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Pew Internet & American Life Project
Gadget Ownership
Overview
In recent years the digital world has expanded far beyond the desktop, and consumers can now choose from an array of devices capable of satisfying their need for "anytime, anywhere" access to news, information, friends and entertainment. This report examines the latest research from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project regarding seven key appliances of the information age:
Cell phones -- 85% of Americans now own a cell phone. Cell phone ownership rates among young adults illustrate the extent to which mobile phones have become a necessity of modern communications: fully 96% of 18-to-29 year olds own a cell phone of some kind.
Desktop and laptop computers -- Three-quarters (76%) of Americans own either a desktop or laptop computer. Since 2006, laptop ownership has grown dramatically (from 30% to 52%) while desktop ownership has declined slightly.
mp3 players -- Just under half of American adults (47%) own an mp3 player such as an iPod -- a nearly five-fold increase from the 11% who owned this type of device in early 2005.
Game consoles -- Console gaming devices like the Xbox and PlayStation are nearly as common as mp3 players, as 42% of Americans own a home gaming device. Parents (64%) are nearly twice as likely as non-parents (33%) to own a game console.
Tablet computers and e-book readers -- Compared with the other devices on this list, e-book readers (such as the Kindle) and tablet computers (such as the iPad) are relatively new arrivals to the consumer technology scene and are owned by a relatively modest number of Americans. However, these devices are proving popular with traditional early adopter groups such as the affluent and highly educated -- ownership rates for tablets and e-book readers among college graduates and those earning $75,000 or more per year are roughly double the national average.
These findings are based on a survey of 3,001 American adults (ages 18 and older) conducted between Aug. 9 and Sept. 13, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, and the survey included 1,000 cell phone interviews.
Americans and Their Technology Devices
When it comes to personal communication devices, the cell phone remains the "gadget of choice" among Americans in 2010 -- fully 85% of all adults (and three-quarters of teens) now own a mobile phone. Computers are the second-most commonly owned piece of personal technology, as six-in-ten Americans own a desktop computer and half own a laptop. Just under half of all adults own an mp3 player (47%) or console gaming device (42%), while e-book readers and tablet computers are each owned currently by around one-in-twenty adults.
Eight-in-ten American adults (78%) own two or more of these devices, and the median adult owns three of the seven gadgets we asked about in our survey. Among other factors, device ownership is highly correlated with age. For example, the typical adult younger than age 45 owns four devices, while the typical adult between the ages of 55 and 64 owns two and the typical senior (age 65 or older) owns just one. Those with high levels of income and education are also more likely to own a relatively large number of devices compared with those with lower income and education levels.