In its June 2006 issue, Consumer Reports had Apple at the top spot for free tech support.

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 20,000 subscribers with computer trouble and asked how they solved problems with and without manufacturer’s help. Consumer Reports survey respondents noted that most manufacturers provided dismal free tech support with two exceptions: Apple’s support for desktops and laptops and IBM (Lenovo) for laptops.

Apple solved 76% of respondent's problems and IBM (Lenovo), solved 64%.

The survey also found

• Compaq free tech support solved just 38 percent of desktop and not laptop problems for survey respondents making it among the worst free tech support programs.
• Roughly 15 percent of users with problems didn’t even bother to contact the manufacturer’s support because of bad past experiences.
• Fifty percent of respondents who tried solving their own problem after free tech support failed them were successful.
• Sixty percent of those who asked family and friends for help after free support failed had their computer problems fixed.
• And, more than 90 percent of those who skipped tech support entirely and called an independent service at their own expense had their problem solved.

Source: Consumer Reports