Price is a key driver for white box purchases.
Buyers report that white box systems are typically purchased at prices ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent below brand-name PCs and servers. Additionally, buyers cite post-sale service and support and flexibility of configuration as important drivers for purchasing white box systems. Surprisingly, four out of five buyers report that the quality of white box systems is equal to or superior to brand-name systems. Reality Research believes that as brand-name systems manufacturers reduce prices in 2001 to revive sagging demand for computers, the impact on white box systems is uncertain. Although price is an important factor in white box purchases, other factors such as post-sale service and support issues also play a role in buyer decisions.