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Home > Past user poll results
Past user poll results
26 April, 2013
Do you use a NAS or SAN at home?
52.7% Yes
32.7% No
14.5% What are they?
12 April, 2013
What is your preferred method of contacting us?
91.9% Email
5.4% Phone
0.0% Contact form on the website
2.7% In person
22 March, 2013
How do you prefer to watch TV shows?
13.2% As they are transmitted
29.8% From recordings I make myself
23.7% From recordings made by others
6.1% From streaming websites
6.1% DVD or Blu-ray
1.8% Other
19.3% I don't watch TV
08 March, 2013
Products available in NZ often differ to models sold overseas. If the only independent reviews we can find are for slightly different versions of the product, should we still include the links to those reviews?
88.4% Yes
8.7% No
2.9% I don't read the reviews
18 February, 2013
Are you planning to move to Microsoft Office 2013?
19.6% Already using it
2.9% Yes, in the near future
8.0% Yes, but not for a while
39.1% No, I'll stay with the old version of MS Office
25.4% No, I use a non-Microsoft office suite
3.6% No, I have no need of an office suite
1.4% I haven't decided yet
04 February, 2013
Where do you typically buy your printer ink and toner?
24.5% Ascent
1.9% Overseas website
1.9% Another NZ general-purpose computer website
13.2% Specialist printer consumables website
32.1% Physical store
5.7% Other
20.8% I don't buy printer ink or toner
14 January, 2013
On which device would you prefer to make your Ascent purchases?
86.5% Desktop or laptop
5.9% iPad
1.2% iPhone
4.1% Android tablet
1.2% Android phone
0.0% Other tablet
1.2% Other phone
27 December, 2012
What do you think of Windows 8 so far?
11.0% Love it
8.9% Basically like it
17.8% Basically dislike it
9.4% Hate it
2.6% Not sure
8.4% Haven't tried it, but intend to
41.9% Haven't used it, and don't intend to
13 December, 2012
How did you first hear about Ascent?
47.8% From a friend
10.1% Pricespy
29.0% Google
1.4% Other search engine
2.9% User forum
1.4% Advertisement
7.2% Other
29 November, 2012
How useful would a PayPal payment option be to you?
13.9% Would definitely use it
18.2% Might use it
67.9% Wouldn't use it at all
15 November, 2012
What do you think of our consumables search page?
0.0% It's great
6.0% It's good
8.0% It's adequate
0.0% It's terrible
4.0% It's confusing
0.0% It's inacurrate
82.0% What consumables search page?
01 November, 2012
What do you think of our software section?
10.9% It's great
32.6% It's adequate
8.7% It needs a lot of work
2.2% It's terrible
45.7% What software section?
17 September, 2012
Would it be useful to be able to filter or sort a category by supplier rating?
42.0% Yes, filter & sort
1.4% Yes, filter
0.7% Yes, sort
52.4% No
3.5% What supplier rating?
03 September, 2012
How useful would you find a questions section on our product pages (similar to Trade Me) ?
41.0% I'd definitely use it
43.8% I might use it
15.2% I probably wouldn't use it
20 August, 2012
What do you think of the tweaked look and features of our new website?
69.6% I like it
12.5% I prefer the old website
7.1% I don't remember the old website
0.9% I don't like either
9.8% I don't really care
06 August, 2012
Would knowing which courier company will deliver a product have any significant impact on your purchasing decision?
39.4% No
28.3% Perhaps
32.3% Definitely
13 July, 2012
Which of the following recent or upcoming technologies is of most interest to you?
4.3% Ultrabooks
0.6% All-in-one desktop PCs
32.3% Windows 8 tablets
13.0% Ivy Bridge CPUs
16.1% iPhone 5
24.2% Android 4 phones
9.3% 802.11ac wireless devices
27 June, 2012
Which brand of CPU do you feel delivers the best value?
34.0% AMD
65.0% Intel
1.0% Other
13 June, 2012
How important is the length of a product's warranty to your purchase decision?
6.2% Very important
39.5% Important
29.6% A minor consideration
24.7% Don't even think about it
25 May, 2012
We try and put all the key product information into the porduct name. This sometimes creates lengthy names. Do you think our product names are
0.8% Too long
82.6% Lengthy, but useful
0.8% Sometimes too short
15.9% Just right
11 May, 2012
Do you intend to upgrade to the new Ivy Bridge CPUs when they are released?
8.1% Definitely
9.0% Yes, if the price is right
0.9% Yes, if the performance is right
16.2% Eventually, but not right away
45.0% No, I am happy with my current CPU
15.3% No, I prefer AMD
5.4% No
27 April, 2012
How do you usually find products on our website?
4.5% Via the Search box
18.8% Going to the category and browing the listings
75.0% Going to the category and using the filters
0.0% Google
0.9% Via a link someone sends me
0.9% Other
13 April, 2012
How much main memory does your computer have?
2.4% <= 1 GB
7.9% 1,1 - 2 GB
19.4% 2.1 - 4 GB
41.2% 4.1 - 8 GB
20.6% 8.1 - 16 GB
8.5% > 16 GB
0.0% My computer is a tablet or smartphone
26 March, 2012
When deciding to make a purchase, do you already know what specific models you want to look for on our website?
28.7% Yes, I do my own research first
63.6% No, but I do some research first
7.7% No, I decide by looking at your website
12 March, 2012
Have you tried Windows 8 yet?
8.2% Yes, I like it
22.6% Yes, I don't like it
11.6% Yes, I'm not sure if I like it
5.5% No, but I intend to soon
26.7% No, I'll wait until it is released
25.3% No, and I don't ever intend to
23 February, 2012
What is the most important factor when purchasing something from our website?
42.4% Availability
44.6% Price
3.3% Brand
1.1% Stock
1.1% Supplier rating
1.1% Warranty
6.5% Other
03 February, 2012
Would you be keen for a smartphone app to access Ascent on the go?
28.1% Yes, keen for an iPhone app
41.3% Yes, keen for an Android app
2.1% Yes, keen for an app for another smartphone
2.9% Might be interested
13.6% Not very intertested
12.0% I don't have a smartphone
20 January, 2012
Have you recently claimed a manufacture cashback promotion?
12.3% Yes - it was a good experience
16.4% Yes - it was a bad experience
2.7% No - I intended to but forgot to claim
15.1% Not recently
46.6% Never
6.8% What is a cashback promotion?
06 January, 2012
How do you usually watch movies?
39.4% On a PC or notebook
5.8% Rented Blu-ray
6.6% Rented DVD
13.9% Own or friend's Blu-ray
10.2% Own or friend's DVD
18.2% Via a media player
5.8% At a movie theatre
09 December, 2011
We use an independent rating company, Bizrate, to survey customers after a purchase. This survey is voluntary, but how do you feel about it?
13.1% It's a great way to get independent feedback on Ascent
0.5% It's useful
12.6% I don't care one way or the other
61.2% It annoys me mildly
9.3% It annoys me a lot
1.4% It puts me off buying from Ascent
1.9% II haven't bought anything from Ascent
25 November, 2011
Has the hard drive shortage affected you?
14.9% No, and probably won't
20.5% No, but might if it continues into next year
31.1% Yes, but I'll wait until things improve
15.5% Yes, I've been caught by the higher prices
18.0% What hard drive shortage?
08 November, 2011
What do you think of Twitter?
4.5% An important communication channel
5.5% An unappreciated communication channel
7.0% A great tool for egotists
82.6% A complete waste of time
0.5% It's too early to tell
25 October, 2011
What sort of thing would you most like to see posted on our Facebook page?
1.8% Major new products
6.5% Interesting new products
3.6% Specials
0.6% Pre-sale dialogue
0.0% Post-sale dialogue
12.4% What Facebook page?
75.1% I don't use Facebook
04 October, 2011
What are your thoughts on Windows 8?
4.8% Can't wait, it will be a winner
41.6% Could be great, but I'll wait and see
22.3% Too much, too soon
2.4% Too little, too late
28.9% I wouldn't touch Windows (even if touch-enabled)
15 September, 2011
NZ prices for computer equipment are often much higher than in places like the USA. Who/what do you think is most responsible for the significantly higher prices we often pay in this country?
6.6% The manufacturer
74.0% The importer/distributor
4.4% The retailer
2.8% The government (GST, customs, etc)
9.4% International freight
0.6% Modifications to meet local standards
2.2% NZ prices aren't so bad
29 August, 2011
We currently use Google Site Search on our website. Should we supplement the Google search results with our own search facility to ensure you can continue to search when Google Site Search is down? There will be a slight performance hit.
20.6% Yes, always combine results
41.2% Yes, but only when Google is down
4.1% No
34.0% Don't care
15 August, 2011
What do you think will be the most significant outcome of the crackdown on copyright infringement that will start on 1 September?
0.0% Illegal downloading will cease
0.4% More bandwidth for legitimate users
0.8% More money for rights holders
31.5% Punishment of innocent account holders
64.9% Nothing (pirates will change techniques)
1.2% Not sure
1.2% Don't care
28 July, 2011
Where is the ideal location for the Product Filter?
63.8% Left-hand side - where it is now
3.9% Left-hand side - higher up
0.8% Left hand side - lower down
24.4% Right-hand side - where it was
3.1% Middle - above Most Recent/Popular
2.4% Middle - below Most Recent/Popular
1.6% What is the Product Filter?
12 July, 2011
What portion of your non-work computing requirements do you think you will handle by smartphone in 3 years time?
0.8% All of it
4.2% Most of it
19.2% 50/50
43.3% Only a small amount
10.8% None of it
0.0% I already do everything via smartphone
21.7% I won't be buying a smartphone
27 June, 2011
We recently changed our site search to use Google Site Search. How have you found the new search?
20.8% Much better than before
22.8% Worse than before
7.9% About the same as before
19.8% Didn't notice it had changed
28.7% I don't use the search feature
13 June, 2011
Which of the following best describes the NZ market for computer-related products?
5.1% Excellent range
41.5% Limited range
3.4% Slow to get new models
0.8% Good prices
44.9% Too expensive
0.8% Better than Australia
3.4% Worse than Australia
30 May, 2011
What is the speed of your internet connection?
36.9% Broadband > 10 Mbps
28.3% Broadband 5-10 Mbps
17.1% Broadband 2-5 Mbps
12.8% Broadband < 2 Mbps
3.2% Dial-up
0.5% Don't know, but it's fast
1.1% Don't know, but it's slow
13 May, 2011
What do you think of Google's newly announced Chromebooks?
4.0% Can't wait to get one
5.5% Could be useful
11.5% I'll wait to see one in action
33.0% Not really interested
8.5% They're a bad idea
37.5% What's a Chromebook?
29 April, 2011
Do you plan to build your next PC?
87.7% Yes
7.0% No, I will buy a tablet
3.5% No, I will buy a pre-built PC
1.8% No, I will get someone else to build it for me
15 April, 2011
What do you think of the new look website?
57.6% I like it
12.7% I prefer the old look
9.3% I don't remember the old look
5.1% I don't like either
15.3% I don't really care
01 April, 2011
Would you use re-manufacturered toner cartridges for your printer if the price were no more than half the price of a brand new cartridge?
11.4% I already do
57.9% Yes
20.2% No
10.5% I don't buy toner cartridges
18 March, 2011
Which courier company is best?
63.3% CourierPost / Pace
4.0% Fastway
6.0% New Zealand Couriers
0.7% PBT
0.7% TNT
2.0% Other
23.3% None, it depends on the individual contractor
02 March, 2011
Many of us need software like iTunes to manage our music, apps and so on. What do you think of the latest iTunes (v10)?
5.9% Love it
11.9% Haven't thought about it
21.1% Hate it
0.5% Still using an earlier version
40.5% Use a non-Apple alternative
20.0% Have no need for such software
16 February, 2011
When ordering products from our website do you consider the supplier rating?
8.1% Always
18.6% Mostly
46.5% Sometimes
19.8% Never
7.0% What supplier rating?
28 January, 2011
How keen are you on getting a tablet device?
16.3% Already have an iPad
4.2% Already have a non-Apple device
4.2% Very interested in getting an iPad
13.8% Very interested in getting a non-Apple device
3.9% Interested in getting an iPad
21.1% Interested in getting a non-Apple device
36.3% Not interested in tablet devices
12 January, 2011
Have you ever had a hard disk crash that wiped out all your data?
26.8% Yes, but I had it all backed up
24.3% Yes, and I didn't have it backed up
10.5% Yes, and I didn't have it backed up - but I do now
24.9% No, but everything is backed up anyway
13.5% No, and I don't have a full backup
17 December, 2010
What do you think of Facebook?
9.5% Great tool for personal networking
0.7% Great tool for business
3.4% Great tool for business AND personal use
19.0% Can take it or leave it
0.0% Haven't tried it yet, but will
18.0% Haven't tried it yet and in no hurry to
49.3% Hate it
02 December, 2010
Would you be keen for a smartphone app to access your favourite online computer hardware store on the go?
22.0% Yes, keen for an iPhone app
27.0% Yes, keen for an Android app
1.5% Yes, keen for a Blackberry app
2.5% Yes, keen for an app for another smartphone
1.5% Might be interested
16.0% Not very intertested
29.5% I don't have a smartphone
12 November, 2010
What horizontal resolution do you use for your display (choose the closest if not an exact match)?
1.1% < 800
2.2% 1024
11.0% 1280
5.0% 1440
20.4% 1600
48.6% 1920
11.6% > 1920
26 October, 2010
What will be your next big electronics/computer purchase?
33.3% PC
13.0% Notebook
2.8% Projector
5.6% Home theatre system
7.4% Camera/Handycam
11.1% TV
26.9% Other
08 October, 2010
Do you prefer sites that use a fixed width format, or a variable width that expands to fill the entire screen?
10.9% Fixed width
80.3% Variable width
4.8% Don't mind either
4.1% Not sure what you mean
20 September, 2010
Do you care where your favourite e-tailer is physically located?
27.4% Yes, Wellington CBD
0.9% Yes, Wellington outside CBD
0.0% Yes, Wellington industrial park
0.0% Yes, Wellington suburbs
1.4% Yes, another NZ town
70.3% No, it's an e-tailer!
06 September, 2010
Before making a purchase do you usually view the Product Details page (where a single product's details appear on a single page), or do you add to cart directly from the Product Listing page (where all the products are listed on a single page)?
89.9% Always go to the Product Details page
4.7% Mostly go to the Product Details page
4.7% Sometimes go to the Product Details page
0.0% Rarely go to the Product Details page
0.8% What Product Details page?
20 August, 2010
How do you normally go about buying consumables for your printer?
3.8% Buy from Ascent using the Consumables Wizard
13.5% Buy from Ascent not using the Consumables Wizard
23.1% Buy from another online store
26.0% Buy from a regular store
5.8% Buy a new printer instead
27.9% I don't buy printer consumables
06 August, 2010
What do you consider to be the practical economic life of modern computer hardware and peripherals?
1.2% 1 year
13.7% 2 years
47.0% 3 years
9.5% 4 years
23.8% 5 years
2.4% 6 years
2.4% > 6 years
16 July, 2010
Where do you source most of your software from?
3.5% Legitimate copies from NZ shops (not online)
39.9% Legitimate copies from NZ online stores
16.2% Legitimate copies from overseas online stores
20.8% Other sources of legitimate copies
1.7% Borrowed from friends or work
17.9% Pirated / Warez
28 June, 2010
How do you normally search for products on the Ascent website?
91.8% Category listing on the left-hand side
7.5% Search box at the top left
0.0% Google, using site:ascent.co.nz
0.0% Ordinary Google
0.7% Other
08 June, 2010
Do you use a notebook or netbook computer?
15.3% Yes, I use one as my main computer
63.2% Yes, I use one in addition to my main computer
7.9% No, but I would like to
13.7% No, and I have no need to
19 May, 2010
What antivirus product are you using on your main PC?
14.0% AVG
12.5% Symantec (Norton)
1.8% McAfee
4.1% Kaspersky
10.0% Alwil (Avast)
30.3% Microsoft (OneCare, Defender, or Security Essentials)
27.3% Other
30 April, 2010
On all product pages there is a rating system for the current supplier. We rate general service, delivery and after-sales support. When ordering a product how much attention do you pay to this?
31.4% I always check the rating
54.7% I sometimes check
10.1% I don't bother
3.8% I have never seen this before
16 April, 2010
How often nowadays do you treat yourself to a major consumer electronics purchase?
11.5% Every 6 months or less
32.1% 6 - 12 months
32.8% 1 - 2 years
15.3% 2 - 5 years
6.1% 5+ years
2.3% Never
29 March, 2010
When was the last time you used a floppy disk?
3.3% Today
5.6% This month
14.6% Several months ago
72.8% Over a year ago
3.8% Never
05 March, 2010
If you have ever stopped using an online computer / peripherals e-tailer you previously used quite frequently, what was the main reason for changing?
16.8% Slow or unreliable delivery
19.8% High prices
36.6% Unresponsive, rude or inflexible staff
1.0% Inaccurate specs or pricing
3.0% Slow or inflexible returns process
8.4% Other
14.4% Have never needed to change
12 February, 2010
Based on your experience so far, how would rate Windows 7?
61.5% Excellent
11.9% Good
4.5% OK
1.6% Poor
12.3% I haven't upgraded yet
8.2% I wouldn't touch Windows
29 January, 2010
Does the physical location of an etailer make any difference to your purchase decision?
7.0% No, anywhere in the world is fine
86.0% Yes, I prefer New Zealand etailers
7.0% Yes, I prefer etailers in my own town/city
15 January, 2010
What is the main reason you shop at Ascent?
43.7% Great customer service
7.6% Low prices
32.9% Extensive range
5.7% Speedy delivery
3.2% Free delivery
0.6% Flexible returns policy
6.3% Other
30 December, 2009
Did you give or receive a computer-related gift (hardware/software/peripheral) this year for Christmas?
20.6% Yes, I gave one
17.0% Yes, I received one
8.5% Yes, I both gave and received one
6.4% No, I don't celebrate Christmas
47.5% No
14 December, 2009
When you come to make a computer-related purchase where do you usually visit first?
20.4% PriceSpy
75.7% The Ascent website
2.2% Another e-tailer
0.6% A physical store
1.1% Other
13 November, 2009
What level of computer knowledge would you consider yourself to have?
45.4% Expert
48.1% Above average
3.7% Average
0.7% Below average
2.0% Way below average
27 October, 2009
What operating system do you use on your main home PC?
35.4% Windows 7
15.3% Windows Vista
25.1% Windows XP
0.3% Other Windows OS
8.7% Mac OS
14.7% Linux (and variants)
0.5% Other
09 October, 2009
Who do you get to fix your home computer when it starts playing up or dies?
95.2% Myself
1.4% A friend or relative
0.3% I take it to an IT professional (and pay)
1.0% An IT professional comes to me (and I pay)
0.7% I just buy a new one
1.4% My computer hasn't had a problem
18 September, 2009
What would you like to see more of in our weekly newsletter?
52.0% Hot specials
15.3% New products
2.0% News
6.1% Price drops
1.0% Other (email your suggestions to us)
7.1% The current mix is fine
16.3% I don't get your newsletter
04 September, 2009
What do you use to backup your data on your home PC?
15.1% Another PC
64.3% External hard drive
3.2% DVDs or CDs
1.1% Tape drive
3.8% USB flash drive
2.7% Floppy discs
9.7% I don't backup my data
14 August, 2009
Do you regularly use a free office suite?
51.2% Yes, OpenOffice
0.3% Yes, StarOffice
1.0% Yes, IBM Lotus Symphony
3.0% Yes, Google Docs
0.7% Yes, NeoOffice
0.7% Yes, but none of the above
43.1% No
27 July, 2009
Have you used our new Support page?
8.9% Yes, to return a product
1.6% Yes, to find a manufacturer's contact information
1.6% Yes, to lookup a user guide
4.1% No, I just call or email you instead
26.8% No, had no need to
56.9% What support page?
03 July, 2009
What does your home PC mainly get used for?
38.6% Gaming
29.2% Internet browsing
1.7% Mail
14.4% Media (music, movies, TV, etc)
11.9% Work or formal education
3.0% Other
1.3% I don't have a home PC
14 June, 2009
In order to reduce the amount of space taken up on the home page by the Spotlight, Daily Deal, Featured Product and News, we combined them into a single block with sliding panels that expand when the cursor is over them. How have you found this feature?
52.7% It's OK
10.9% I don't like it - go back to how it was
26.1% I don't like it - do something different
10.3% I don't care either way
25 May, 2009
How do you handle cookies from etailer websites?
1.7% I block all cookies
16.3% I allow all cookies
46.1% I allow cookies from sites I trust
16.3% I allow cookies but clear after each session
18.0% I allow cookies but clear periodically
1.7% What's a cookie?
11 May, 2009
How excited are you at the prospect of Windows 7?
15.6% Very - I want to upgrade from XP
25.1% Very - I want to upgrade from Vista
14.9% I'm cautiously optimistic
16.6% I'll wait and see first
10.5% I don't plan to upgrade from my current Windows
0.3% It could convert me to Windows
16.9% I wouldn't touch Windows
27 April, 2009
Which part of our site do you find is the most difficult to use or follow?
2.2% Cart / Checkout
0.0% Product listing pages
0.0% Product spec pages
42.2% Product filter
3.7% PC Builder
5.2% Something else
46.7% Nothing - it's all easy
30 March, 2009
What do you expect your next computer-related purchase to be?
18.9% New PC
11.8% LCD monitor
24.3% Hard drive
7.1% RAM
2.0% Printer
24.3% Something else
11.5% I don't really need anything at the moment
12 March, 2009
How intuitive or easy do you find our checkout process?
74.2% Very easy
15.6% Easy
4.3% OK, but could be improved
1.6% A bit confusing
2.2% Needs a lot of work
2.2% I've never bought anything
20 February, 2009
Which of the following best describes your main home computer?
17.3% State of the art
43.9% Adequate for my needs
17.9% Needs minimal upgrading
17.6% Needs a major overhaul
2.7% Should be in the skip
0.7% I don't have a home PC
05 February, 2009
What is the main reason you shop at Ascent?
61.1% Great customer service
6.9% Low prices
14.3% Extensive range
7.4% Speedy delivery
4.6% Free delivery
1.7% Flexible return policy
4.0% Other
21 January, 2009
Which of the following recently added features has been of most use or interest to you?
43.1% The Daily Deal
7.8% Finance as a payment option
7.8% Quick Filter in the PC category
2.9% Search by Ascent part number across entire site
2.0% Featured products on category pages
26.5% Revamped Specials page with more specials
9.8% None of them interest me
05 January, 2009
Windows 7 is due out in late 2009. Will you jump in at the outset, wait for Service Pack 1, or give it a miss completely?
36.3% Move to Win 7 from Vista at the outset
8.0% Move from XP at the outset
0.0% Move from a non-Windows OS at the outset
3.1% Move from Vista after SP1 is released
24.0% Move from XP after SP1
0.4% Move from a non-Windows OS after SP1
28.2% Give it a miss completely
17 December, 2008
How often do you check the Daily Deal?
21.3% Daily
30.3% Occasionally
21.3% Never
27.0% What Daily Deal?
27 November, 2008
What type of gifts would you be most likely to buy as a Christmas Present?
12.4% Cameras
12.4% Internal components
16.9% Music players
32.6% Gaming equipment
14.6% Home entertainment
11.2% Other (email us)
07 November, 2008
Many new games are being released that make use of the new DirectX 10. Do you intend to upgrade to a DirectX 10 compatible graphics card?
26.6% Yes, within 6 months
9.7% Yes, within 12 months
16.9% Yes, not sure when
16.9% Perhaps, I don't care when
25.8% No
4.0% What's DirectX 10?
24 October, 2008
How often do you upgrade/replace your PC?
3.9% < 6 months
12.4% 6-12 months
14.7% 13-18 months
10.9% 19-24 months
34.9% 25-36 months
5.4% 37-48 months
17.8% > 48 months
10 October, 2008
What CPU type do you anticipate having in 6 months time?
4.1% 32-bit single core
7.7% 32-bit dual core
4.1% 32-bit quad core
1.0% 64-bit single core
35.2% 64-bit dual core
43.4% 64-bit quad core
4.6% Don't know
26 September, 2008
How often do you take notice of (eg read) the homepage Spotlight?
7.1% Always
52.9% Often
17.1% Rarely
7.1% Never
15.9% What Spotlight?
05 September, 2008
How often do you upgrade your browser software?
90.8% As soon as an upgrade becomes available
4.0% At least every 3 months
1.5% Every 4 - 10 months
0.7% About once a year
1.5% Once every couple of years
0.4% When I buy a new PC
1.1% Never
04 September, 2008
Does the Ascent home page render properly in the browser you normally use?
64.4% Yes
35.6% No, but it used to
0.0% No, it never has
0.0% Not sure
25 August, 2008
Should the Software section of our website be reorganised?
75.0% Yes - list the subcategories separately instead of grouping into larger categories
8.8% Yes - keep it basically as is but make the category descriptions more meaningful
1.3% Yes - other (email us your suggestions)
15.0% No - leave it as it is
07 August, 2008
Does energy efficiency and environmental impact influence your buying decisions for computer equipment?
3.2% Always
5.1% Most of the time
28.6% Some of the time
9.7% Rarely
53.0% Never
14 July, 2008
What horizontal resolution do you use for your display (choose the closest if not an exact match)?
0.6% 800 or less
6.1% 1024
29.1% 1280
5.5% 1440
35.8% 1600
18.6% 1920
4.3% > 1920
26 June, 2008
How do you intend to cope with the pending end of retail sales of the Windows XP operating system?
2.4% Buy a copy while I still can
29.5% Transfer my existing licence to my next PC
10.3% Use a bootleg copy for my next PC
4.2% Move to Vista for my next PC
7.1% Move to another OS for my next PC
28.4% I already run Vista
18.2% I already use another OS
03 June, 2008
When buying a computer, component or peripheral online, how often do you end up making your purchase from Ascent?
16.2% All of the time
65.1% Most of the time
13.8% Some of the time
1.8% Hardly ever
3.1% Never
14 May, 2008
What would you most like to see more of in our news section?
5.1% Details of new features on our website
15.7% Notice of limited time hot specials
6.4% Industry news
3.8% Product (available now) news
7.6% Product (not yet available) news
2.1% Don't care
59.3% What news section?
28 April, 2008
Would you be interested in paying for your orders via Pago (eg via cellphone)?
2.7% Yes - I know what Pago is
3.3% Maybe - I know what Pago is
10.4% Maybe - I don't know what Pago is
41.2% No - I know what Pago is
42.4% No - I don't know what Pago is
18 April, 2008
Do you use a notebook computer?
31.6% Yes, as my main computer
38.9% Yes, from time to time
10.3% No, but I'd like to
19.2% No, and I have no need to
31 March, 2008
Would you consider moving to a free office application suite, such as OpenOffice 2.0?
51.6% I already use it
10.9% I'm seriously considering it
14.1% If the compatibility with MS Office improves
23.4% Never
11 March, 2008
If we added a PayPal payment option would it be useful to you?
15.1% Yes
84.9% No
22 February, 2008
What operating system do you use on your main PC?
2.6% Windows Vista Home Basic
14.9% Windows Vista Home Premium
4.7% Windows Vista Business
1.1% Windows Vista Enterprise
13.8% Windows Vista Ultimate
48.5% Windows XP
14.4% Other
12 February, 2008
Do you protect your home PC from potentially damaging power fluctuations?
20.1% Yes, I use a UPS
60.3% Yes, I use a surge protector
19.6% No
16 January, 2008
Who is winning the HD video format war in your household?
14.6% I already own a Blu-ray player
16.0% I plan to buy a Blu-ray player
3.5% I already own an HD DVD player
1.8% I plan to buy an HD DVD player
38.1% I'm still waiting to see which format will win
26.0% I'm not interested in either Blu-ray or HD DVD
19 December, 2007
Microsoft Vista has been with us for a while now. Has your opinion of it changed?
49.9% I still won't touch it
13.3% I tried it but went back to my old OS
5.6% I'm using it grudgingly
7.1% It's OK
3.8% It's better than I thought
20.4% I love it
12 December, 2007
Ascent gift vouchers that you can buy and redeem online will be here within the week. How useful is this likely to be to you?
41.7% Very! What took you so long?
20.5% Probably useful from time to time
37.9% Not interested in buying, but would love to be given some
19 November, 2007
What would you think about having a user discussion forum facility on the Ascent website?
7.8% It would be very useful
46.9% It could be useful
45.3% There's no point
05 November, 2007
Have you ever used PayPal to pay for goods from an online store?
45.1% Yes, but only on overseas sites
0.8% Yes, but only on NZ sites
6.4% Yes, on both NZ and overseas sites
13.9% No, but I would if I needed to
30.6% No, and I wouldn't want to
3.1% What's PayPal?
22 October, 2007
Notebook PCs usually come preloaded with an operating system. This isn't likely to change any time soon, but how do you feel about it?
22.7% It is very convenient for the user
11.5% It doesn't bother me
20.1% I want to load a different OS
45.7% It's a tax by the OS maker
08 October, 2007
Which anti-virus product do you use on your home PC (the 6 products listed below are the top anti-virus products according to this report.)
2.0% BitDefender
5.0% Kaspersky
18.4% ESET Nod32
3.7% PC-cillin
0.7% F-Secure
6.2% McAfee
63.9% Other
11 September, 2007
How much total hard disk capacity do you have on your main PC?
9.5% < 100 GB
18.2% 100-250 GB
27.7% 250-500 GB
25.9% 500-1000 GB
11.7% 1000-2000 GB
5.2% 2000-5000 GB
1.8% > 5000 GB
22 August, 2007
Some people are finding it hard to find DVD and CD drives and writers now that we have moved them into a category called "Optical drives". Which of the following names do you prefer for this category?
61.8% Optical drives
6.5% CD & DVD drives
22.5% DVD & CD drives
0.3% None of the above
8.9% Don't care
16 August, 2007
Have recent movements in the exchange rate and/or share market affected your computer-related purchase decisions?
47.4% Yes
52.6% No
31 July, 2007
Have you made the transition to Windows Vista yet?
41.5% No, and I don't ever intend to
3.8% No, but I will soon
28.6% No, but I will eventually
2.9% Yes on my work PC, but not my home PC
17.5% Yes on my home PC, but not my work PC
5.7% Yes on both my work and home PCs
10 July, 2007
Which graphics chipset manufacturer do you prefer?
17.0% ATI
72.1% nVidia
1.1% Other
2.9% Don't know
6.9% Don't care
22 June, 2007
When you install software do you ever read the entire EULA (End User License Agreement) before you click "I agree"?
78.8% Never
7.3% Sometimes
0.7% Mostly
0.5% Always
4.4% I skim read all of it
7.8% I glance at some of it
0.5% I don't install software
08 June, 2007
We have over 50 top-level hardware categories. Would you prefer to see fewer top-level categories with more sub-categories under each category?
84.4% No, I like it how it is
9.4% Yes, trim it a little
2.7% Yes, cut the list in half
2.0% Yes, drastically reduce to about 10-15 categories
1.6% I don't care either way
22 May, 2007
We have two checkout methods - Express and Normal. Express Checkout requires you to log in to your account, while Normal Checkout does not require you to even have an account. How do you like having a choice of checkout method?
84.5% I like it, and I prefer to use Express Checkout
5.8% I like it, and I prefer to use Normal Checkout
2.9% I like it, but have no preference
2.2% It is confusing
2.9% I'd prefer only one option - Express Checkout
0.7% I'd prefer only one option - Normal Checkout
1.1% I don't like it, but have no preference
03 May, 2007
How long do you think it is reasonable for a typical computer component or peripheral (eg mobo, video card, keyboard, printer, etc) to last before it develops a fault or dies?
0.3% 6 months
0.9% 1 year
4.1% 2 years
9.1% 3 years
50.4% 4-5 years
26.4% 6-8 years
8.8% More than 8 years
19 April, 2007
What do you think of our recent implementation of Ajax on the website? (Ajax allows pages to display various changes without refreshing the entire page or having to display new pages.)
66.5% Excellent
6.6% Good
19.8% Didn't notice anything different
2.4% The old way was better
1.9% The old way was much better
2.8% I don't care either way
05 April, 2007
Which gadget could you LEAST do without?
85.9% Computer
4.8% Mobile phone
1.9% PDA
3.3% MP3 player
0.0% Other portable media player
2.6% TV
1.5% VCR/DVD player
22 March, 2007
How would you rate our customer service relative to other online stores?
67.3% Much better
17.1% Better
6.1% About the same
0.8% Worse
1.2% Much worse
5.7% Haven't experienced your customer service yet
1.6% Haven't experienced other stores' customer service yet
06 March, 2007
How smooth have you found the transition to Windows Vista?
6.1% No problems at all
13.9% Easy, but some hardware/software won't work
1.6% Some hiccups
2.6% Lots of problems
2.6% Haven't upgraded yet, but will soon
11.8% Haven't upgraded yet, but will eventually
61.5% Wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot barge pole
14 February, 2007
How useful do you find the Compare feature?
15.4% Extremely useful
39.9% Useful
3.4% Not useful
35.6% I don't use it
5.8% What is the Compare feature?
24 January, 2007
When did you last upgrade your computer CPU?
23.3% Less than 6 months ago
14.3% 6-12 months ago
22.2% 12-24 months ago
32.7% More than 24 months ago
0.8% Don't remember, but not long ago
3.3% Don't remember, but a long time ago
3.3% This is my first computer
03 January, 2007
What is the main reason you shop at Ascent?
14.0% Wide product range
10.6% Competitive prices
6.9% Good website
2.1% Fast delivery
61.7% Reliable and professional
3.2% Friendly and helpful staff
1.6% Good after-sales service
12 December, 2006
What do you think of the new look website?
75.8% I like it
17.2% I prefer the old look
1.8% I don't like either
5.3% I don't really care
04 December, 2006
How soon after Windows Vista is released do you expect to change to it?
16.9% I'm using it already
16.2% < 6 months
11.9% 6 - 12 months
19.4% 12 - 24 months
13.3% > 24 months
22.3% I don't run Windows
23 November, 2006
Couriers in NZ are notoriously inconsistent (any given company will have both excellent and useless contractors, depending on the area). What has been the overall performance of couriers delivering items you have ordered from online stores?
15.7% Excellent
41.8% Good
34.9% Some good, some bad
5.4% Generally not great
2.3% Completely useless
03 November, 2006
Do you normally use the List view or the Gallery view to browse product categories?
77.6% Always use the List view
9.5% Usually use the List view
8.8% About 50:50
2.0% Usually use the Gallery view
2.0% Always use the Gallery view
17 October, 2006
Do you have Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash Player, or a compatible player, installed on this PC?
82.6% Yes
16.4% No
0.9% Don't know
29 September, 2006
How often do you watch downloaded TV shows before they are officially transmitted in New Zealand?
48.5% All the time
6.3% Often
7.7% Now and again
4.9% Hardly ever
25.2% Never (not interested)
7.5% Never (didn't know you could)
13 September, 2006
What is the speed of your internet connection?
12.1% Dial-up
14.6% Broadband < 2 Mbps
62.5% Broadband 2-5 Mbps
6.3% Broadband 5-10 Mbps
2.9% Broadband > 10 Mbps
1.0% Don't know, but it's slow
0.6% Don't know, but it's fast
25 August, 2006
Which of the following aspects of the website would you most like to see improved (or more of)?
0.3% Website appearance
1.4% Website features
6.1% Product range
15.0% Product specifications
46.8% Product images
29.4% Links to reviews
1.0% Links between related products
17 August, 2006
What do you usually use the Ascent website for?
85.2% To decide and to buy
4.9% To decide, but I buy elsewhere
8.6% To buy, after deciding elsewhere
1.2% To neither decide nor buy
01 August, 2006
How useful would it be to be able to save your product filter criteria?
11.4% Very useful
18.3% Useful
21.8% Marginally useful
39.7% Don't care
3.5% Don't use the Product Filter
5.2% What's the Product Filter?
18 July, 2006
What horizontal resolution do you use for your operating system (choose the closest if not an exact match)?
0.2% < 800
0.4% 800
23.8% 1024
4.0% 1152
47.6% 1280
10.1% 1600