That could well be so (though I'd encourage you to include citations for stuff like that -- some quick googling turned up nothing for me, and as stated I'm very much not interested in yet another Apple vs. the world flame war). But it's a needless digression; rickmb was clearly talking about the "design values" considered by the UK judge, not physical build quality which is obviously not an IP issue.

Asus' rate of laptop defects is well below apple. Does that mean they're objectively better designed? This is just more apple fanboyism masquerading as an appeal to rationality, rebuke was perfectly justified.

IMO, Asus laptops are better designed than Apple's laptop's so I don't disagree with that line of thinking. However, when you take an iPad apart they are much better designed internally than most of their competitors. Probably because most of those laptops where rushed imitations. The Nexus 7 could be the tipping point, but it's also 200$ which makes direct comparisons harder.

Anyway, prior to the iPhone Samsung was my faverate cellphone manufacture and they made some great monitors, so IMO just give them time and they will start making great tablets.