Brand 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version

The trends emerged in 2003 took shape in this year. The most vendors titled "Brand'2003" manage to maintain their high position. ATI and AMD jumped far a head in 2003. ATI succeeded at the expense of a successful line of new fast products, and AMD - thanks to its attractive price policy and Athlon 64 processors. This year revealed clear leaders who take high positions in all directions, be it PR, marketing or technical improvement. There are no categories with a sign of the "dual power", like it was last year when ATI grasped a percent of victory from NVIDIA in the last three voting days. 

The new poll revealing the best reseller and distributor demonstrated the general improvement of the market. The leaders are those who run business according to modern standards, and for whom a client is not just a face with a pack of money but a partner they are to attract and keep. As a rule, there is no more choice between "cheap product" and " good service". There are companies that offer an organic combination of these concepts. 

Like before, you, our readers, helped us decide who deserves the title Brand'2003. And here is the list.

The poll results can be found by the following links:

Results of the Poll "Brand' 2003", Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version

Results of the First Round of the Poll "Brand' 2002", Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version

We also remember about the prizes we promise. In the near future you will let you know who the prize-winners are. Some prizes are already sent out so that the awardees can get them before the New Year comes. 
 
 
 

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Processors"

AMD, manufacturer of efficient and inexpensive Athlon and Duron CPUs, got over 5,000 votes, which is 67.3% of the overall number of votes. It's almost 10% more compared to the last year but it's less then 70.6% AMD got in 2001. Nevertheless, this score let the company take the leading position in 2003.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Mainboards"

ASUSTeK that offers high-performance and reliable mainboards won 34.2% of votes (4097 votes), thus increasing the overall score by 11% compared to the previous two years.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "GPU Developer"

If the last-year victory of ATI wasn't impressive because it gained only 1% over NVIDIA, this year ATI made a big stride forward and won 70.2% of voters' hearts (3213 votes). It's almost 30% more compared to the last year!

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Video cards"

The best video card maker is considered to be ASUSTeK again, with 43% of votes this time. We'll see whether the agreement ASUSTeK and ATI signed this year will strengthen positions of the Taiwanese giant in 2004.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Optical storage devices"

Undoubtedly, TEAC has the strongest position on the market of optical storage devices. The line of reliable and high-quality TEAC recorders is very popular with users. However, this brand name is losing its popularity - in this year it got only 2216 votes which equals 30.5% in contrast to 52.2% gained last year.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "DVD read/write devices"

Pioneer yielded the leading position to NEC that got more votes than also notable TEAC and Plextor. "Affordability, reliability and efficiency" are three concepts that let the company gain 23.1% of our readers' hearts.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "CD-R/CD-RW Media"

The giant of the media market - Verbatim - always offered top-quality and up-to-date products. Over 3,700 readers voted for it (51.5%). It's noticeably more compared to last-year 37%.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Hard Disc Drives"

The last "fish" series of the Seagate hard drives is still very popular. I don't know whether it should beware of Western Digital's popularity, but Seagate strengthened its position percentagewise - 3525 votes which corresponds to 46.1%.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Integrated Sound"

Integrated audio solutions are getting more and more popular. In this sphere NVIDIA performs best of all, judging by our reader's opinions: 3934 votes, or 54.7%

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "PCI and USB sound cards"

Creative is an unconditional leader on the sound card market. At least, 5756 readers (91.8%) believe that it's true.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Producer of Portable MP3 Players"

iRiver is a relatively young Korean company that won hearts by offering affordable prices and stylish solutions. Half of our readers (50.2%) made their choice in favor of this company.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "PC Acoustic System"

SVEN is aggressively promoting its products on our market. Its solutions are always of superior quality and have moderate prices. Exactly this combination lets this company get the title of the Brand' 2002. 41.8% of our readers, which is 2% more, do think the same.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination Digital photo cameras"

It's hard to say what helped Canon beat Olympus. Both are experienced players on the market in the digital and film photography. The digital line was extended with several new models both for professionals and beginners. This company got 2737 votes this year (38.9%)

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Displays"

This Korean giant needs no introduction. Samsung's monitors are popular thanks to their fine image quality and a moderate price. 2644 (35.4%) users consider that Samsung and Samtron are worth the title of Brand' 2003, which is close to the last-year scores.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Jet Printers"

Despite a very tough competition on the jet printing market and the aggressive policy of such giants as Epson and Canon, HP is still a better candidate for this title according to 3138 voters, or 43.3%. This is just the same compared to the last year. Is power based on steadiness?

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Laser Printers"

Leadership of HP in the laser printing sphere is beyond controversy. The company developed a great deal of solutions and has a colossal experience in this area. 5527 (76.4%) voters are sure that the HP's printers were best in 2003.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Scanners"

HP takes a bit weaker position on the market of scanning equipment. Nevertheless, it gained the same 40% (2657 voters) as before.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Mice"

Logitech that produces reliable, functional and stylish mice won hearts of 4691 users (62.6%). The company is obviously increasing its marketshare, and we are glad to congratulate it and entitle as Brand' 2003.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Keyboards"

Logitech's keyboards are not less successful. A third of our readers (33.2%) go with this producer. The company has also strengthened its positioned compared to the last year.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Handheld Computers/PDAs"

Popularity of handheld computers, and in particular, the Palm trade mark, is rising. Palm computers have a lot of advantages, including a wide range of prices and wide availability. However, in this year the company gained only 33.2% of votes compared to last-year 45/2%.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Modems"

Modems are probably the most conservative IT sphere, and Zyxel that released a lot of new solutions won the deserved victory. Zyxel got 3449 votes which runs into 48.0%.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination Notebooks"

In spite of the tough competition among Roverbook, ASUSTeK and Toshiba, the latter could raise its share from 18.7% of the year before last and 27% of the last year to 29.1%. This corresponds to 1984 users who selected exactly this brand.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Best Distributor"

LC Group is the largest distributor in Russia. Almost 25% of our readers voted for awarding this company.

Brand' 2003: Digit-Life/iXBT.com Readers' Version in nomination "Best Retailer"

ULTRA is one of the youngest and progressive companies on the market. A wide range of products, low prices and high-quality service let his company outscore its competitors. A fourth part of the voters (913) chose it as the Brand'2003.