Gadgets Are A Girl's Best Friend

Tue Aug 1, 2006 5:07PM EDT

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True or False? You visit electronic stores more often than shopping malls.

If you think this statement is somewhat true, you're not alone. USA Today investigates the results of an Oxygen Network survey that indicates more women would choose electronics, such as iPods, TVs, or cell phones, over silly things like diamond necklaces or designer shoes. Not only do girls want their high-tech toys, but they want the top-of-the-line models.

The survey aimed to compared tech attitudes between men and women, so they interviewed over 1,400 women and 700 men, ages 15-49. Findings suggest that advertisers need to address a broader audience, and not talk down to women.

By talking down to women, I suppose they mean that literally as well as to say, "don't make a pink version of every gadget out there to get my attention." There's a lot of mixed feelings among women in regards to pink gadgets. While young women love their pink handsets, mature women prefer theirs in a more subdued shade, yet a recent survey indicates that a large number of women want to have some sort of color choice. Personalization is huge, not only because it's fun, but also because they want to differentiate their items.

I personally don't think manufacturers introduce pink gadgets to antagonize women, I think they understand there's a massive market for pink gadgets, and being the business brains that they are, they will cater to that segment of the population. The pink RAZR alone alone sold over 600,000 units last Christmas.

It was also clear that women want to learn about the benefits of technology with less focus on specifications, and the majority clearly understands that they don't give themselves enough credit when it comes to their tech savviness. 

While specifications are good to know, not everyone understands their meaning in real world terms. How do you explain megapixels, gigabytes or bandwidth to your grandma or someone who didn't grow up with technology?  Technology is complicated, so companies should make every effort to translate these terms for non-techies. I'd love to see more tech-translations on websites and in stores. Apple is one of the few companies that tells its customers that a 4GB iPod will fit over 1,000 songs. Now that works for me, and the rest of the world who has to explain how many songs fit in 4GB iPods.

One thing is for sure, women do influence buying decisions in the house. So if women are spending more than $65 billion dollars on electronics each year, they surely must have a good understanding of technology.

Women, do you agree with this survey? Tell me what you think.  

Comments on Gadgets Are A Girl's Best Friend

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  • 1 Posted by trueevanescencegirl on Wed Aug 2, 2006 7:02AM EDT Report Abuse

    This servey usually depends on who you talk to. i know some girls who prefer shopping for the latest fashions than going to electronic stores to buy the latest i pod. but i do agree that some will go for the most expensive and latest cell phone.

  • 2 Posted by big_green_annoying_machine on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    its really nice you said this because you see in our class my classmates rrrreeeaaaaalllyyyyy[most not all] love gadgets!me too...we love ipod,nintendo ds, or other tech. But more people in our school still like fashion..for me Im like...50%technology person,20%girly,30%boy now,now thank you for this report!!

  • 3 Posted by r00kerkitty89 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think this sooo true specially the part about the assortment of colors. My favorite color is blue and my sister's is green and black. convencionaly those colors are not 'for girls' but pink isn't only for girls any more. My cousin wears pink t-shirts and he's 18! So what's with all the stereotyping?

  • 4 Posted by sammirosebud@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    i would like to have the latest cell, i pod, etc... but cant because i dont have the money i wonder wat that makes me?

  • 5 Posted by yellowgt32000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    hey i agree with your survey i thik that the reason why most gurls including my self like pink razors and ipdos and even big screen tv's is to get to say hey look wat i got. so then wut i am trying to say is that it is jsut a fashion statment and i have a hot pink magenta razor fone and it is a fashion statment to other gurls now every gurl at northwest has a black,silver or pink raxor fone and well that is wut i think. sincerely trinity marie BRown 13 years old from scioto county!

  • 6 Posted by sgrant58 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I work in IT, so I might be biased, but I think that women are savvy and absolutely able to understand features and even request customized features that go beyond color. I use my cell phone for pictures, chatting, web browsing, calculating, and a morning alarm clock. I especially think business women will tap into a market of feature-rich tech products!

  • 7 Posted by meziez458 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree! I spend much more time going to electronics stores than to malls,I love my "Toys"!! Don't get me wrong, I love clothes,, but I love my toys way more! I mean how much fun can you have with a new skirt, you wearit, people tell you you look nice and that's it!?I'd much rather get new software for my laptop, or a new camera, cell phone. Even if it's the latest technology I can find out about it and how to use it by simply going online, so even if I don't understand something about the latest gadget, it's easy to learn, and very good for the soul!

  • 8 Posted by constablesanitation on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    Speaking from a 21 year old female's perspective, I love to go shopping for clothes and shoes, but I also love to have the same high expectations for everything that I would want electronically. That could be an I-POD or a new cell phone. Electronic gadgets should have the same amount of options/choices as do all of the nice clothing and shoe options for women out there, because quality is quality.

  • 9 Posted by locarlita on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think another reason for a larger than expected number of women buying tech is as gifts-that is for others, whether it is the men or children in their lives.

  • 10 Posted by man_id_unknown on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    I believe these serveys are biased. Especially if the participants are aware of those posting the servey, (Oxygen). Even in the 1st paragraph the author called the jewelry "silly". Such comments influence the outcome of a servey. If the technology was called "silly" perhaps more women would have voted otherwise.

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