世論 What Japan Thinks

This short report on a survey from Marsh Inc by japan.internet.com into home computer environment, but in particular on computer problems, found over two-thirds tried to fix problems themselves first.

Demographics

Between the 14th and 16 of April 2010 300 members of the Marsh monitor panel completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The sample was exactly 50:50 male and female, 1.3% in their teens, 18.7% in their twenties, 20.0% in their thirties, 20.0% in their forties, 20.0% in their fifties, and 20.0% aged sixty or older.

I have Windows Update set to download automatically, as I usually want to check to see what’s getting updated, and I can delay the update until I finish a session, to prevent the reboot reminder getting in the way. At work we are supposed to switch it off; I’d like to say it’s because it gives the IT department a chance to test out stuff, but I suspect it’s more for a dubious reason like preventing overload of the local network.

Research results

First of all, there were 288 Windows users in the sample; they were asked the following.

Q1: Do you have Windows Update set to automatically install updates? (Sample size=288)

Yes	74.7%
No	7.6%
Don’t know the setting	14.6%
Don’t know what it is	3.1%

The following question was for all 300 people.

Q2: If a problem occurs with your computer, what do you usually do? (Sample size=300)

First try to fix it myself (to SQ)	69.3%
Ask friends, family about it	19.7%
Ask the manufacturer to fix	6.0%
Ask the shop I bought it from to fix	4.0%
Just buy a replacement computer	1.0%
Other	0.0%

Q2SQ: What measures can you take to fix such a problem? (Sample size=208, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Look up solutions the internet	195	93.8%
Do a virus scan	123	59.1%
Upgrade OS through Windows Update, etc	120	57.7%
Update drivers	95	45.7%
Update applications	89	42.8%
Free up space on the hard disk	89	42.8%
Restore from backup	67	32.2%
Reinstall the OS	58	27.9%
Exchange parts	39	18.8%
Other	9	4.3%