Move Over TV, Laptops Are Top Dogs in Australian Homes
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
* 61% of those surveyed would rather give up TV set for a week than computer
* 44% of 16-29 year olds think it socially acceptable to use email, IM or social media to communicate with someone in same room
* 66% think e-cards are okay at Christmas but not for a partner or spouse
SYDNEY, December 3, 2010 –More Australians would give up their TVs before they’d let go of their laptops, according to a recent survey* commissioned by Intel.
Sixty one per cent of respondents said they would rather do without a TV set for a week, while only 31 per cent would prioritise their TVs. Among 16-29 year olds with laptops the figure was higher, with 79 per cent saying they would rather give up their TV set for a week.
The survey also found Australians wish they could access more services online, including voting and virtually visiting the doctor. Sixty seven per cent of respondents said they wish they could vote online. Other popular responses included taking an eye test (25%), visiting the doctor (28%) and getting a passport online (41%).
According to Kate Burleigh, national marketing manager for Intel Australia, the results bear out a shift in our computing habits and the relationship we have with our technology.
“Not so long ago a laptop was considered a luxury purchase. Now notebooks account for four out of five home computers sold. With this shift to mobile, we’re moving from one computer per household to one per person and the Personal Computer is becoming even more personal,” Ms Burleigh said.
Intel’s survey gives a snapshot of how Australians use their PCs, with ‘searching for information’, ‘keeping in touch with family and friends’ and ‘on-line banking and bill payments’ the top rated uses.
The research also investigated what Australians think is acceptable online behaviour. For example, younger respondents were more accepting of using on-line tools to communicate with someone in the same room (44% among 16-29 yr olds vs 22% of 45-59 yr olds), but still less than half believe it is socially acceptable.
Just in time for Christmas, 66 per cent of respondents said it is okay to send on-line e-cards but they did not give the practice ‘carte-blanche’. The majority said e-cards were acceptable for colleagues or business contacts but fewer thought them suitable for a spouse or family member.
Meanwhile, 40 per cent of respondents felt it was acceptable to announce a wedding online. When asked about actual proposals of marriage, a surprising nine per cent saw this as an acceptable online activity.
Forty nine per cent of those surveyed use a notebook computer rather than a desktop at home. Younger computer users were almost twice as likely to use a notebook than older respondents (60 per cent of respondents aged 16-29 vs 33 per cent among those 45-59 years).
Intel has created a Web-site to help make choosing a new PC easier. The Intel Learning Centre is designed to help people refresh their memories on the PC basics, and bring themselves up to date with the latest terminology, before they head out to their local retailer.
The Intel Learning Centre is available at: www.intel.com.au/learningcentre.
* The online survey, by Galaxy Research, was completed in October 2010 and included 417 respondents across Australia aged between 16 and 59 years.
About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.