 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group 2000 Survey Results Ash Nallawalla ash@melbpc.org.au |
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There was an unprecedented response to our 2000 PC Update survey. About 1200 people responded, but not everybody answered all questions, so some of the totals may not add up. Thank you all for your cooperation. Some people sent multiple responses, sometimes in the same session and sometimes at different times.
Now on to the raw results, which are shown by the ranking of the answers. Where applicable, the ranking of an identical question in 1999 is shown at the right in parentheses. If the option was not asked in 1999, it is shown as (x).
Membership
Q: How did you find out about the Melbourne PC User Group (Melb PC)?
| Relative/Friend/Colleague = 600 (1) PC Update = 86 (2) Other = 84 (3) Radio show = 84 (6) Stand at PC Show = 80 (4) BBS = 52 (7) Newspaper article = 52 (5) Computer swap meet = 48 (6) Other magazine = 29 (10) Educational institution = 15 (9) Advertisement = 13 (8) PC sales outlet = 9 (12) Monthly meeting = 7 (15) Training course = 5 (14) Home page = 3 (15) SIG meeting = 3 (12) Hardware manufacturer = 1 (11) TV show = 1 (16) Software manufacturer = 0 (13) Comment: Last year, only 341 respondents chose the "Relative/Friend/Colleague" option. |
Q: What were the original reasons for you to join Melb PC? (Tick all that apply)
| To learn/get help = 762 (x) Internet service = 564 (1) PC Update 459 (4) BBS = 428 (2) Training courses = 191 (8) Monthly meeting = 154 (6) SIG meeting = 142 (7) Camaraderie = 126 (5) Other = 45 (3) Gift = 18 (9) Bundled with PC = 7 (10) Comment: In 1999 we only allowed one selection, being the primary reason. Last year, there was no "learn/get help" option, which featured heavily in the "Other" responses. This year, there are some "to help others" responses in the "Other" category, which shows that some members like to give unto others. |
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Q: Today, what are the reasons for you to REMAIN a member of Melb PC? (Tick all that apply)
| Internet service = 1050 (1) PC Update = 841 (2) To learn/get help = 672 (x) Camaraderie = 200 (4) Training courses = 179 (6) BBS = 173 (6) Monthly meeting = 153 (5) Other = 62 (3) Comment: In 1999, there was no "To learn/get help" option, which featured heavily in the "Other" responses. |
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Q: How would you describe your general computing proficiency (as concerns your personal computing needs, not as compared to others)?
| Intermediate = 550 (1) Advanced = 464 (2) Expert = 108 (3) Beginner = 55 (4) Comment: No change. Q: Years since you first joined Melb PC (Say 1 if less than 1) 4-6 years = 386 (2) 1-3 years = 362 (1) 7-9 years = 133 (3) 10-12 years = 120 (4) 13-15 years = 37 (5) 16-18 years = 6 (6) Comment: The largest single group of respondents appears to be Year 4 members. |
Q: How does the current user group membership fee (not Internet service) represent value for money?
| Good = 445 (1) Very good = 363 (2) Excellent = 171 (3) Fair = 160 (4) Poor = 26 (5) Comment: You could spend more than $55 for a family meal in an average eatery. Some comments came from those who are only interested in the Internet service and resent paying for services that do not interest them. |
Q: How does the current Internet service fee represent value for money?
| Very good = 403 (2) Excellent = 372 (1) Good = 249 (3) Fair = 86 (4) Poor = 23 (5) Comment: The emergence of "free" Internet providers and faster alternatives has reduced our attractiveness. Some of those who joined us purely for the Internet service see the core membership fee as a burden. |
Q: Are you aware that if you recommend a NEW member to join the group, your membership period is extended by one month?
| Yes = 887 No = 279 Comment: The open secret is to ensure that the new member supplies your membership number as the Referrer on the application form. |
Q: Will you renew your membership?
| Yes = 1047 (1) Don't know = 95 (2) No = 19 (3) Comment: Our membership data suggests that the total membership has been static at about 10,700 for the past year. |
Q: Which Melb PC services have you used IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (Tick all that apply)
| Internet service = 1002 (1) BBS files = 281 (2) Dial help = 271 (3) SIG meetings = 219 (5) Monthly meetings = 212 (4) Training courses = 87 (9) Shareware from office = 69 (8) First Aid line = 57 (7) Shareware at monthly meeting = 36 (11) BBS messaging = 30 (6) Book library = 26 (12) Blank floppy disk sales = 20 (10) |
Q: How often (days in a year) are you likely to visit Melb PC's premises in Dorcas St?
| Mean = 3 days (2 days) |
Q: To help us plan the best times for training courses please indicate all of the times that are convenient for you?
| Week nights = 565 (1) Saturday = 451 (2) Week days = 390 (4) Sunday = 361 (3) None = 121 (5) |
Q: Which of the following training courses would you attend at Melb PC?
| Internet = 387 (1) Not interested = 244 (3) Database = 244 (4) Windows 98 = 243 (2) Personal finance = 207 (5) Graphics = 206 (7) Linux = 200 (x) Windows 2000 = 181 (x) Spreadsheet = 177 (5) Word processing = 151 (10) Other = 124 (8) Virus protection = 119 (6) Business finance = 116 (12) C++ = 101 (15) Windows 95 = 73 (11) Personal productivity = 67 (13) Windows NT = 63 (9) Computer basics = 52 (16) Unix = 47 (14) BBS = 34 (14) MS-DOS = 22 (17) OS/2 = 12 (18) Windows 3.x = 3 (19) |
Q: Do you consider our prices for training courses:
| Affordable = 663 (1) Slightly out of reach = 217 (3) Easily affordable = 85 (2) Way out of reach = 55 (4) |
Q: Have you ever purchased goods or services over the Internet?
| Yes: 724 (1) No: 435 (2) Comment: Last year the Yes:No ratio was 53:47%, so it is clear that more members trust the medium now or that it has become easier to buy products or services that they need. |
Q: Do you pay bills over the Internet?
| No = 629 Yes = 532 Comment: Those who are happy to buy over the Net should check out the bill-paying opportunities too. It is a major time-saver. |
Q: Do you trade shares over the Internet?
| No = 868 Yes = 283 |
Q: If Melb PC were to buy or rent additional premises (to conduct meetings) in the suburbs, which localities suit you? (Check all that apply)
| South-East = 444 (1) East = 382 (2) South = 160 (3) North-East = 150 (4) North = 132 (5) North-West = 113 (7) West = 97 (6) South-West = 37 (8) Comment: This question is very pertinent to our Committee, as our Dorcas St lease expires approximately one year from now. |
Q: What is your age? (Remember, this is an anonymous survey)
| Mean = 53 years (51 years) 45-55 = 326 (1) 56-66 = 301 (2) 34-44 = 203 (4) 67-77 = 191 (3) 23-33 = 53 (6) 12-22 = 34 (5) 78-88 = 21 (7) |
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Q: What is your sex?
| Male = 1027 Female 124 Comment: A couple of people tried to suggest that "gender" is the correct term. I believe that it is a grammatical term. |
Q: Family pre-tax income in $000
| Mean = $62,000 ($60,000) |
Q: In which industry do you work now?
| Private sector = 520 Retired = 393 Government = 128 None/Unemployed = 44 Student = 41 |
Q: Approximately, how many people work in your organisation at all locations?
| Mean = 4351 (4348) |
PC Update
Q: How many people (including yourself) read your copy of PC Update?
| Mean = 2 (2) |
Q: Importance of PC Update to you as a component of Melb PC membership, namely, was it the main or secondary reason to join?
| Secondary reason = 946 (1) Primary reason = 189 (2) |
Q: When do you discard each issue of PC Update?
| Never = 438 (1) Undefined period = 428 (2) When read = 100 (3) Within 6 months = 94 (4) Within 3 months = 83 (5) Unread = 10 (6) |
Q: What percentage of pages do you usually read?
| Mean = 67% (72%) |
Q: Is the quality of the layout of text, columns, use of colour, and images?
| Improving = 660 The same = 420 Declining = 31 |
Q: Are the fonts:
| Acceptable = 798 (1) Just right = 297 (2) Too small = 29 (3) Comment: The number of "Acceptable" responses has increased by a third, and the "Just right" responses have decreased accordingly. |
Q: Is the quality of editing:
| The same = 661 Improving = 412 Declining = 27 |
Q: Likelihood of a PC Update review to influence your purchase decision compared to reviews in commercial publications:
| More likely = 580 (1) Very likely = 272 (2) Don't know = 136 (x) Unlikely = 94 (4) Less likely = 46 (3) |
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Q: Likelihood of buying from a PC Update advertiser, compared to a non-advertiser, assuming everything else is identical:
| More likely = 627 (1) Very likely = 219 (3) Don't know = 156 (2) Unlikely = 79 (4) |
Q: Check all other Australian computer magazines you read regularly, that is, two out of three issues.
| Age (Green Guide) = 800 Age (Tuesday) = 545 Australian Personal Computer = 283 PC User = 270 Herald-Sun (Connect) = 225 PC @uthority = 172 The Australian (Tuesday) = 143 PC World = 133 PC Magazine = 114 Communique = 106 Comment: I have only shown the "Top Ten" above. The other titles had much lower counts. |
Coverage Desired
Some respondents chided me for not offering a "Same" option this
year. I omitted it because in previous surveys, many people chose "Same" even though the topic had
never been offered before. Similarly, this year many questions have been answered as "More", so
Gary and I will have to rely on the "Less" and "None" responses to get a sanity check. Therefore, I
will show the 1999 counts instead of the rankings, which may also serve to show the difficulty with
offering a "Same" choice.
Q: Business Computing
| Same = N/A (761) More = 387 (183) Less = 334 (164) None = 204 (27) Comment: The significant increase in the "None" responses suggests that we have very little business coverage, hence in 1999 there were so many "Same" responses. |
Q: Home Office
| Same = N/A (544) More = 830 (539) Less = 121 (47) None = 47 (18) |
Q: BBS
| Same = N/A (586) More = 303 (212) Less = 296 (203) None = 267 (124) |
Q: Internet - Web authoring
| Same = N/A (568) More = 534 (344) Less = 256 (183) None = 145 (33) |
Q: Internet - Web surfing
| More = 753 (530) Same = N/A (524) Less = 145 (76) None = 43 (10) |
Q: Internet - How To
| More = 849 (622) Same = N/A (427) Less = 110 (81) None = 29 (19) |
Q: Computer Telephony Integration
| Same = N/A (557) More = 561 (399) Less = 198 (118) None = 134 (48) Comment: We had not published a CTI-themed special in 1999, so the changed ranking is interesting. |
Q: Education
| Same = N/A (590) More = 602 (373) Less = 185 (134) None = 113 (35) |
Q: Games
| Same = N/A (406) Less = 363 (376) None = 329 (201) More = 201 (139) Comment: Games enthusiasts are in a minority, but we try to cater to them from time to time. |
Q: Graphics
| Same = N/A (698) More = 512 (245) Less = 265 (164) None = 101 (23) |
Q: Utilities
| Same = N/A (528) More = 805 (574) Less = 79 (28) None = 28 (5) Comment: A resounding endorsement for Utilities! |
Q: Multimedia
| Same = N/A (670) More = 591 (354) Less = 210 (87) None = 53 (14) |
Q: Windows 9x or ME
| Same = N/A (564) More = 696 (505) Less = 108 (43) None = 75 (17) |
Q: Windows NT or 2000
| Same = N/A (471) More = 407 (217) Less = 228 (236) None = 185 (170) |
Q: Unix/Linux/*ix
| Same = N/A (376) More = 344 (280) None = 296 (235) Less = 187 (209) Comment: Our members are getting more polarised. |
Q: BeOS
| Same = N/A (404) None = 470 (385) Less = 191 (209) More = 88 (59) |
Q: Programming
| Same = N/A (498) More = 323 (214) Less = 250 (265) None = 247 (134) |
Q: PC hardware
| More = 814 (629) Same = N/A (465) Less = 66 (25) None = 25 (7) |
Q: PC accessories
| More = 813 (576) Same = N/A (515) Less = 61 (20) None = 20 (5) |
Q: Laptops
| Same = N/A (580) More = 339 (210) Less = 266 (209) None = 196 (107) |
Q: Palmtops
| Same = N/A (460) None = 287 (209) Less = 255 (275) More = 242 (169) Comment: Although our readers are almost evenly split about these fiddly little devices, if you are interested in attending a proposed Palm SIG (specifically the Palm OS platform), contact janicew@linx.com.au. |
Q: New product news
| More = 853 (627) Same = N/A (471) Less = 45 (18) None = 28 (7) |
Q: Melb PC news
| Same = N/A (778) More = 738 (306) Less = 123 (47) None = 21 (2) |
Q: Committee minutes
| Same = N/A (653) Less = 297 (214) More = 285 (146) None = 230 (119) Comment: The Committee minutes are available on our Web site. |
Home PC and
Peripherals
Q: List all operating systems used on your home PCs: (Tick all that
apply)
| Windows 98 = 824 (2) Windows 95 = 451 (1) DOS = 292 (9) DOS+Windows 3.x = 155 (3) Linux = 111 (5) Windows NT = 72 (4) Windows ME = 50 (x) OS/2 = 22 (6) Macintosh = 20 (7) Don't know = 5 (10) Windows CE = N/A (8) Comment: In 1999, readers were asked to pick only one primary OS. |
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Q: What is the speed of your main modem in bits per second?
| 56,000 V.90 = 591 (1) 56,000 K56Flex = 190 (4) 33,600 = 173 (2) 28,800 = 94 (3) Don't know = 26 (7) 56,000 X2 = 16 (6) Cable - Telstra = 8 (9) Cable - Optus = 7 (x) 14,400 or less = 6 (5) ISDN modem = 1 (10) No modem/Don't use = 1 (8) |
Q: Which of the following computer peripherals you own? (Tick all that apply)
| The list is too long to be reproduced here, but multimedia devices are standard accessories these days and top the list. Next came ink-jet printers, followed by modems. |
Q: Which of the following do you intend to buy in the next 6 months? (Tick all that apply)
| At the top of the shopping list are more memory, a digital camera and CD-Rewritable drive. |
Q: In the past 12 months, how much did you spend on hardware, including consumables?
| $0-$4999 = 351 (1) $5000-$9999 = 33 (2) $10,000-$14,999 = 11 (3) $15,000-$24,999 = 11 (x) $25,000 and above = 5 (x) Comment: I'd like to see some of the pricier home setups. |
Q: In the past 12 months, how much did you spend on software?
| $0-$4999 = 268 (1) $5000-9999 = 15 (2) $10,000 or more = 4 (3) |
Work Environment
Q: Where does your organisation buy its desktop computers?
| Direct vendor = 183 (1) Don't know = 149 (2) PC reseller = 111 (3) Value-added reseller = 60 (4) System integrator = 57 (5) Other = 35 (6) Swap meet = 22 (7) Department store = 5 (8) Comment: Same ranking as in 1999. |
Q: Where does your organisation buy its network servers?
| Don't know = 212 (1) Direct vendor = 144 (2) PC reseller = 57 (3) System integrator = 48 (4) Value-added reseller = 46 (5) Other 39 (x) Department store = N/A (6) Swap meet = 5 (7) Comment: Same ranking as in 1999. |
Q: Where does your organisation mainly buy its PC software?
| Don't know = 222 (1) Value-added reseller = 79 (3) PC reseller = 76 (2) System integrator = 72 (4) Other = 56 (7) Mail order = 48 (5) Department store = 44 (6) Swap meet = 12 (8) Comment: Nearly the same ranking as in 1999. |
Q: What is your level of influence over computing purchases at work?
| None, N/A = 228 (1) Decide = 106 (2) Suggest = 106 (3) Approve = 90 (5) Recommend = 85 (4) |
Q: What is the annual value of the PC-related hardware expenditure that you influence?
| Mean = $81,000 |
Q: What is the annual value of the PC-related software expenditure that you influence?
| Mean = $38,000 |
Q: How much will your organisation spend on computing goods and services over the next fiscal year?
| Mean = $3,836,000 |
Reprinted from the June 2001 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
