Kevin's Watch

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person is attracted to other people with cool gadgets and the less attracted to artistic types, people with tattoos or outdated phones."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...

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

Cagliostro wrote:

aliantha wrote: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 wrote:

Cagliostro wrote:

aliantha wrote: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 wrote:

aliantha wrote:

Cagliostro wrote: 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 !!!!!!!!!

peter wrote: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.

peter wrote: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..........

CovenantJr wrote: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.