Overall customer satisfaction within the computer industry fell slightly for the second consecutive year, according to newly published data from the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). But while PC makers far and wide are struggling to improve, Apple seems to be moving in the opposite direction with a score of 85 on a scale from zero to 100.

Not only is this a new all-time high for the industry, the roughly 8 percent year-on year leap puts 10 points between Apple and its nearest rival. The score is attributed to the success the company has had with its iPod, iPhone and Mac lines, but it is also pointed out that dissatisfaction with Windows Vista might have hurt the scores for Apple's rivals.

HP, Gateway and Compaq all fell by 4 percent, with second-place Dell being the only exception posting a 1.4 percent gain to 75. Customer satisfaction is a hot-button issue these days, and if these latest figures are anything to go by, Apple has been doing a good job in this regard for some time now - their increasing market share and revenue certainly seem to reflect this notion. They are not without their flaws, though, and the recent MobileMe debacle is proof of that.