世論 What Japan Thinks

I’m the odd one out in the office as just about everyone else uses their portable computer rather than their desktop as their main computer for less compute-intensive tasks such as email, document preparation, etc. This perhaps is a common situation in other offices too, given the results of a survey reported on by japan.internet.com and conducted by JR Tokai Express Research Inc into notebook computers and mobility.

Demographics

Over the 6th and 7th of February 2008 330 members of the JR Tokai Express Research monitor panel employed in either the private or public sector completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 83.9% were male, 9.7% in their twenties, 38.8% in their thirties, 34.8% in their forties, 13.6% in their fifties, and 3.0% in their sixties.

Q1SQ1 should be read with care, as it is not where people habitually use their notebook computers, but just places that they have. For example, 18% say they use theirs when commuting, but it doesn’t mean that one in five people in the morning rush train are typing away; it’s rare (once a week or less?) that I see anyone else typing away on the train, whether it be packed or empty.

Research results

Out of the initial sample, 305 people were actually currently employed in the private or public sector. They were asked the following questions.

Q1: What sort of computer do you use the most at your place of work? (Sample size=305)

Notebook (to SQs)	53.1%
Desktop	43.9%
Don’t use a computer	2.0%
Other	0.1%

Q1SQ1: When you move your notebook, where do you use it? (Sample size=162, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Near my desk	103	63.6%
On overnight domestic business trip	69	42.6%
At other locations within the same building	67	41.4%
On day return business trips	56	34.6%
On overseas business trips	40	24.7%
When commuting	30	18.5%
When on sales calls, etc	25	15.4%
Other	3	1.9%
Don’t move my notebook computer	23	14.2%

Q1SQ2: How heavy is the notebook computer you use the most? (Sample size=162)

Less than 1 kg (2.2 lb)	11.1%
1 to 3 kg (2.2 to 6.6 lb)	63.6%
Over 3 kg (6.6 lb)	11.7%
Don’t know	13.6%