Keep the Remote – I Want My Mouse!

The PC has not only come of age- it’s now a valued member of the family. According to a recent survey of 500 home computer owners conducted by InsightExpress, more than two out of three American PC owners (70%) state that their computer is an integral part of their home life. The survey revealed these Americans are just as likely to point and click as they are to channel flip, as more than half (57%) said time spent on their home computer rivals time spent watching television.

As if home computers weren’t getting enough of a workout (9 out of 10 PC owners use theirs at least once a day), almost two-thirds (62%) see the applications they perform on their computer increasing over the next year. This includes more than half (57%) and more than a third (37%) predicting that all of their photos and home movies, respectively, will eventually be in digital format. More specifically, Americans would like to spend more time on their computer conducting the following digital applications:

This creates tremendous market opportunities for digital camera makers as 2 out of 5 home PC owners who do not own a digital camera plan to buy one by the end of the year, while 1 out of 5 plan do the same with a digital video camera.

“Americans are telling us their PCs are becoming both a bigger part of and a means to- enhance their home lives,” said Doug Adams, director of marketing for InsightExpress. “There’s tremendous opportunity for manufacturers and software providers to capitalize on a market primed and ready for software applications, peripheral devices, and new ways to leverage their treasured PC.”

Early front-runners in the brand race when it comes to digital music are the currently sidelined Napster and MP3.com. Adobe and Microsoft are the early leaders for digital pictures and video.

The survey was created, distributed and tabulated during a 24-hour period in late July 2003. The data has a tolerance of +/- 4.4%.

To view chart CLICK above on ‘More Images’..