And you thought an ipad was cool...

[Damelon]

Nah, get a dog.

An iPad? How uncool
Posted on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 05:50 by Kate Taylor


Hoping to pull? Ditch the smartphone and get a dog.

That's the conclusion of a survey from Retrevo.com, which asked consumers whether they notice other people's gadgets and how someone’s gadgets affect their opinions of them.

It turns out, most noticeably among under 35 year olds, that people’s gadgets are being checked out everywhere they go. But the effect isn't always what you'd expect: using an iPad, for example, is perceived as less attractive in a man than reading a book.

"We’re not sure why this is so; perhaps there is an element of resentment toward iPad owners among those unfortunate to be iPad-deprived," says the company.

Men are more easily impressed by gadgets, it seems. Half of men under 35 say they find people with cool phones more interesting, and 46 percent say a cool laptop has the same effect.

Young women, on the other hand, are less impressed: only 36 percent are wowed by a cool cellphone, with a dog turning out to have much more pulling power.

A Bluetooth headset is apparently quite a turnoff, with a third of men and women under 35 years old describing it as unattractive.

And Retrevo has some advice for anyone looking to marry a millionaire.

"When we asked a cross section of people who make more than $200,000 a year what gadgets make them more interested in someone, over 71 percent said they find cool phones attractive, while 61 percent said a cool laptop and 54 percent liked people with iPads," says the firm.

"Looking at income versus attractiveness of gadgets, we saw a pattern where the higher the income, the more that person is attracted to other people with cool gadgets and the less attracted to artistic types, people with tattoos or outdated phones."

I'm off to get my tats removed now...

[lorin]

I totally get this.

As a woman I will tell you that seeing a man reading a book is a turn on. It implies he is thoughtful, patient and a listener. Seeing a man with a dog or a baby implies many of the same things. Of course, this could be total bullcrap and the guy could be a total jackass with a book.

I am very turned off by all these gadgets. It just says to me "I care about being trendy, I waste my money, I am a follower"

confession - someone gave me an ipad as a gift I have used it twice. big waste of money.

[Cambo]

There may be hope for me yet!!

[aliantha]

Agreed, lorin:

Guy with iPad = addicted to gadgets.
Guy with book = guy with at least a passing acquaintance with actual ideas.
Guy reading a book on an e-reader = tossup.

Altho I have to confess that if someone watched me on the Metro, they might see me switch back and forth between the e-reader, the Blackberry (for work e-mail), and my phone (either texting or trying to see what time it is!). And I don't consider myself particularly addicted to gadgets.

Guy with a dog or a baby, I'm more likely to focus on the dog or the baby instead of the guy.

[Phantasm]

I don't have to feed or walk my phone or laptop. (Or clean up that mess on the carpet either )

[Cagliostro]

Guy with a dog or a baby, I'm more likely to focus on the dog or the baby instead of the guy.

Ali- some guys with dogs or babies NEED you to focus on the dog or baby, so that you don't notice their shortcomings.

[aliantha]

Guy with a dog or a baby, I'm more likely to focus on the dog or the baby instead of the guy.

Ali- some guys with dogs or babies NEED you to focus on the dog or baby, so that you don't notice their shortcomings.

I've noticed that, too!

[Phantasm]

Guy with a dog or a baby, I'm more likely to focus on the dog or the baby instead of the guy.

Ali- some guys with dogs or babies NEED you to focus on the dog or baby, so that you don't notice their shortcomings.

I've noticed that, too!

Is this turning into a man bashing rant?

MODERATOR - HELP !!!!!!!!!

[aliantha]

Ali- some guys with dogs or babies NEED you to focus on the dog or baby, so that you don't notice their shortcomings.

I've noticed that, too!

Is this turning into a man bashing rant?

MODERATOR - HELP !!!!!!!!!

You rang?

Nah, not a man-bashing rant. It's just that sometimes, around here, the straight lines are too tempting to pass up.

[peter]

If you want to get a Lady guys you don't need either an i-pad or a dog. Just get a job in a 7-11 store. Weird but true! Since I have been working in such a place I have been hounded (no pun intended) on a daily basis by ladies in need of a partner, a husband or just a good night out! And I make King-Kong look good in the atractiveness stakes. It's not a problem or anything but I'm not in the partner finding buisiness because I'm one of the really fortunate people who's in love with his wife. It always strikes me as odd though that life always seems to give you in bucketloads what you don't need and scrimps when it comes to the stuff you do..........

[hue of fuzzpaws]

If you want to get a Lady guys you don't need either an i-pad or a dog. Just get a job in a 7-11 store.

Makes me wonder where I am going wrong then Cambo I just knew it was the aftershave.

[ninjaboy]

Really? People should just ditch ipads soley because they are crap.

[CovenantJr]

Reassuring. Although I value my laptop and phone, and use them all the time, I'm not bothered about having cutting edge ones. As long as my phone allows me to call and text, and my laptop can go online and run MS Word, I' happy with them.

I sometimes think about carrying a slender novel with me to read if I'm waiting to meet friends or something, but feel like I get weird looks. Whilst I'm not excessively concerned with the opinions of strangers, I also don't want to get a reputation.

It always strikes me as odd though that life always seems to give you in bucketloads what you don't need and scrimps when it comes to the stuff you do..........

I think it makes perfect sense. Any number of people will tell you that desperation is a deeply unattractive quality. Somehow it comes across in your body language and facial expressions. If you're happily involved with someone, though, you're not looking for anyone else and the carefree lack of desperation draws women like flies (sorry, couldn't think of a more flattering analogy offhand). That's exactly why I always meet girl after girl when I'm either unavailable or content with solitude.

[Cagliostro]

Now that I'm expecting to be with Carla for the rest of whatever, I try to typically put up that desperate feeling whenever I'm around other women simply so that they will not hit on me.

Yep, that's my excuse.

[ninjaboy]

Reassuring. Although I value my laptop and phone, and use them all the time, I'm not bothered about having cutting edge ones. As long as my phone allows me to call and text, and my laptop can go online and run MS Word, I' happy with them.

I sometimes think about carrying a slender novel with me to read if I'm waiting to meet friends or something, but feel like I get weird looks. Whilst I'm not excessively concerned with the opinions of strangers, I also don't want to get a reputation.

Yeah same here - though I've noticed I'm looking at facebook on my phone quite a bit..
I often have a book on me, great for public transport and just reading by the beach or in a park or something.. But unfortunately AATE is not a slender book, so I often get some looks when I whip it out.
Not that that bothers me in the slightest.. It can be a heavy book to lug around all day is all, especially my hardcover copy.

[Auleliel]

If you're a stranger and you want my attention and approval, the surest way is to be reading a book when I meet you. Most of my conversations with random strangers are initiated by me asking about the book they're reading. If I've read it, I start a discussion about it. If I haven't read it, I ask questions about the book. I met my best friend in a conversation about books (I think she was reading LotR at the time).
I usually assume people with gadgets are too busy or self-involved for serious conversations.