1. A device performance monitor to which a data storage device of a first model is coupled, the data storage device including a plurality of feedback and measurement mechanisms which normalize quantitative values of the data storage device to device-specific standards for the data storage device by scaling the quantitative values to a set of values which are common to the data storage device and adjusted to a form which is consistent across different data storage devices, the device performance monitor comprising: means for receiving a plurality of normalized values from the mechanisms during operation of the data storage device; means for generating one or more qualitative values from one or more received normalized quantitative values; and means for evaluating the one or more qualitative values against corresponding baseline performance values established for the first model.