A national survey of 1,200 consumers conducted by Solutions Research Group found that 3 out of 4 surveyed Americans wanted a new gadget this holiday season. The rankings went a little something like this:
- HDTV (35%)
- Windows-based notebook (20%)
- Digital camera (17%)
- Windows-based desktop computer
- GPS car navigation
- Cellphone
- Digital video camera
- Nintendo Wii
- Sony PS3
- HD DVD or Blu-ray player
So where's Apple, the big bad daddy of consumer electronics? Well, their best showing was the MacBook with an 11 ranking followed by the iPhone at number 15. Pretty good when you consider the level of brand awareness this represents in a field of otherwise unspecified laptops and cellphones. In fact, 1-in-6 consumers are hoping for some type of Apple gear under the Chanukazaa tree this season.
posted Oct 10th 2007 at 9:42AM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Carbonize @ Oct 10th 2007 9:48AM
Thats kind of a stupid thing to say. People who prefer macs have no choice but to buy Apple or am I wrong and Apple now lets other companies manufacture Macs ?
As for the iPhone being up there it's only just been released so of course a lot of people are aware of it. Even more so given the hype that Apple and certain "blogs" gave it.
Maybe they should do the same survey in Europe and see the difference. That and 1,200 is hardly a decent sized sample.
lassi @ Oct 10th 2007 11:04AM
point being maybe also that if the iphone is a seperate option, people are going to choose it.
a better way to survey would have been to ask if you want a cellphone, and then ask if you want a nokia,samsung,motorola or apple.. not if you want a cellphone or an iphone.
Dave @ Oct 10th 2007 1:05PM
N=1200 gives you a margin of error of less than 3%. It's called statistics, AND IT WORKS. Look it up.
Carbonize @ Oct 10th 2007 1:09PM
Questioning 1,200 people (assuming they were questioned and not just given a list of things to choose from) will hardly give you an accurate picture of what a population of billions is thinking now will it. Might of well just gone down the nearest bar and asked the people in there.
- Anyway 98.8% of statistics are made up.
Dave @ Oct 10th 2007 1:54PM
No, seriously, look it up. Google "sample size". Even if you don't understand the math, it still works.
Carbonize @ Oct 10th 2007 2:29PM
Yes stand outside an Apple shop and ask everybody who comes out what they would like. Yup that would be an accurate picture of the countries opinions. As others have stated polls like this don't mean jack.
brian @ Oct 10th 2007 3:04PM
I hate people that have no idea of statistics come out an immediately claim a poll is inaccurate because they don't agree with it. Statistics is fairly well proven, and if done correctly will result in fairly accurate results.
Evan @ Oct 10th 2007 3:01PM
Wording of the question can have a much larger impact than sample size. This question is poor, because Apple products are given their own category while other products are not. As said above, they should ask people if they want a cell phone, and then ask people the brand.
Besides, a margin of error of less than 3% just means that, if you were to ask every human living in the U.S. that question, their answers would be within 3% of the poll's result. It doesn't mean people are actually going to go out of buy those items.
rob @ Oct 10th 2007 5:07PM
there's not enough information in the article about the survey conducted to conclude either way if the survey produces robust results. thus, debate on the topic of the quality of the survey results is pointless.
having said that, i think the survey does point to some strong evidence that AT LEAST 411.6 people [1200 x 35% x (1-2%)] have no clue about why they're getting an HDTV besides. (The number assumes that the HD set top box question was specifically asked to the HDTV respondents, which from the text is a questionable assumption.)
rob @ Oct 10th 2007 5:09PM
sorry for the sentence fragment. i meant:
"...have no clue about why they're getting an HDTV besides the feeling that they have to get one because it's big and everyone else is getting one."
Totalfixation @ Oct 10th 2007 9:49AM
Wow, I can almost say I have everything on the top 10 list that I wanted. didn't care for the PS3. Maybe I'll get a new camera for this Year.
FrankTheCrank @ Oct 10th 2007 10:29AM
The XBOX 360 got pwned!!! HAHAHA...
It didn't even rank.
Totalfixation @ Oct 10th 2007 10:33AM
How can you say they got pawned? is it possible that maybe everyone who wanted an Xbox already has one? so its not big on the want list? ;)
Shibathedog @ Oct 10th 2007 1:09PM
Yeah, normally I would find a comment like that to be ignorant, but it holds a lot of water considering it did come out wayyy before the other consoles.
Personally I want a new graphics card, hopefully the GeForce 9s are out by Christmas :D
Nathan @ Oct 11th 2007 9:51PM
They don't want them for Christmas because they already bought them to play Halo 3. As if you'd wait till Christmas.
Absojeep @ Oct 12th 2007 5:27PM
Frank,
Except for the fact that more Wii's have been sold than 360's - and it's still on the list..
Chris @ Oct 10th 2007 9:51AM
Spin that story, you spin it good.
I'm sure Apple have mailed your pay slips for October.
aaron @ Oct 10th 2007 10:24AM
No fricken joke!! HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU!? I thought you guys were starting to figure this out...this is laughable
ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM ENGADGET = APPLE BIAS FANBOYISM
John M @ Oct 10th 2007 12:56PM
Its just crazy....
Enapple
Applegadget
Something to that effect....
You guys are seriously pathetic
Stop being biased already to your sugar daddy apple
Panq @ Oct 10th 2007 3:58PM
Yeah... I also found it humourous that Engadget decided to put a positive spin on 83.33% of the sample not wanting an iPhone...
coplice @ Oct 10th 2007 9:53AM
maybe able isnt in top10 because there is more than 110 million ipod sold so there is a lot less ppl that want apple product because:
a: they already have an ipod
b: they now know apple isnt that great, itunes really suck, its not user friendly
c: its cost a lot and you dont get much more
am surprised that blu-ray/hd dvd player is so high
coplice @ Oct 10th 2007 9:56AM
apple*
maximus @ Oct 10th 2007 9:57AM
Funny how even though not a single Apple product was in the top ten they twisted it to mention them. Ahwell I don't want to start one of these bloody fanboy wars. Although number 11 spot is prety good since they are the sole sellers of that product, plus they will sell truck loads of iPods at Christmas. Good work Apple.
blisster @ Oct 10th 2007 10:21AM
Interesting that you didn't find the time to actually follow the Informationweek.com link and RTFA. Engadget was merely quoting the source, contrary to all the fanboi bashing that's going on.
If you want to get pissy about someone trotting Apple out on a pedestal, at least focus your hate towards the right source (It was linked above but I'll go ahead and add it for good measure):
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=F1VWJXSZUZ4WMQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN?articleID=202400758
JJV @ Oct 10th 2007 10:56AM
I agree. And Information Week was just stating that it was very high for one particular product from a particular brand, as opposed to "Windows-based Notebook" Just as Sony and Nintendo made it on to the list. They were stating the number 3 (Bronze). They do, do that at events regarding placement. So Engadget and Information Week were stating who took home the bronze medal.
Before you start bashing Engadget take the time to actually READ THE STORY. (and yes i know where the caps lock key is)
joewhat @ Oct 10th 2007 9:55AM
It would be really interesting to know how much and in what currency (iPhones?) engadget gets paid for this type of informative and unbiased stories... anyone knows where to find out?
Jonathan Bergeron @ Oct 10th 2007 9:57AM
Why do you always have to mention Apple, even when they have nothing to do with the story? Why don't you give kudos to Sony and Nintendo for having better brand awareness than Apple?
Thomas Ricker @ Oct 10th 2007 10:03AM
@Jonathan Bergeron,
Did you even read the story we linked to? There's an entire paragraph dedicated to a discussion of just Apple products.
Thomas
The Truth Beacon @ Oct 10th 2007 10:12AM
@ Thomas Ricker:
You make it sound as if the primary focus of the survey was to discover Apple's ranking in the consumer wish list. In reality, the small paragraph which was primarily about apple was just another 'mention it in passing' descriptor of popular market products. It was no more embellished than the rest of the information including the 'paragraph' about the Wii...
-The Truth Beacon
Ricardo @ Oct 10th 2007 11:48AM
why tag this apple while they aren't on the Top-10 ?
ridiculous....
John @ Oct 10th 2007 3:17PM
Oh, my god. The article had a pointless Apple slant, JUST LIKE YOU! You guys should hook up.
Derbeste @ Oct 11th 2007 12:06PM
Sorry, Thomas...
But Truth Beacon just handed you your ass on a silver platter.
Rex @ Oct 10th 2007 9:59AM
What happened to reporting on Gadgets? Yea, I know you lifted the Apple part from info week, but really, if anything this should show that 5 out of 6 don't want ANY apple product, and even more don't want an iPhone, even if it's free.
What should that tell you? Well, very, very, very few people in the world care about the next rumor of a potential hack for the iPhone. So, can we start reporting real Gadget news again? Or maybe you can start an "www.gadgetapple.com" site, instead of forcing us to try and find that slow "apple-free" link.
JJV @ Oct 10th 2007 2:28PM
WILL EVERYBODY WHO DOESNT LIKE APPLE IN THE NEWS STOP COMMENTING ON EVERY SINGLE APPLE ARTICLE!!! really, if you dont like apple then stop wasting yours and everybody else's time by making useless comments and whining about how engadget reports on technology news. too bad for you if apple has been releasing products and making ranking lists! Sheesh just scroll on by and stop wasting the time and the page space of those of us who are mature enough to recognize technological news and to be able to read something that has a companies name on it. Maybe Engadget should have a restriction for those who can't handle the name of any company and blocks you from seeing the articles with actual corporation names on them. Guess what you'll get then ?? almost no articles at all. So stay quiet and stop wasting the people, who can handle articles that recognize companies for making good products and be highly ranked on consumer lists, time!
Go cry somewhere else and stop making a mockery of Engadget.
SJGMoney @ Oct 10th 2007 9:59AM
You act as if the no one is aware of the Ipod name. Christ, it's become the generic name for mp3 players, might as well be Kleenex. Yet it doesn't appear on the top 10 list. THAT is your headline and you missed it.
paul @ Oct 10th 2007 9:59AM
crapple.
Brett Jensen @ Oct 10th 2007 9:59AM
mmmm apples.....
Dull @ Oct 10th 2007 10:01AM
It's hard to enjoy an apple, if you are missing your two front teeth.
strider_mt2k @ Oct 10th 2007 11:07AM
I can't believe two front teeth got edged out this year.
Probably because Engadget is a tool of the American Dental Association.
ADA FANBOIS! ADA FANBOIS!
lolec @ Oct 10th 2007 10:01AM
Agree, very biased article. Apple is doing well NEWS, apple isnt doing well NEWS, if you are reporting about the survey I found more interesting to see HDDVD and bluray there, also im curious, does Xbox360 apear, and Ps2?
BoZs13 @ Oct 10th 2007 10:03AM
is that you code?
john @ Oct 10th 2007 10:04AM
My wishlist... a new Microsoft Vista PC and the Zune 80 just recently announced.
shamowfski @ Oct 10th 2007 10:11AM
If you guys don't want to read a post about Apple, don't read it. Quit whining.
something @ Oct 10th 2007 10:44AM
@shamowfski
That's point, this ISN'T a post about Apple!
shamowfski @ Oct 10th 2007 11:09AM
@something
It's tagged Apple, and has apple in the headline, seems to be about apple to me.
Anytime Engadget posts anything about apple all of you apple haters come in and bitch about how much engadget loves apple. Go to a different site then. There are more than 1 gadget sites on the web. Posted from an XPS btw.
something @ Oct 10th 2007 11:42AM
Ok, the Engadget post was about Apple but the STORY was not... or did you skip reading the source and instead instantly go to "fanboy mode"?
Accourding to your logic, they could post a story about a soldier dying in Irag, title it "Soldier dies not wearing an ipod", tag it "Apple", and link it to a story that doesn't mention anything Apple related and it would be an "Apple Post".
Chris @ Oct 10th 2007 11:44AM
The point is that they make all articles about Apple even if they have to twist around backwards to do it.
Le Master @ Oct 10th 2007 2:26PM
@Something
"Soldier dies not wearing iPod"
I'm LAWLING my ass off right now.
HineyWipe @ Oct 10th 2007 10:12AM
Rule #1: Never trust the information or service from a company that's name uses the word "Solutions".
Rule #2: All surveys are biased or skewed. Period.
Rule #3: Rules #1 & 2 are correct. Always.
:)
HineyWipe @ Oct 10th 2007 10:14AM
Oh, and where is any reference to Xbox console (Wii I can understand, but no mention of Xbox?). And I know more people (not Apple-fanboys) that want an iPod or MacBookPro than those that want a PC laptop. (those that want a windows notebook, do not want Vista on it).