世論 What Japan Thinks

Admittedly the headline sounds awfully like a one-sided contest, especially considering that the MacBook Air is being heavily advertised on Japanese television, as this recent survey reported by japan.internet.com and conducted by Cross Marketing Inc on mobile devices demonstrates.

Demographics

Over the 30th and 31st of January 2008 300 members of the Cross Marketing online monitor group successfully completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The sample was 50:50 male and female, and 20.0% in their teens, 20.0% in their twenties, 20.0% in their thirties, 20.0% in their forties, and 20.0% in their fifties,

As a cross-reference, just after the launch of Apple’s iPod touch over 70% were aware of it, and just after the USA launch of Apple’s iPhone nearly 85% were aware of it.

The MacBook Air is eye-catchingly slim, of course, but some of the reviews I have seen suggest there has had to be some comprimises made to the performance to get everything into the case. On the other hand, the Eee PC just does what it says on the tin without too much drama, and it might even be the sort of device I would buy myself.

Research results

Q1: When selecting a mobile device, choose the three most important factors from the list below. (Sample size=300, up to three answers)

	Votes	Percentage
Weight	184	61.3%
Size	159	53.0%
Can use same software as on desktop	86	28.7%
Connectivity	55	18.3%
Connection speed	49	16.3%
Wireless LAN functionality	43	14.3%
Memory size	41	13.7%
Display colour depth, size	24	8.0%
Full-sized keyboard	17	5.7%
Has hard disk	12	4.0%
Wired LAN functionality	8	2.7%
Has DVD, other optical drive	8	2.7%
Keyboard pitch	2	0.7%
Bluetooth availability	1	0.3%
Other	4	1.3%
Nothing in particular	58	19.3%

I believe the mobile device here covers both compters and PDAs, but not mobile phones. Whether smart phones are included is unclear.

Q2: Do you know of the Taiwanese ASUSTek mobile computer called the “Eee PC”? (Sample size=300)

Already have one, have ordered one	0.7%
Know about it in detail	1.3%
Know a bit about it	5.0%
Just heard the name	7.7%
Don’t know anything about it	85.3%

Q3: Do you know of the Apple mobile computer called the “MacBook Air”? (Sample size=300)

Already ordered one	0.3%
Know about it in detail	3.0%
Know a bit about it	15.0%
Just heard the name	27.3%
Don’t know anything about it	54.3%