[neuromancer2600]

That is correct. However, according to a quick Google search, each hp, Lenovo, and Dell produce roughly the same number of laptops each year. Therefore the technician's statement about hp's being of better quality should weigh heavier.

[barrkel]

Does that presumably global production match the local distribution where the anecdote was relayed?

What proportion are on business contracts vs privately owned, where business laptop problems would go through the IT department?

What are the historical distributions, assuming that older laptops are more likely to be brought to a third party rather than OEM for repair?

What if less reliable laptops bricked very soon after going out of warranty, and more reliable laptops limped into a long tail?