Methods and systems for obtaining the performance characteristics of a computing product are described. Obtaining a computing product's attributes, capabilities, and features includes assessing the computing product to determine the product's attributes, capabilities, and features. Once the assessment is completed, the assessment data is recorded and stored for future applications. The assessments can be performed by the operating system through an assessment tool. Assessments can be performed on various computing products including personal computers, computer components, clusters of computers, and servers.