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IPad owners a 'selfish elite'
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IPad owners a 'selfish elite'

by Iain Thomson  on Jul 28, 2010
Tags: ipad | likely | owners | cent | critics | per

Critics of the Apple tablet, meanwhile, shun conformity and value self-direction, study finds.

A study of 20,000 US consumers has shown some interesting personality traits in those who love or loathe the iPad.

The iPad Opinion Pro?le from consumer research firm MyType suggests that iPad owners are more than six times as likely to be wealthy, highly educated and sophisticated than non-owners. But they are also an unkind "selfish elite" not given to acts of altruism.

Contrary to the advertising, iPad owners are also less likely to be interested in the arts and music, and more in finance and business.

By contrast, iPad critics value self-direction and shun conformity, and are interested in video games, computers, electronics, science and the internet. The bulk are Linux users, followed by Mac and PC owners. IPad critics are also more likely to be atheists and childless.

"The characteristics of a product's early adopters define its image, or at least make a strong statement about how the product is perceived," said MyType in a blog post.

"The results of the profile suggest that the tablet computer is seen more as a power tool for elites than as the newest gadget for technology geeks."

IPad owners are twice as likely to be in their 40s than non-owners, and Apple seems to be having problems with the youth market since teenagers are four times as likely to criticise the device than 40 year-olds, the data shows.

Some 54 per cent of those surveyed have no interest in getting an iPad, while 11 per cent described it as 'silly' and six per cent had not heard of it, the latter described in the report as having "kind and humble" personalities. One in 20 respondents are waiting for the next model.

Ethnic minorities are also far more aware of the iPad. Korean and Chinese Americans are eight and five times more likely to be aware of the device than natives, and African and Middle Easterners twice as likely.

"My God! I thought I'd inadvertently wondered into an online dating service.. I like rock music and long walks on the beach. And I really dig Windows 7. Sorry guys, you were saying?:d"
 
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Comments: 3
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.
curlz
Jul 28, 2010 8:50 PM
Selfish, wealthy, music and arts ignorant elite, I don't know about that.
I own a 64gb 3g iPad I am not wealthy, I am on a community committee that draws many unpaid hours a month.
I am a soft touch for helping the small business owner develop web sites.

I am not likely to ever be described as a conformist, I am often described as a gadget collector of true geek status.

The difference in me to a geek wielding a home made tablet running on linux is I'd rather pull an iPad out of the box to work with in an hour so that I can spend more time on real geek work like making my JavaScript run sweet.

I can run my business from a coffee shop now! I love it.


Comment made about the PC Authority article:
IPad owners a 'selfish elite'?
Critics of the Apple tablet, meanwhile, shun conformity and value self-direction, study finds.

What do you think? Join the discussion.
OldTom
Jul 28, 2010 9:08 PM
I bought a 64gb Wifi iPad 10 days ago and I thinks its brilliant. I have ebooks (i'ts main App for me), music, photos and a couple of games on it but have found it great for looking at the Web and ABC24 and of all my purchases over the past year or so this one is a stand out.

I am not wealthy (or poor either), I am an atheist, have children, I am a PC game player, I'm over 60, I am a musician but I'm also into finance, science and and I am an early adopter of good gadgets. I am not in any way a conformist and give of my time and money to good causes. So much for surveys.

I do
Slatts
Jul 28, 2010 9:15 PM
My God!

I thought I'd inadvertently wondered into an online dating service..

I like rock music and long walks on the beach. And I really dig Windows 7.

Sorry guys, you were saying?:d

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