Mobile PCs Walk the Line Between Stay at Homes and Road Warriors, According to MetaFacts 2006 Mobile PC Profile Report

WebKnowHow
Friday, December 8, 2006; 03:07 AM

Most mobile PCs, although portable, are used in only two locations, and are used very differently than desktop PCs, according to the 2006 Mobile PC Profile Report from MetaFacts, Inc. Most employer-owned mobile PCs stay in the workplace, although when mobilized, are often used in hotels, home offices and client locations. Home-owned mobile PCs spend more time outside the home than work mobile PCs do outside the workplace. Besides various rooms of the home, such as adult bedrooms, living rooms and home offices, home-owned mobile PCs are used twice as often as work mobile PCs in a school, at the library, in a cybercafé, or at a restaurant.

“Notebook and tablet PCs are bought for the promise of portability and freedom, yet only get used in a couple types of locations,” said Dan Ness, Principal Analyst at MetaFacts. “Even though Mobile PCs are more powerful and lighter than ever, Americans seek the convenience of always on and always connected. Also, someone you see using a notebook in public is probably using their home, not work, PC.”

Mobile PCs also have some surprisingly different uses than desktops. Mobile PCs are used three times more often than desktops for online betting, and two times more often to create presentations, write blogs, access community/social networking groups like Friendster or LinkedIn, and watch DVDs. Work mobile PCs are more likely to be used for CAD/CAM design. Report results also indicate that mobile PCs are used more by the 18-34 group than among the 55+ group.

“Mobile PC users are highly sought by both online and brick-and-mortar retailers, because they’re more active buyers than desktop users,” said Dan Ness, Principal Analyst at MetaFacts. “Also, mobile PC users shop at different locations. They’re twice as often as desktop PC users to have recently shopped or purchased in person at an Apple or Sony store, and online from BJ's, CompUSA, Fry's Electronics, Apple, Staples, Radio Shack, Office Depot, Borders, Dell, or Costco.”

Other findings in the Mobile PC Profile Report involve consumer electronics use. “Mobile PC users enjoy their nomadic lifestyle, being twice as likely as desktop PC users to be using a handheld GPS, Apple iPod, other portable MP3 player or digital camcorder,” said Ness.

In addition to the Mobile PC Profile Report, MetaFacts has recently produced the Workplace PC Brand Profile Report, which focuses on PCs used in the workplace, and the Home PC Brand Profile Report, which profiles home PC use. These reports are part of a series of summary reports on specific topics based on the results of the MetaFacts 2006 Technology User Profile (TUP) study, which reveal the changing patterns of technology adoption and use in American households and businesses. Companies can also subscribe to the TUP Full Edition to receive complete survey results. Those new to the information provided in TUP can sign up at www.metafacts.com for complimentary TUPdates, which give insights on topics and findings in the full Technology User Profile. Finally, companies who need to delve further into findings can engage MetaFacts for a TUP Custom Re-Contact Study that further probes TUP respondents on issues relative to their specific industry, markets, and products.

MetaFacts, Inc. is a national market research firm focusing exclusively on the technology industries. MetaFacts' Technology User Profile survey is the longest-running, large-scale comprehensive study of its kind, conducted continuously since 1983. The detailed results are widely recognized as a primary marketing resource for Fortune 1000 companies providing consumer-oriented technology products and services, such as PCs, printers, peripherals, mobile devices, and related services and products. For more information, contact MetaFacts at 1-760-635-4300, [email protected], or www.metafacts.com.