Technology is a girl's best friend?

It's fairly obvious companies have realized that men aren't the only ones doing damage on the credit card at the gadget store, but recent studies have drawn some perplexing conclusions about just how much the ladies love their tech. Putting a presumably prominent notion about women to the test, Oxygen Network (a cable company owned and operated by females) found that 75 percent of the women they surveyed would choose a plasma television over a diamond necklace (take that, DeBeers). To further substantiate the findings, women were found to own about 6.6 gadgets each, while men sported 6.9 -- definitely not a very macho-sized difference. Not even the closet was safe, as 86 percent of ladies said they would prefer a digital camcorder over a fresh pair of designer kicks. Women said they would likely increase their involvement with digicams, cellphones, email, and SMS over the next 5 years, drawing the gender technology gap ever closer. Of course, studies like these should always be give attention with a grain of salt, but we'll admit that the industry is better off with gals' design concerns and needs in the mix, and besides, how else would we be able to excuse ourselves from rebuying all our gadgets in pink?

[Thanks, David]

[Dave @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:51PM]

"women were found to own about 6.6 gadgets each, while men sported 6.9"

Define gadget.....look at these...nothing I'd want!
http://homeparents.about.com/cs/recipescooking/tp/gadgets.htm
http://www.dynamic-living.com/gadgets.htm
http://www.thehomemarketplace.com/category.aspx?cid=353&scid=55060110I&affid=21

[Tom @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:49AM]

Wow, Dave. I would put on your fire suit, because that is a pretty chauvenistic comment... hehe.

Anyway, I think this is pretty cool, even if it might not be that accurate. Finally an engagement present that the husband and wife can both enjoy.

[Scabies @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:54AM]

Sure, they may want more, but they still can't use half of them

(The women in my household can't, at any rate)

[some guy. @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:01AM]

Ouch you guys are getting out of hand and its still the first three comments...

[green tea fan @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:09AM]

Define gadget.....
~~~~~~
LOL,but it seems there are some gadgets girls hardly use,GPS,xbox,etc.

[Ian H. Power @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:17AM]

#2 and #4 -- The only thing worse than a woman who gets whiney over "chauvanistic" comments is a man who does the same.

Women, as a the female half of our species, are not equal --- read, 'the same' --- as men.

"They" differ. "They" know how to flip open a phone and call a number, but as a general rule, "they" could care less about anything but "oh look at me with my pink phone looking all pretty calling some flusie I hang around with".

Of course, if it gets out that Oprah or somebody has a turquoise phone with sparkly shit all over it, naturally, they'll all toss the pink ones in the trash and head for the mall.

Women annoy me; at least the ones I've come accross thus far. But I do beg to be proven wrong.

[Pal @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:28AM]

My girlfriend said: "Diamond necklace, camcorder."

So, she'll take videos and watch it on her 13" tube. Not too exciting.

[Dave @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:04AM]

Hey Tom,

That wasn't chauvenistic....I just was making a point that Gadget dosen't necessarily mean ipods and xbox's....

If the survey went out asking women if they would prefer a gadget over a diamond and they are thinking about a new viking professional gas stove then the results are skewed from what Engadget members think is a gadget...

Final point..unless I know the reason the survey was taken and who was asked and what the exact questions that were asked, the statistics mean nothing...

Read this book: "Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists"

It will help you understand why Im asking that the meaning of gadget was during the survey.

Dave

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:18AM]

What's sad is that the men's is only 6.9... I know I have WAY more than that. >.>

[Claudiu Spulber @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:50AM]

Finally! But then again once the manufacturers start realizing that there's enough market for women, we'll start seeing some digital blasphemies: pink plasma tvs with plastic flowers on each corner, fluffy phones/ipods...not to mention the shape of some gadgets (use your imagination).

[Kimberly @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:23AM]

As expected, Oxygen's simplistic approach to gender (diamonds versus plasma tv) yields pedestrian responses ("women can't use tech")---big, xx chromosonal yawn from all the women who grew up in the same generation with the TRS-80, Atari 2600, and sat through the same early computer classes writing code.

Men's dated & sexist responses won't change, but one would think capitalist corporations would wake up and realize there's much more they can do to pull money (not plastic) out of my wallet than make a naff, pink phone.

[Niamh @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:32AM]

OMG, the boys are worried! LMAO

@Silver

"What's sad is that the men's is only 6.9... I know I have WAY more than that."

No hon, what's sad is that you consider the amount of gadgets you own a measurement of your masculinity...

;)

[Jenn @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:50AM]

I don't think my collection (http://pocketables.blogspot.com/2006/06/who-are-you.html) is too girly. Some of the stuff is pink, though, and of course I do have a Hello Kitty mp3 player. But still!!

[TPW @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:55AM]

What's even sadder is that Intel told us the same thing in 2004, yet there are still dopes out there who think women like me don't exist.

I suppose my XBox, PlayStation 1, four PDAs (including my Sprint PPC-6700), ePods, three tablet computers (four if you count the one from work), four MP3 players (I gave away one) and various other items are actually lipstick containers, and I'm the delusional one. What do you suppose my Sun Ultra1, RS/6000 and Color NeXTStation really are? Hair dryers?

NAAAAH!

[schneapoca @ Aug 3rd 2006 4:31AM]

It's not like women who are into gadgets don't exist, it is just that they are in the minority. Same with men who are into designer kicks - in the minority. I doubt Oxygen's statistics are unbias. Oxygen has their own agenda to promote, which is to led their female audience believe there's no difference between men or women.

[Dina @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:39AM]

Technology is a tool and is there to be used by all. The question is where are we going with this tool? Men may be more technologically minded, but women tend to be better communicators... If we can learn from each other's strong points, we would be moving towards Utopia!

[Dustin @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:48AM]

I think the thing that really ought to be questioned here is not whether or not select females share the same technophilia that thier male counterparts do, but whether or not they are as prevalent in society. Certainly there are females who know how to operate their gadgets aptly, but if you were to look at an unbiased cross-section of the population, you would find that number to be fairly small.

The main problem here is that the source of this survey is none other than the "barely-one-step-above-Lifetime" Oxygen network. I would have to say that the numbers they claim are actually pretty skewed. More than likely, this survey was conducted from their viewership. Stereotypically speaking, that means reasonably well-educated, liberal, and (sometimes) feminist women who have too much time on their hands. (Otherwise, why would they be wasting their time watching TV.) I mean really, 75% of women would rather have a plasma TV than a diamond necklace? Are you kidding me?

I concur with Dave, definitely check out "Damn Lies and Statistics." Without knowing the exact questions that were asked, there is no way they can accurately make those claims.

Maybe I should by my girlfriend a 47" LCD TV instead of an engagement ring. There's a 75% chance she'd like it more anyway. Yeah, right. I call shenanigans!

[Doug Cook @ Aug 3rd 2006 8:59AM]

I wrote this article 3 days ago as part of my application to write for TUAW.......weird

[Chris @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:23AM]

I don't have any money left over for gadgets...the wife spent it all on clothes and house decor.

I think if the study was more involved they'd find that the women who bought the plasmas, also bought the shoes. Once you've spent $2K, what's another $500

[NoSsy @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:48AM]

Let's see...

On average, 80+% adults carry a cellphone (Gadget #1)

A camera (gadget #2) and a camcorder (gadget #3) are a girl's 2nd best friend (after the cell phone).

An ipod or some sorta music player (gadget #4).

A laptop (gadget #5) and most likely a desktop pc (gadget #6).

Wonder if they considered TiVo a gadget also (gadget #7)

Already 7 on the list and more can be added.

Comparing a diamond necklace to a Plasma TV is not even valid at all. We all should know that a 2+ karat diamond ring would change everything. They'd rather watch American Idol on their new shiny 40+ inch Plasma TV than get a diamond necklace (most of the time diamond necklace are only worn when going out, and umm most men hardly take their woman out). Besides a Plasma TV is like killing two birds with one stone. Their men would be more than happy to spend the money on a Plasma TV rather than the diamond necklace.

[Josh! @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:59AM]

Niamh- Ouch. You're hurting all of our manhoods. :*(

[zoara @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:26AM]

By sheer coincidence, I have *exactly* 6.9 gadgets.

[Loban @ Aug 3rd 2006 11:06AM]

I know lots of ladies that own "gadgets" just so they can buy cool cases for them and attach them to thier hips and look cool.

One chic I know wanted an Ipod Nano sooo bad and got a leather pink case for it. She carries it everywhere she goes attached to her belt loop, and never uses it.

[yehweh @ Aug 3rd 2006 11:49AM]

Do Vibrators and that carzy cone thing engadget wrote about a couple of weeks back count as gadgets?

And to the girls who has an Xbox, PS 2 and three mp3 players. Why do you need 3 mp3 players. Having two seems ok one flash based and one HD based but THREE? Dont you throw/give/sell your old stuff?

[Directive0 @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:21PM]

The women that posted in here are my heros! I am lucky enough to be dating a girl who is all about cool gadgets and video games and whatnot. She gets hassled by other femmes she associates with for not fitting the "tech-clueless" sterotype that some feel is a requirement for those vaginally-equipped. Its a constant joy to be able to borrow HER cool stuff all the time, most of it is cooler then my gear!! I dunno, this gadget-based lifestyle we (engadget readers) all have isn't the most sustainable or ecologically/economically/philosophically responsible in history, but atleast its accessible to most (of us living in suitable standards of living) and to hear that its not gender based is seriously rad, if you ask me.

Good on ya girls! Conspicous consumerism, its not just for boys anymore!!

Niamh: that was awesome, TRUE SAY!!!!

[granny down east @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:07PM]

If you think gadgets are only about entertainment, think again.
Girls can't use GPS? I have 2 in the airplane; a hand held and a panel mount.
Two way radios are a must, also hand held aircraft radio. Laptop with VZW data card gives (almost) real time radar in the plane.
PDA type ibook carries all my charts, redundant with my paper charts.
cell phones, mp3 players/USB storage devices- I'm a grandma. Yeah, I can play on the Xbox with the grandkids, too.
Poop on you guys with your sexist comments.

[John Stracke @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:29PM]

Oxygen's methodology is flawed.

First: plasma TVs and digital camcorders are, mmm, social gadgets; one is for watching TV with your sweetie, the other is for recording Precious Memories. This appeals to the stereotype of women being more relationship-centric than men.

Second: a "diamond solitaire necklace" is commonly a sub-$500 item; a plasma TV is over $1000. Picking the TV is a rational choice.

In other words, the choices they presented were cherry-picked to skew towards the gadget, as if all gadgets were alike. An iPod, a fish finder, and a gumstix (http://www.gumstix.com/) are all gadgets, but they appeal to radically different markets.

[Richard @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:30PM]

Relax ladies - it's not as if nobody expected girls to have gadgets. Some women will have traditionally "male" tendencies as some men will have traditionally "female" tendencies. Heck I know a guy who has an embarrassingly large collection of Hello Kitty (even if he was a girl). It happens. No need to throw your electronic girth around in some pissing contest.

As for the Oxygen survey, their could have been a myriad of issues with that - mostguys own multiples of the same gadget, i.e. cellphones or laptops. Did Oxygen simply ask "do you own a laptop?" and leave it at that?

On a personal note, I own.....somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-30 gadgets depending on how far you want to break down each device. I mean, does the TV tuner card in my PC count separate or not? The survey might have been better if it had people approximate how much a year they spend on technological hardware, not services or software. Although I think most engadgeteers wouldn't want to add that up for fear of depression =)

[Tom O'Leary @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:56PM]

I put together a little podcast tribute to the ladies who prefer tech gear to diamond necklaces. you can listen to it here:

http://www.messagingtimes.com/blog/?p=425&language=EN

All the best

Tom

[Lita @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:09PM]

Given that women make somewhat less than men (I haven't heard an updated number in awhile but the last time I checked it was $.77 to the dollar) for the same job, it's not surprising that they own fewer tech-based toys. Particularly given that most gadgets aren't priced in the impulse buy range of the market.

[cecilia @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:20PM]

I love technology and gadgets. I wish I had more. I love looking at them, reading about them and talking about them.

I bought my first computer in 1989 (an Amiga) and taught myself computer graphics and animation. Eventually, I went to Los Angeles and hooked up with fellow artists and we worked on projects that won Emmy's.

I know I don't have to prove anything to anyone. And if my grandmother was alive she would love my gadgets too!

[mfresh @ Aug 4th 2006 12:15PM]

I am a woman, and I would rather have diamonds over gadgets any day.
The simple fact is our technology is moving so quickly that once a gadget is purchased it becomes obsolete within a few months. Women are smart enough to know that something better will come along and they wait. Men have this tendency to want every new toy as soon as it comes out no matter the cost. I bet if they did a study to see whether or not single men owned more gadgets than taken ones they would find out that the single would be the champions. It seems that single men feel the need to show off their toys to their buddies and they spend all of their free time playing video games and such-hence the reason they are single.

[Online Paid Survey @ Oct 31st 2006 2:35AM]

If you want to make it a living on the Online Paid Survey industry there are a few things that you absolutely need to know, heed my warning. Online Paid Survey

[Alex @ Jan 16th 2007 8:47PM]

mfresh...why you hatin'? The one flaw with what you have to say is, it's so easy to turn that around. Women aren't "smart" enough to wait for a new piece of electronic to come out. I'm quite sure that men still outnumber women in the category of studying gadgets and anticipating their releases. The women I know all around me buy something when they want it. My dad bought a cheap coffee machine one day and it lasted us six years, my mom decided to pick one up at costco one day and it died on us in a week. All the women i know, purchase their phone this way:
"ohhh, i like this one. Oh, the screen looks really vivid and bright! More than this one. Can i take pictures on it? Does it take better looking pictures? Ooooh, i can swap faceplates with the other one though? Does the other one take better pictures than this one? The same? Can i e-mail the pictures to my computer? Yes? Wow! I want this one!" I have never seen a girl ask more questions than this. Actually, i was nice to add in the better pictures one too.
Here's a survey they could do, go around asking men and women what the first thing is they think of when you say lithium ion, the general gadget population would probably say battery or cell phone battery or at LEAST some sort of gadget. Then we'll see how much they KNOW about their gadget.

don't hate,
Alex

P.S. I'm not sexist, this is what i have seen. I do think that women are catching up though and may soon surpass us...then we'll be the ones buying designer jeans

[Meadhbh @ Jan 17th 2007 12:55PM]

Oh please...I am a woman, and here's a newsflash for you boys.

I have an X-box 360, a Gamecube, a Wii, a PS2, a PS3, and a high end computer. None of them are pink (personally, I can't stand the colour). I also have a distinct preference for FPS and RTS games.

Why is it that people will insist that the only thing women want in their gadgets is something "pretty." I'd rather have something with a little power in the box, who cares what it looks like. (You boys and your LED lights and custom CPU cases should examine the hypocrisy of statements about not wanting things to look stylish, though.) The only specially coloured gadget I own is my ipod. It's green.

I'd take a new, bigger monitor for my PC over a diamond ring/designer outfit/cooking utensils any day. I'm more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt, and I'd much rather let my boyfriend cook. He's better at it.

[magicvash @ Jan 25th 2009 11:22AM]

To all the women who posted on here listing all their tech gear:

That's great for you. Would you like a cookie?

and @mfresh: As a single guy, I'd like to say that I actually don't spend all my free time playing video games. When you have 3 hours of free time a day, you spend it on things like laundry, cooking and cleaning so the coroner doesn't have to wade through piles of garbage and dirty clothing to get to my shriveled body. And occasionlly, you waste the 2 minutes it takes to post replies to stuck-up entitled feminists who think they're God's gift to men.

Now go make me a smoothie ;-)

[tochol @ Jul 10th 2009 12:36PM]

It's articles like these that make me groan. What a jerk. Grow up and realize that the "sex difference" in electronics is a hideous myth that idiots like you perpetuate.