Unfortunately, those trying to compare hardware based on performance, reliability, or quality find it difficult to collect real data on which to base an informed decision. The computer industry has failed to develop standard metrics or benchmarks that would allow easy direct product comparisons. Furthermore, vendors rarely provide information that would allow prospective purchasers to compare even products in their own lineups.
IT Doesn’t Just Care About Price
Performance or reliability metrics wouldn’t matter if they weren’t on IT’s radar, but they are. A recent Info-Tech survey probed the primary and secondary selection criteria for storage and server purchases. While 33% of the storage buyers and 28% of the server buyers identified price as a criterion, 18% identified reliability as important for both storage and servers, and 17% identified performance as guiding their decision.
