Custom built systems took #1 in all my categories….
#1 Value
#1 Performance
#1 appearance
#1 Blending

In the end they are all crap. Which is why I always build all my computers.

I wonder how many people choose to purchase an Apple display to match their mac mini? The smaller 24" model is $900... that's more than the mini itself. But, that's the price to pay if you want to be chic.

I agree, homebuilt beats all of these.

lol I think that consumer report is way off. How can macbooks beat ASUS and MSI laptops? Its completely baffling. How can HP gain #1 desktop brand, and Dell even be on the list? I think someone was paid.

What were there like a total of two dozen Mac Pro's sold? I'd rather buy a new car.

ok homebuilt DEFINITELY beats store build, as long as its over $800. but i think under that, you can find pretty slick deals on store built computers.

And that is without custom built computers number.....

I don't trust consumer ratings, considering the average consumer doesn't know the difference between memory and hard drive space. "That website loaded up mighty fast, this computer is awesome!! +100 rating!!" Or the classic saying from my dad "This god dmn piece of sht computer! (mind you, it is a $2000 laptop and never even a year old, its pretty nice) We need to return this crap and get a new 'different' one!! (+0 rating)" I look on his screen and he is typing web addresses into google search and wondering why it keeps going 'back' to google. *sigh

Can someone please explain to me why only Dells, HP's and Macs are on the list? Yes, we all know that it's better to build your own computer, but unless there is a strict price limit (which Consumer Reports didn't seem to follow when it proclaimed that Apple produced the best laptops, comparing computers that were 3-4x more expensive than others)? The XPS 630 isn't even Dell's best model!

chise1 has a big point. There seems to be no convention for choosing specific models. I really hope people don't read this BS. Choosing a discontinued model? What?

are you people retarded or just plain stupid???

its obvious consumer reports is not focusing on computers for gamers and techies. The focus is on PC for people at home that surf the web, pay bills online, use MS office for work/office and have a minimal understanding of PC parts and what they do.

If you want to grade gaming PCs and parts, go read tom's reviews =P

Lately most of my clients look for destkop pc's under the $800 pricerange. For the past 3 or so years, I have recommended Dell because of their online deals. The ability to customize/upgrade on most of the desktop system's components via their website is a very convenient feature... especially for those who want the "feel" of building their own desktop (albeit in a very limited way) yet not require the know-how of actually piecing said components together.

Consumer Reports is not a bunch of random users giving feedback, at least not for these ratings. These scores are garnered via a bunch of tests in labs. I know because I interviewed for a position there once, and I saw a couple dozen computers running the tests during my tour of the facilities. Funnily enough, the room where they test all the laptops looks like a Best Buy, since there are a couple of shelves with an aisle in between, and the shelves are full of shiny new laptops. All the laptops still have their stickers on them and everything.

How they decide which models to purchase and test, I don't know, but they are limited by the fact that they have to buy all of the merchandise that they test. They deliberately do not want to recieve any free items from companies, which could lead to any sort of bias towards or against someone. The company prides itself on being as unbiased as posisble with respect to any of the manufacturers of the products they test.

As ct1615 said, they are not going to rate top-of-the-line computers since the majority of the people who read their magazine are not in the market for something that powerful. Their profit comes directly from sales of their various magazines and website membership, and so they market themselves to as mainstream an audience as possible.

can't beleve HP got number 1 in one of the categories. buy a HP and not only do you get crappy parts but crappy tech support too. i would take an e-machines PC over a HP anyday

Home-built machine FTW. And I'd rather read the manual (or product website, forums, etc) than deal with any of their tech support.

CR is going to rate computers under the most basic type of sythetic tests. Doubt very much they care a whif about gamming. Apple to them just full fills the checklists, nothing more. Doubt they really mark down on retail price. Absolute joke to see a Mac laptop get a Best buy rating and will be the most expensive comp tested in its category across the board, $300 to a $1000 more than the next model tested...insane.

these test is bad.
the laptop test throw 2grand apple laptop to 700$ laptops....
come on...
even car compare test has price range limitation.
or else why don't you compare apple desktop with the IBM mainframe.

What do you mean Blending?

I meant custom/homebuilt machines are better at everything, even Blending (like a blender)
Its a joke....