I'll agree with you when it comes to performance. Given the same internal components - cpu, ram, video - there is very little difference between manufacturers.

Reliability and customer support are a different matter. Polls of laptops needing repair do show a significant difference in repair rates for the various brands. This data is a few years old, but shows the differences: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/laptop-reliability-survey-asus-and-toshiba-win-hp-fails/

When it comes to labels, while they may be abused by manufacturers, there can be some significance. "Gaming laptops" have dedicated video cards - hopefully better versions. "Business laptops" may have additional security features such as fingerprint readers or encryption chips.

Bottom line - some brand names have earned a reputation for quality. Whether that reputation is deserved is somewhat up for debate.

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