Women love gadgets, survey shows

The days of technology being thought of as "toys for the boys" are numbered, according to a new survey commissioned by a US cable TV network.

The research reveals that despite our supposed "best friend" relationship with diamond, most women (77 per cent) would rather have a big-screen plasma TV than a solitaire necklace. Slightly less surprisingly, a weekend away in Florida also lost out to the prospect of a new plasma TV, with 56 per cent saying they'd go for the goggle box, given the chance.

Our alleged love-affair with shoes also starts to look very shaky if silicon is involved. A stonking 78 per cent of the women surveyed said they'd rather have a new top-of-the-line cell phone than a pair of designer shoes. Shoes also come a poor second to digital cameras and media centre PCs.

Tech take-up among women was also higher than the surveyors expected. They found that on average, women owned 6.6 technology devices compared to men's 6.9. We must note here, however, that it doesn't say what qualifies as a device, and we don't know how much overlap there is between the lists.

Women are also increasingly confident around gadgets, with 79 per cent of the sample group reporting that they feel comfortable with technology. Almost half do their own computer trouble shooting, and only seven per cent worry about breaking a new tech toy.

Finally, given a hypothetical $500 to spend, 37 per cent of the women surveyed said they'd have an iPod or some other piece of tech kit, 35 per cent said they'd go clothes shopping, 18 per cent would opt for a romantic evening out, seven per cent said they'd go to the spa, and just four per cent would go out on the town with friends.

It doesn't come as a particular surprise to us here at Vulture Central to learn that women are happy to use technology, especially if it isn't oversold, and does what it is supposed to. However, much as we love our tech kit 'round here, we do question the long term investment strategy of many of the women polled.

After all, in ten years' time, that diamond solitaire will buy you ten flat screen plasma TVs...®

Bootnote: A very (ahem) scientific poll of some of this reporter's friends has established that shoes, diamonds, dresses and big drinking sessions with mates win almost every time over any piece of tech kit.

The single male respondant to our straw poll added: "Why would anyone want a plasma TV? Its no use, they burn out".