the second-most satisfied group, with 67 percent reporting they were highly satisfied with their purchase, while 61 percent of Acer customers fell into that category. Lenovo was last, with only 50 percent reporting such levels of satisfaction.
ChangeWave's customer satisfaction surveys are not as comprehensive as the annual one done by the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (which Apple also leads), but they are still worth noting. ChangeWave surveys "senior technology and business executives in leading companies of select industries," who are perhaps a bit more demanding than average consumers when it comes to technology purchases.
In other tidbits from the survey, ChangeWave backed up NPD data from earlier this week that suggested Mac sales are slowing in the early part of the year. Over the past 90 days, only 20 percent of respondents said they bought a Mac notebook and just 15 percent said they bought a Mac desktop, down from 22 percent and 17 percent, respectively, recorded in ChangeWave's January survey.
Those numbers may just represent a holiday-season hangover, however. Over the next 90 days, 30 percent of respondents said they plan to buy a Mac notebook, up from 27 percent who said the same thing in January. Mac desktop suitors dipped slightly, from 27 percent to 26 percent, but that could change if new iMacs are released over the next few months.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
I believe he was actually making a play on your name. Take a breath. Not everyone is out to personally attack you.
My life would be a lot easier if all that were true when I call Dell.
Anyone who knows W7 is coming isn't going to buy into Vista. That leaves Mac.
I am switching to MAC for this reason. AND because M$ slowly rendered all my software/games inoperable with each new OS. Thanks M$. Never again.
Advice to M$: Get W7 out FAST.
I'm highly satisfied with my current mac, I've had it 6 months now. I was highly satisfied with my previous Mac, a G4 Powermac, for the entire 7 years I owned it, except in the last couple months when the hard drive was starting to make noise and my media collection had overflowed to an external drive.
But in spite of what the frothy-mouthed commenters are going to say about me, I'm not "brainwashed" by Steve Jobs. I actually know stuff about computers, and use a mix of 6 different Windows and Mac machines at work every day, and I find my Macs to be great machines. Useful, powerful, and fun to use. Plus they seem to last longer.
Generally speaking, this article isn't really "news" per se, but more of just a confirmation of what most Mac users see/feel about their products.
We have both Macs and PCs in our home, but use Macs about 90% of the time; it doesn't have as much demand on the user to perform certain tasks or maintenance as does a Windows machine (ie. defrag, anti virus, anti spyware, etc.).
One thing I will point out that Mac users are generally happier about than Windows users is when plugging in a flash drive, Macs do not need to install a driver--on Windows, you have to wait until it installs a driver.... This is just one very, very small example of why Mac users are generally happier w/ Macs than using a Windows machine....am I wrong?
I'm pretty sure that's only an issue on much older windows versions.
Aside from initial install, I've never had to hunt around for drivers for anything, except when routinely installing newer versions of audio/video drivers, which I don't really have to do. Vista had built-in drivers for pretty much everything.
Some of my 10 year old hardware was a different story, but that's the fault of the hardware vendors themselves for refusing to make new drivers for old hardware, not Microsoft's.
Their was a bug in vista when it was released that made it have to reinstall all drivers for things like usb flash drives every time they are plugged in. That bug was fixed and now it only has to install the driver once.
Point of my "brain wasedness". I am an IT Manager for a large company with over 70 PC's and 3 Mac's & plus some servers. They are all MINE since the cows that sit at them know nothing about using a computer.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/19050/saturday-night-live-nick-burns
Those "cows" are your bread and butter, dude. If THEY didn't have problems or could do everything themselves, you'd be flipping "cow-burgers."
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FALSE. You do NOT need the instability of winblows for job security, that's just the thinking of lazy slaves. Freed of common problems, you would be able to look for ways of improving productivity instead of simply putting out fires on call. Simply put, you can actually make yourself worthwhile if you don't have to chase idiotic winblows problems all day.
I know, I enjoy that privilege now. All Mac shop with the main production server running AIX. Everything works and I'm a hero for automating things with scripts (shell scripts on the server, shell scripts or AppleScripts on the Macs). Sure, there are problems sometimes (that's life), but they are few and far between.
I use both Macs and Windows machines at work. Where I have a choice, which includes at home, Mac wins hands down. As a computer, it's no more productive than a Windows machine - but it makes me a heck of a lot more productive when I use it. That's what using a computer is really all about, isn't it?
Most Windows users tend to say "Yeah, well it doesn't play games." Like I bought the computer to play games. No, that is why I bought a Wii. I bought a computer because I do all my work on it; the interface is great and the ecosystem that it's all placed in means that everything runs incredibly well within itself.
If anything, all I see Windows users do is play games. If anything, I could accuse Windows computers of only doing one thing: games.
ecosystem? is that a technical term? I mean I haven't used a mac in some time so I don't know, but I digress.
If simple games that come for Wii are enough for you, then by all means play it. But Windows based machines have a huge selection of games, and as a gamer myself I would say that Windows dominates in games market. For everything else though, why not use linux? Buy a cheap eee and slap Ubuntu on it. You'll have your awesomeness of a mac stability wise and a great interface (gnome) which is (in my opinion) superior to OSX.
Oh and did I mention linux is free and eee costs heck of a lot less than a mac?
A couple of minor points. On the games topic, I personally find PC games to be incredibly boring and that the highlight of PC gaming was LucasArt's classic "TIE Fighter". Games really haven't advanced over the past years and almost all tend to be rehashes of what has come before. The Wii at least has an interesting interface, although I tend to think that developers continue to struggle to use it well.
With respect to the Linux point, can I just note that you've neglected to consider applications? I am quite sure that Linux is a fine platform but it's not much use to me if it won't run my applications. We are all quite aware that the platform exists so I don't understand why people seem to think that Mac users should be using something else as if buying a Mac is some sort of affront to you. As and when something better appears for what we want to do, rest assured it will be considered.
I am just as productive as you running Windows and I still have money in my pocket.
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If you think playing games is being productive, hold on to that job you currently have. You very likely won't find another.
"For everything else though, why not use linux?"
Because it doesn't do certain things as well as either Windows or OS X. Although users of Windows retail products won't have experienced this, corporate users of XP MUI (that'd be the multilanguage user interface) and users of OS X enjoy unbelievable flexibility with regard to supporting multiple languages on the desktop. Once you've experienced how beautifully UNICODE is supported in both operating systems and then try to duplicate that in Linux, you'll scream.
After being a Slackware user since 1996, I finally gave up on it and bought a MacBook. The multimedia experience on the MacBook simply beats anything I've ever experienced on a Linux box, and gone are the frustrations of Japanese support being broken with every freakin' upgrade as was the case with my Slackware box.
I love Linux, I really do. Try as one might, however, it just isn't as good yet in certain areas as other more mature operating systems. It'll get there eventually, but I got tired of waiting.
If the Wii works for you, it works for you. I play Wii, but its not a gaming platform, its a $250 toy
Why Mac if you don't like Windows, Linux Ubuntu is much better and cheaper than both OS's
@kelmon
the app problem: Linux Wine, works for lots of stuff
PC gaming isn't interesting to you: it isn't to you, it is for me, I have many reasons a) storytelling depth is greater than all the consoles b)better graphics, look at Crysis c)no single hardware vendor
@kevinskrause
So gaming on 1080p is better than gaming on 1600p
Great machine, but crappy parts and service.
Is that like a person still loving their spouse even though they beat them every day?
So you love it even though it breaks on you, and customer support is below what is expected?
Is that like a person still loving their spouse even though they beat them every day?
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Uh, yeah - kinda.
DevDem, that's harsh and not right. I'd raise a stink if I were you, likely Apple will make this right. They aren't big enough to upset their customers like that and they know it. You got a lemon, make them replace it. Don't be nice about it.
Add my vote for being very satisfied with Apple's Macbook.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320154
Thanks for the help. Wizard now OFF!
As the wife tried to explain to me - the PC(s) fail twice as often as the Fruits in her office... Then we put things in perspective. There were 100 PCs in the office and two Fruits. Both Fruits had failed during a two year period and had to be replaced/refurbed/whateverappledoes. Five of the 100 PCs had to have their OS reinstalled and no 'Business Critical' data had to be shipped away.
Yup, twice as many PCs failed in the office as did the Fruits... but, 100% of the Fruits had to go back for service... AND wouldn't you know it - those with the Fruits were happier based on their stats.
gophigure?
(db)
That said; yea, apple makes a decent computer. (but I'd love to see cnet do a 'do you dislike macs, or mac users' survey. I think the majority of folks would agree that macs are OK but mac users are intolerable bores, with some exceptions on both).
You may not be aware of this, but Windows users can buy ring tones, too. The ring tones you speak of come from iTunes, which happens to work on both MS and Apple platforms.
By the way, these ring tones can also be made--for free--using Apple's garageband software program.
Its a personal preference really. Windows has many great features, and is pretty much the only platform that runs DirectX, therefore if you do any gaming you must own Windows. Not saying you cant get windows to work on a mac, but why pay the extra money?
What I don't understand is why macs cost so much when all they are offering is an OS that looks pretty but is no better than linux which is free. Now I'm not a linux fanatic, but if you're not a gamer and just want to dick around with movie editing and other useless stuff (unless you're a professional in that area) why not get a cheap laptop and use ubuntu?
This is beyond my level of understanding, for I am yet to hear a valid arguement for why paying all the extra money for a mac when linux can do the job just as well.
And we can make ringtones for free using Audacity without installing the bloated mess that is iTunes.
Seriously, who the hell buys ringtones?
I think you have said the critical part: "unless you're a professional in that area". I might not be a professional photographer but I certainly do not consider myself to be "dick[ing] around" and the Mac provides the best platform for what I do. It might not be cheap but it does enable me to enjoy my hobby and THAT is what is most important to me.
Windows has many great features, and is pretty much the only platform that runs DirectX, therefore if you do any gaming you must own Windows.
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Sigh. Any idea WHY DirectX is "pretty much" winblows only?
LOL
I think I feel the same way about golf and golfers
b/c DirectX is too good for Apple and not good enough for Linux
OK then, that means your ok with my Mac bashing, ever since Apple switched to Intel, Macs have sucked. I have a PowerMac G4, its awesome, my friend has an iMac, the OS is still good, but Windows7, WinXP, and most flavours of Linux are far superior
Now it is my Linux server.
By the way, XP's Remote Desktop service was 100% free (as opposed to Apple's), is still by far the best remoting solution I've ever used. Please don't try to mention VNC, because it doesn't compare. Remoting into my G4 with VNC (on my home network yet) is a truly painful experience.
If you're surfing the web, checking e-mail, or doing ordinary things with your computer - Linux is more than fine. Productivity is such a subjective thing. It's really what you're used to.
- by shamisattar February 20, 2009 5:22 AM PST
- i could never afford anything other than windows computers in my life but i can't understand why anyone would take side with microsoft when it's compared with apple. of course macs cost more, but you get what you pay for. i'm very happy with my iphone and just ordered a macbook pro.
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- by pithenumber February 20, 2009 2:27 PM PST
- You don't get what you paid for
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (69 Comments)Ubuntu is better than all Windows (maybe except Win7, but big maybe) and any version of Mac OS and its free!
Mac components isn't high quality, its just normal parts that Apple makes you pay more for, the people who make Macs don't do an amazing job at it, Apple just charges you more to have them make it for you, I doubt they are getting anymore cash than the people at Dell.
Macs aren't worth it, if you are so dearly in love with OS X, get a Hackintosh!