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THIS WEEK: CAMCORDERS: OLDER AND WISER
By Matthew Sweer (May 12, 2004)
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We often think of technology as a younger person's game, but it isn't always so: for example, older tech buyers are considerably more interested in digital camcorders than their younger counterparts. For those over 45, digital camcorders are the 7th most wanted product, behind such things as cell phones, televisions, and laptops. For those under 25, by contrast, digital camcorders rank only 14th on their want-to-buy lists, behind speaker systems, monitors, graphics cards, and others.
While their number one reasons for wanting a digital camcorder are the same (to shoot and share videos with friends and family), the two groups diverge when it comes to other buying criteria. Far more of the under-25 group (42 percent vs. 33 percent of those over 45) care about high-definition capture, for example; the young folks are also far more likely to want to want a stylish, ultracompact model (29 percent, compared to only 6 percent of the over-45s). Meanwhile, the older crowd prizes ease--not just of use, but on the pocketbook, too: 53 percent of the over-45s want an affordable price, compared to 45 percent of the under-25s; 28 percent of the older folks want automatic shooting modes, vs. just 8 percent of the young 'uns.
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 November 17, 2003 -- Age is Key Factor in Personal Technology Product Buying Preferences, Finds CNET Survey
October 31, 2003 -- Gender Differences Influence Consumer Electronics Purchasing, Finds CNET Study
October 1, 2003 -- CNET Announces "Personal Tech Radar," Capturing Insights and Trends on Digital Electronics Buying Preferences
December 18, 2003 -- Gifts for all--or just for kids? (Chicago Tribune) (free registration required)
November 24, 2003 -- Got gadgets? Gift ideas for the already well-equipped (SFGate.com)
October 31, 2003 -- Mars-Venus split in product survey (SFGate.com)
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