Channel Daily News

Hardware of choice

Tech professionals are willing to bypass their BlackBerry, set aside their cell phone and ignore their iPod, but they can’t go a day without their laptop or desktop computer, a new Web poll conducted by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) reveals.

Technology professionals were asked which tech device they would choose if they could only use one for an entire day. A laptop computer was the top choice by a wide margin, selected by 45.6 of those polled. Desktop computers were the second most popular choice at 20.7 per cent.

John Venator, president and CEO of CompTIA said the results attest to the pervasiveness of the computer in our lives and the power of today’s computing technology, whether it’s used for business productivity, personal entertainment, communications, learning, or any number of other applications.

Among other options, 8.7 per cent of poll participants said a BlackBerry wireless device would be their choice if they had only one tech tool to use in a day. Cell phones were next at seven per cent, followed by hand-held computer (six per cent), iPod (3.5 per cent), personal digital assistant (3.2 per cent), portable gaming device (1.9 per cent), MP3 player (1.7 per cent), and portable DVD player (0.4 per cent).

More than 1,900 individuals participated in the poll, conducted April 19 through May 3.

In related research, Pacific Media Associates, the large-screen displays analysts, reports that unit sales for flat panel televisions and business displays in North America rose nine per cent, but the average street price dropped nearly six per cent in June over the previous month. Their Flat Panel Display Sell-Through Tracking Service report for June also shows year-over-year unit sales rose 64 per cent, but revenues have only increased 28 per cent because the average street price is 22 per cent lower than it was in June 2005.

The Days Supply Index for LCD models smaller than 45-inches remained high, according to Rosemary Abowd, vice-president of Pacific Media. This will put additional downward pressure on prices, she said.

The 30- to 35-inch LCD segment was the most popular in June, with a 29 per cent unit market share that was fueled in part by a six per cent drop in average street price to US$1,250. On the downside, 40- to 45-inch plasma models continued to lose market share, falling six unit share points in June. This segment has experienced a 14 point decline in unit market share since last winter’s holiday season.Samsung moved past Sony to take the number one position with 22.8 per cent unit market share. In revenue share, Samsung topped Pioneer by the slimmest of margins, 21.2 per cent to 21.1 per cent. The Pioneer PRO-1130HD was the best-selling flat panel TV for the month.