QOTD #74: Are you loyal to any brands for electronics or appliances?

Do you have any brand loyalty when it comes to computers, phones, tablets, electronics, or appliances?
Do you have any particularly good experiences you want to share?
Any bad ones?
Is brand ever a factor when you're considering such purchases? What do you prioritize?

 

I use Apple phones and tablets because that's the path I started down years ago with my first iPhone. It wasn't originally based on any huge brand loyalty, but more out of convenience. It was a work phone, that's the phone most of the other users were choosing, and it seemed fairly intuitive to learn to use, especially compared to the smart phone offerings of the time. Since then it has mostly been due to the fact that it's just easier with all of the current apps I use to keep them consistent.

For household appliances I am generally in favor of Whirlpool or Whirlpool manufactured (KitchenAid, Maytag, etc.) brands. Partially because I'm fairly informed when it comes to appliance manufacturing due to my job, partially from good personal experience.

 

Well, I don't drink the Kool-aid on anything...they all have their strengths & weaknesses.

However, at this point in time...I have "tendencies" towards certain items due to reliability vs decent price.
Laptops - Toshiba
cell - iPhone
electronics - Samsung and Cuisinart
cars - Asian main (Toyota, Honda and Nissan...or their derivatives)

However, I have no rule...and if I find any other brand that shows promise and price, I'll consider it.
But I need to see long-term existence...I need to know they're going to be around for the time of my usage... (if I see a glut or corruption, I'd likely avoid it)

I'm relatively a slow adapter...I don't want to be anyone's guinea pig.
I don't want ANY headaches and I always consider "Total Cost of Ownership"

I certainly don't have any more hair to lose.

 

I favor Mac computers mostly because I favor OS X, my 2009 Mini still runs the latest system, and runs it without drama. The higher initial cost pays off in a longer life. I'm not a gamer, but run some pretty big spreadsheets and databases without a hitch. But I'm not such a fangirl that I won't use Dell and ViewSonic displays with my Macs. And show me a non-Apple PC that runs OS X and all my Mac software, and I would sure consider it.
Other things I prioritize specs or characteristics more than label or brand. I favor manual transmission fast cars. That cuts the field way down. Don't like trucks and SUVs. And I need a keyboard with a number pad. I use an old Motorola flip phone, and only when I'm on the road. Costs $5/month
I'm more opportunistic than loyal. I'll often buy used upscale rather than new standard stuff, and I like to swim upstream, so I've owned SAAB and AMC cars and used Paradigm and Magnapan speakers. I bought at an estate sale a scarcely used Jenn-Air electric cooktop. I cook with top line 1950s Revereware copperclad pots and pans. I love Wacoal bras. Glenlivet Scotch. Original (with a cord) Hitachi Magic Wand. Flexocore bass strings.

 

Maytag started buying up smaller brands in the 80s, then was purchased itself by Whirlpool 10-12 years ago. Nowadays there are really only 3 major domestic appliance manufacturers left. Whirlpool, Electrolux, and GE. GE is in the process of selling out their appliance division to Qingdao Haier, a Chinese appliance manufacturer. So I expect their US manufacturing footprint to continue to shrink, leaving Whirlpool and Electrolux as the only guys really left in the US.

My company is a major supplier (tens of millions of dollars of sales annually) to both Whirlpool and Electrolux. A good friend/business associate of mine is a major supplier to Whirlpool, Electrolux, and GE. The last 5-7 years I've spent about half of my working time dealing with the appliance industry. Though GE mostly only sells under their own name, both of the other two own a whole bunch of name plates and market various brands at various price points of the market. They are all built side-by-side in the same factories, by the same people, with the same work standards. The differences are in the extra options, increased insulation (for noise or efficiency), and sometimes in heavier duty components. In general, most brands are always looking to save a few cents here and there, thus cheaper components. I'd argue that Electrolux does it more than Whirlpool as far as the areas that I'm familiar with, but they all do it to an extent. But is it their fault, or is it our fault because we'll buy the one that is $5 cheaper based sometimes on nothing more than that it is $5 cheaper? It's almost a self fulfilling cycle, eh?

 

I have loved every Samsung phone I've ever had.

 

I don't know enough about appliances to have formed a preference, and pay little enough attention to the consumer electronics market these days to know who's currently on top.

I will heartily second the preference for Dell monitors. My twin 23" Dell IPS displays are fan damn tastic.

I've yet to meet an ASUS product I haven't liked but I've heard they've been cheaping out on QC lately so I don't know if that trend will continue to hold.

 

Might be worth a try. I've seen a couple of threads die due to lack of interest.
I picked up a case of audiophilia from my father and a couple of college teachers as well as my late ex husband.
I'm a speaker junkie. I (personally) hear little or no difference between amps, and use ordinary 12 or 10 gauge stranded for speaker wire. I hear huge differences in speakers, and I listen to a lot of big classical, chamber music, and small and big band jazz dating back to the dawn of sound recording. Like punk and country, don't care for rap or metal. I try to spend at least a couple of hours a week listening to music, not as background but listening and paying attention.

I've bought a lot of speakers used on ebay and craigslist for cheap. I currently have Maggie 1.5s sitting right next to a pair of JBL 4312s. I use Paradigm Atoms and Titans and an old pair of Smaller Advents for computer speakers. Some dau I'll figure out how to integrate the old tubular Hsu Research subwoofers (pair) with something. I'm probably forgetting some.