Results and discussion:
1. Background information of Interviewees:
30 students of University of Hertfordshire were given the questionnaire with instructions that they should fill out the questionnaire individually. In what follows, the background information about the sample of 30 interviewees was presented.
Chart 1
Among the 30 students, 46.7% of the students are female and 53.3% are male (chart 1).
Chart 2
Most of students investigated are 16-25 years old, some students are 26-30 years old, and no students are over 30 (chart 2).
Which course do you study on? Table 1
As indicated in table 1, Business and Health & Human both selected by 23.30%, Natural Sciences selected by 20%, Engineering & Information selected by 13.3%, and few students selected Art & Design, Law and Interdisciplinary. No one selected Humanities & Education. In addition, among these students, two third were Undergraduate students and about one third are postgraduate students.
Chart 3
From chart 3, it is obvious that 70% of the students investigated are from Europe, some students are Asian, and a few students are American and African.
2. Status of laptop possession:
The research showed that one third of students have bought a laptop before they came to the university, and two thirds of students do not have one now, among whom, 26.7% students want to buy a laptop during university study, 36.7% students do not want to buy one, and 36.7% students are not sure whether they will buy laptops in future. While those who are planning to buy a laptop will not act in the near future. They are collecting the information, comparing the different brands, budgeting their money. Only one student wanted to buy it in three month, 3 students wanted to buy them in 3-6 month, one student wanted to buy it in 6-12 month, and 15 students’ did not plan to buy it now, that is three fourth.
3. Purpose of owning a laptop:
Students at university owning laptops for different purpose. They use computer to do assignments, surf the Internet, searching information, and some are interested in playing games.
When respondents in the survey were questioned about whether the laptop is important for them during study, 30 per cent students thought a laptop computer is important for their study, 43.3 per cent students did not think so, and 26.7 per cent students’ answers were “I don’t know”. But if we analyses furthermore, it is interesting that among the 10 students who have bought a laptop, 70 per cent students thought a laptop computer is important for their study, and 30 per cent students did not think so. While among 20 students who did not have a laptop, only 2 students thought a laptop computer is important for their study. (Chart 4)
Chart 4
Among the students who are planning to buy a laptop, 36.7% of them want to buy a laptop for the Internet, for design and relaxing each was chosen by 6.7% and 13.3%.
Main use of a laptop
Chart 5
As shown in chart 5, 43.7% male students and 28.5% female students thought Internet, 18.7% male students and 7.1% female students thought the main purpose is relaxing. No one used a laptop for designing and 43.3% students chosen other.
4. The type of laptops student intend to buy:
When 20 students who did not have a laptop now were asked if they wanted to buy a second hand laptop, the results are surprising. These students in general did not tend to buy a second hand laptop, only 3 students did.
IBM is their first choice, and in order, were TOSHIBA, SONY and DELL. They all believe that the laptops of famous brand have better quality. As shown in chart 6, IBM was the most popular trade, selected by 30 per cent of the students, which was followed by TOSHIBA, SONY and DELL, each selected by 16.7 per cent, 13.3 per cent and 10 per cent. Only one student selected COMPAQ, and the rest selected other trade laptop, which is 23.3 per cent. In addition, 50% students thought configuration of the laptop, especially the CPU is the most important to them when they choose a laptop.
Which brand would you choose?
Chart 6
5. Time spent on using computer:
How much time do you spend using it a day? Table 2
From table 2, it can be seen that 40% students used computers for 1-3 hours a day, 23.3% students used computers less than one hour, 26.7% students used them for 3-5 hours and only 10% students used it for over 5 hours.
6. Factors affecting on buying decision:
From the survey, several factors that affect on the buying decision of the students who intend to buy laptops have been found.
1) Financial problem is one of the most important points. Among 30 sampled students, 9 students would like to pay 1,000-1,500 pounds for a laptop. These students select IBM, TOSHIBA and other famous brands of laptop as their favourite. While others who would like to pay less than 1,000 pounds prefer to buy a less famous brand or just buy a second-hand laptop. Also, there is another part of students who don’t want to pay for a laptop. They think that the computers in the university library are good enough for them.
2) Students from different programmes also have different choices. Those from the engineer or computer department prefer to buy a laptop with better configuration and function, while students of arts programme are more interested in the appearance and brand.
3) The female and male student seems to have large differences in selecting the different size of laptop. Female students like small and slim laptops, while male students prefer big and heavy ones. This difference also exists between European and Asian students.
Conclusion:
It is not easy to reach any definite conclusions based upon such a small sample of students. However, some general comments can be made; they are, perhaps, as follows.
One third of students have bought a laptop and two thirds students have no laptop now. 26.7 per cent students wanted to buy a laptop during study and 36.7 per cent students did not want to buy it, 36.7 per cent students were not sure whether they will buy laptops in future.
30 per cent students thought a laptop computer is important for their study, 36.7% students’ main purpose of buying laptops is for Internet, and for relaxing selected by 13.3%.
IBM and some other famous brand are very popular among university students. While other factors like gender, programme difference, financial background, and different usage and personal interest also affect their choice.
Some suggestions are also presented here to those students who are planning to buy a new laptop. Financial status has to be considered. Not all the students have enough money to buy a laptop of famous brand, for most of the students get financial support from their parents. Also, the purpose of buying a laptop during university study should be helpful to the study. Playing games, chatting on the Internet and other entertainment should not be the main purpose of buying a computer.
Bibliography:
Diederich, J., Swewart, M., Laptop computer. 19th National conference, Perth, Western Austrda, 1997. Vol.2, 211-214.
Questionnaire:
Would You Like To Buy A Laptop During Your Study?
1. Where are you from?
a. Asia b. European c. America d. Africa
2. How old are you?
a. 16-20 b. 21-25 c. 26-30 d. over 30
3. Are you?
a. Male b. Female
4. What are you studying?
a. Undergraduate b. postgraduate c. PhD d. others
5. Which course do you study?
a. Art and Design b. Business
c. Engineering and Information Sciences d. Health and Human Sciences
e. Humanities and Education f. Interdisciplinary Studies
g. Law h. Natural Sciences
i. Others
6. Do you already have a laptop?
a. Yes b. no.
7. When are you going to buy a laptop in future?
a. Now b. in 3 months c. 3-6 months d. 6-12 months e. I don’t know
8. Do you think a laptop computer is important for your study?
a. Yes b. no c. I don’t know
9. Which brand would you choose?
a. IBM b. TOSHIBA c. COMPAQ d. SONY e. DELL f Other
10. How much you would like to spend on the laptop?
a. Under 800 pounds b. 800 – 1000 pounds
c. 1000 – 1500 pounds d. over 1500 pounds
11. Would you like to buy a second hand laptop?
a. Yes b. no c. depends
12. What do you think of the main use of laptops to you?
a. Internet b. design c. relaxing d. other
13. Which is the most important to you when you choose a laptop?
a. CPU b. memory c. hard disk d. weight e. appearance f. other
14. If you own a laptop, how much time do you spend using it a day?
a. Less than 1-hour b. 1-3 hours c. 3-5 hours d. over 5 hours
