Apple joined Google and Symantec as the high-tech companies with the most loyal customers, according to a series of Net Promoter Industry Reports released on Tuesday by Satmetrix Systems. The company conducted three studies that looked at the Online Services, Computing, and Consumer Software sectors of the industry, with Google, Apple and Symantec topping each one, respectively.

"Apple, whose score far outranks its closest competitor, is well known for its passionate and dedicated customer base," Dr. Laura Brooks, vice-president of research and business consulting at Satmetrix Systems, said in a press release. Companies measured against Apple in the Computing report, which sells for US$595, included Compaq, Dell, eMachines, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM.

Satmetrixis research was conducted with consumers who have used the companies involved in the surveys. The firm asked them how likely they were to recommend the company in question to a friend or colleague when looking at the overall product or service, the overall value for the money spent, the companyis reputation, and the quality of customer service and support.

The Online Services report, which also sells for $595, compared Google with eBay, MSN.com, MyPoints.com, Netscape, and Yahoo!. The Consumer Software report, which is $495, looked at Symantec, Adobe, Intuit, McAfee, and Microsoft.