LOGIN  |  FAQ  |  SUPPORT  |  CONTACT US  
Ascent
 
PC Builder
Clearance
Specials
Software
Hardware
Follow us on twitter Follow us on Facebook RSS Feeds
Daily deal DAILY DEAL
Check again at 8am for a new Daily Deal
My account YOUR ACCOUNT | Wishlist WISH LIST | Shopping cart VIEW CART (0 ITEMS)
| CheckoutCHECKOUT ($0.00)
| Comparison
COMPARE ITEMS (0 ITEMS)
Home > Past user poll results
Past user poll results
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
13.7% > 1600
14 July, 2006
How often do you use the site search facility?
11.4% All of the time
10.1% Most of the time
40.9% Some of the time
30.2% Hardly ever
6.7% Never
0.7% Where is it?
06 July, 2006
How useful would it be to have a feature that would allow you to easily compare - and print out if desired - multiple products side by side?
62.0% Extremely useful
20.7% Useful
6.5% A little useful
6.5% Don't need it
4.3% Don't care
30 June, 2006
How often do you use the Product Filter?
25.6% All of the time
21.6% Most of the time
40.8% Some of the time
6.4% Hardly ever
2.4% Never
3.2% What's the Product Filter?
14 June, 2006
Some people complained that the BUY link we used was hard to find, so we have now changed this to a graphic, but we are now getting complaints from those who prefer the original simple link better. Which do you prefer?
15.1% The simple BUY link
52.6% The new Add to Cart graphic
1.3% Neither
31.0% Don't care
29 May, 2006
On average, how many on-line stores do you visit before placing an order for a specific item?
14.3% 1
17.8% 2
47.7% 3
8.4% 4
3.5% 5
0.7% 6
7.7% 7 or more
08 May, 2006
Assuming the total amount spent on discounts was unchanged, which of the following would you would prefer.
9.1% A discount for paying by direct credit (the status quo)
87.0% A discount for repeat customers (eg after 3 or so orders)
3.2% No discount - lower all prices marginally instead
0.7% I don't care (not price sensitive)
18 April, 2006
Which of the following areas would you most like to see improved?
2.9% Website appearance
5.8% Website features
56.2% Website content
16.8% Response times
6.6% Pre-sales support
2.2% Post-sales support
9.5% Returns policies
31 March, 2006
What impact will the drop in the value of the NZ dollar have on your purchases of computer equipment?
31.0% None
3.8% I'll postpose my purchases and hope the dollar rises again
54.4% I'll probably buy less
3.8% I'll buy more now before it drops further
7.1% Not sure
08 March, 2006
How useful have you found the Product Filter on the Product Listing pages?
85.3% Very useful
8.4% Useful
1.2% Not useful
0.4% Couldn't understand it
2.4% Haven't had the need to use it
2.4% What's the Product Filter?
22 February, 2006
Which of the following new website features would you most like to see implemented?
36.1% The ability to cancel items that have not yet shipped
10.6% An RSS feed for What's New items, Specials, Clearance items
28.2% Quantity pricing (eg lower unit price if buy more than 1)
1.2% The ability to purchase Ascent gift vouchers
4.7% Be able to save searches and receive an email when items match your criteria
2.4% A more modern graphic look for the site
16.9% The addition of sub-categories
08 February, 2006
How do you rate the responsiveness of the Ascent website?
77.1% Very good
21.1% Usually acceptable
0.9% Often slow (broadband users only)
0.0% Often slow (dialup users only)
0.6% Usually slow (broadband users only)
0.3% Usually slow (dialup users only)
23 January, 2006
Is either your main work or non-work computer overclocked?
21.6% Yes, I did it myself
0.2% Yes, someone else helped me
28.3% No, I don't like overclocking
4.0% No, I don't know how
41.1% No, I can't be bothered
4.9% What's overclocking?
09 January, 2006
Windows Vista is due to be released near the end of this year. How keen are you to move to Vista?
4.1% Already running a beta
14.5% Very keen
26.4% Interested
6.1% Couldn't care less either way
34.5% Will stick with my current Windows
14.5% I don't run Windows and don't intend to change
22 December, 2005
Do you play digital videos (eg AVI, DivX, etc) through a TV separate to your PC?
5.0% Yes, via a PC running Windows XP Media Centre
31.3% Yes, via a PC running regular Windows XP
9.0% Yes, via a PC running other software
8.7% Yes, via a networked media player
6.2% Yes, via a stand-alone media player
16.4% No, but I plan to
23.5% No, and I have no plans to
06 December, 2005
How interested would you be in being able to purchase Ascent gift certificates online that could be used by a recipient to purchase goods from the Ascent website?
9.0% Very interested
23.4% Interested
20.7% Marginally interested
46.8% Not interested at all
17 November, 2005
How interested would you be in us also listing mobile phones on open and 24 month contracts if that meant you could get the phone much cheaper (free in the case of most of our phones, including Blackberrys, on a 24 month plan)?
12.1% Very interested
42.8% Interested
2.6% Neutral
5.5% It depends on which telco you plan to use
5.1% Not interested - I'm happy with my current phone/plan
26.1% Not interested - I prefer prepay
5.7% Not interested - Other
04 November, 2005
What would you most like to see in an Ascent RSS feed?
50.0% Specials
8.8% Clearance items
4.6% News
9.6% I don't want an RSS feed
27.1% What's an RSS feed?
21 October, 2005
What would you like to see more of in the weekly Email Specials newsletter?
26.0% Product news (new releases, etc)
24.5% Popular products coupon specials
10.9% New products coupon specials
15.6% Bundled specials (get x cheaper when you buy y)
1.6% Spotlight on the product of the week
7.3% What is the Email Specials newsletter?
14.1% I'm not interested in the Email Specials newsletter
07 October, 2005
Would you like to see an online lease option added to the payment methods?
2.0% No, because it is too much hassle
56.2% No, because I like to pay things off in one go
18.6% I may not use it but it would be good to have the choice
17.8% Maybe, for big purchases such as a new PC
5.4% Yes, I'd be very interested
23 September, 2005
How do you make a final decision on which product to buy?
71.4% From magazines and online product reviews
2.7% Advice from friends
5.7% Hands on experience with the product (eg at work, friends)
2.7% Advice from Ascent
1.8% Use the Product Filter to find the cheapest product that meets my requirements
13.0% Use the Product Filter to find the best product that meets my criteria
2.7% Other
11 September, 2005
What type of graphics card do you use on your main PC?
7.4% On-board video
1.3% PCI
13.7% AGP 2x or 4x
54.1% AGP 8x
19.8% PCIe-16 (single card)
3.0% PCIe-16 (dual cards)
0.7% Don't know
26 August, 2005
How much total hard disk capacity do you have on your main PC?
6.5% 0-40 GB
10.0% 40-80 GB
8.9% 80-120 GB
28.9% 120-250 GB
27.6% 250-500 GB
11.2% 500-1000 GB
7.0% > 1000 GB
24 August, 2005
What is the primary use of your main home PC?
19.9% Games & simulations
0.4% Internet & mail
11.5% Music & video
33.6% Photo & image processing
21.2% Work
11.1% Study & reference
2.2% Other
10 August, 2005
Which email program do you use primarily?
10.9% Microsoft Outlook Express
31.8% Microsoft Outlook
2.0% Eudora
1.7% Pegasus
16.7% Thunderbird
21.3% Other email client
15.7% Web-based email
28 July, 2005
Which of the following would you like to see on the home page in place of the What's New listings?
23.3% Keep it as it is
63.9% As is, but add pictures
4.2% Most popular items in the last 2 weeks
4.2% Most popular items in the last 4 weeks
2.1% Most popular NEW items in the last 2 weeks
1.2% Most popular NEW items in the last 4 weeks
1.2% Don't care
14 July, 2005
Do you burn DVD dual layer disks?
29.6% No, I don't have a dual layer burner
57.1% No, the media is too expensive
2.2% No, other
3.4% Yes, to backup files
3.6% Yes, to pirate DVDs
4.0% Yes, other
30 June, 2005
Do you have a home computer network?
2.3% No, and probably never will
7.7% No, but thinking about it
49.7% Yes, wired and wireless
33.7% Yes, wired only
6.7% Yes, wireless only
14 June, 2005
What do you think of the new Product Filter facility to filter and sort product listings?
85.0% Very useful
2.6% So-so
2.9% Don't like it
4.9% Haven't had the need to use it
4.6% Don't know what you're talking about
31 May, 2005
What would you like the default invoice format to be (currently it is plain text)?
33.3% Plain text
57.1% PDF via email
4.6% Physical copy via post
5.1% I don't care
17 May, 2005
What is the speed of your internet connection?
19.1% Dial-up (56 kbp or less)
29.9% Slow broadband (128-256 kbps)
7.8% Fast broadband (1 Mbps)
35.1% High speed broadband (2 Mbps)
7.0% Fastest broadband (> 2 Mbps)
0.8% Don't know, but it's slow
0.3% Don't know, but it's fast
03 May, 2005
What is the most important factor to you when choosing between online computer stores?
52.6% Price
5.8% Product range
2.4% Website appearance
1.0% Website features
18.3% Speedy processing and delivery
1.6% Pre-sales support
18.3% Post-sales support
15 April, 2005
Which of the following best describes your opinion of post-purchase mail-in rebates and cash back offers?
2.8% They're a good idea
62.1% They're inconvenient, but better than nothing
19.1% I wouldn't bother sending them in
9.6% I've been burnt by them in the past
6.4% Haven't thought about it
04 April, 2005
We have changed the FAQ page so that it is, we believe, quicker and easier to use. Which do you prefer - the new version or the old version?
66.4% New version
6.9% Old version
1.5% Either
0.8% Neither
24.4% Don't care
16 March, 2005
What is the most important feature to you when choosing a portable mp3 player?
14.0% Price
37.6% Capacity
4.2% Ease of use
23.0% Sound quality
9.9% Battery life
8.1% Style
3.3% Extra features (eg photo storage, etc)
28 January, 2005
If the direct credit discount were raised from 1.5% to 2% what is your most likely reaction?
36.9% I would switch to paying by direct credit
19.2% I already pay by direct credit, but I would probably buy more
10.8% I already pay by direct credit, and it probably wouldn't affect my purchasing decision
33.1% I don't pay by direct credit and don't intend to
10 January, 2005
Which DVD format do you burn most of the time?
31.8% +R because it is technically superior or more compatible
2.4% +R because it is cheaper
2.9% +R because it is all my writer supports
25.8% -R because it is technically superior or more compatible
5.8% -R because it is cheaper
4.7% -R because it is all my writer supports
26.7% Neither (I don't have a DVD writer or I use DVD-RAM)
02 December, 2004
How useful have you found the Advanced Filter on the Product Listing pages?
57.0% Very useful
11.7% Not very useful
1.3% Couldn't understand it
15.2% Haven't had the need to use it
14.8% What's the Advanced Filter?
19 November, 2004
Our product names are made up of the product's key attributes. This makes some names (eg motherboards) quite long, taking up to 4 lines on the Product Listing screen. Would you like to see some of the names shortened by dropping some of the attributes?
92.4% Keep the status quo
3.6% Shorten the longest names to fit on 1 line max
4.0% Shorten the longest names to fit on 2 lines max
27 October, 2004
What would you most like to see improved on the product details page?
20.9% More product information
53.6% Less marketing fluff and more core product specs
20.6% More reviews
1.6% More links to related products
1.9% More consistency between product pages
1.2% The layout and design
0.3% Other
05 October, 2004
Which part of our site would you most like to see improved?
3.1% Home page
3.4% Category list (left column)
3.1% Product listing pages
63.4% Product detail pages
1.0% Tabs along the top
0.3% Modify account details page
25.8% Order status and history page
30 August, 2004
We could increase the number of products listed on our website. Which of the following alternatives appeals the most to you?
22.5% Maintain the status quo (about 35 products a day)
1.5% Add fewer links to manufacturer specs, reviews, etc
1.3% Maintain links, but simplify the naming convention
0.5% Reduce links and simplify the naming convention
0.7% Don’t bother standardising the product names
8.6% Add a “…More” category to list approx 10,000 additional in-stock items by brand
64.9% Add a “…More” category to list approx 50,000 additional items (in or out of stock) by brand
19 August, 2004
How interested are you in getting a large LCD or plasma TV?
4.4% Already have one
2.6% Very interested, but waiting for the price to drop a bit
71.1% Very interested, but waiting for the price to drop a lot
7.4% Very interested, but waiting for the technology to improve
2.4% Mildly interested
12.0% Not interested
20 July, 2004
Which of the following would you prefer us to implement?
27.3% A small discount (say 1%) for return customers
70.1% A 10 day "no questions asked" right of return policy, with relaxed criteria for replacements during warranty period
23 June, 2004
What is the main reason you shop at Ascent?
16.0% Price
34.8% Product range
41.1% Service
1.2% Stock available
1.0% Company policy
1.7% Can pick up from Ascent's office
4.3% Other
04 June, 2004
Which OS do you primarily use on your PC?
30.1% Linux
43.1% Windows XP Pro
11.9% Windows XP Home
3.2% Windows 9x/Me
1.0% Windows NT
7.3% Mac OS
3.4% Other
28 May, 2004
What do you think of the revamped specials newsletter?
32.5% Much better
14.9% Better
10.5% I prefer the plain text version
7.9% I don't care either way
34.2% I don't subscribe to the newsletter
29 April, 2004
What sort of items would you most like to see more of in our News section?
45.9% New product lines
1.4% New brands and agencies
16.1% Patch and firmware releases, product recall notices
3.8% Industry trends
13.0% Upcoming price and stock rumours
19.2% Special specials
0.7% Other (email your suggestions)
30 March, 2004
When you check out we give you the option of being added to our Specials email list. This is currently opt-out rather than opt-in. How do you feel about the approach we have taken?
8.0% Strongly approve
4.6% Moderately approve
41.1% Don't care one way or the other
26.6% Moderately disapprove
19.8% Strongly disapprove
05 March, 2004
Some products that are popular due to low price or unique features have failure rates that are much higher than the average. Should we still list these products?
14.0% Definitely not
1.9% Not sure, but probably not
0.8% Not sure, but probably
82.2% Yes, but add a caution to the spec
1.0% Definitely yes
24 February, 2004
We can offer an additional 2 years warranty on products for approximately 10-15% of the purchase price (the exact rate depends on the price of the item). Is this something that would interest you?
15.0% Definitely
21.5% Probably
43.0% Probably not
20.5% Defintely not
13 February, 2004
How often do you use the 'By brand' listing in the left column?
14.8% Always
6.3% Often
25.6% Every now and then
53.3% Never
21 January, 2004
Do you currently use a Wi-Fi connected PC?
2.2% Yes, at work only
23.1% Yes, at home only
10.7% Yes, at home and at work
16.9% No, but I plan to
36.4% No, and I have no need to
10.7% What's Wi-Fi?
31 December, 2003
How would you rate your computer literacy?
29.3% 5 - Could teach Steve Jobs a thing or two
60.5% 4 - Know enough to resolve most problems
4.4% 3 - Average
2.0% 2 - Know enough to get into but not out of trouble
1.0% 1 - Can use a computer but don't understand them
2.9% 0 - Haven't a clue
11 December, 2003
How would you prefer we implement a customer loyalty scheme?
19.8% Don't. Reduce all prices a little across the board for everyone
3.4% Give transferable vouchers after every $x worth of purchases
76.8% Give x% discount permanently after reaching $y of purchases
02 December, 2003
What is your preference for a computer screen?
27.4% I use a CRT and prefer a CRT
6.0% I prefer a CRT but use a TFT
21.0% I prefer a TFT and use a TFT
45.6% I prefer a TFT but use a CRT
12 November, 2003
In which of the following categories do you feel Ascent is LEAST competitive?
2.9% Memory
2.1% Hard drives
1.1% Motherboards
3.7% Cases
2.4% CPUs
40.5% Video cards
47.4% CD/DVD Writers
31 October, 2003
Have you used the Advanced Filter yet?
32.5% Yes - and it was helpful
5.4% Yes - but it wasn't helpful
0.6% Tried - but didn't understand it
9.6% No need so far
51.8% No - what's the Advanced Filter?
20 October, 2003
Currently we display all new listings for the last 10 days, grouped by day. Given the size of this list, which of the following options would you prefer?
11.9% Keep the status quo
2.5% Only show products added in the last 5 days
65.3% Display for 10 days, but group by category
6.8% Display for 5 days, but group by category
13.6% Don't care
07 October, 2003
Where do you source most of your software from?
22.6% Legitimate copies from NZ shops (not online)
19.6% Legitimate copies from NZ online stores
8.9% Legitimate copies from overseas online stores
6.0% Other sources of legitimate copies
3.0% Borrowed from friends or work
32.3% Pirated / Warez
7.7% I don't buy software
19 September, 2003
How would you prefer to receive your Ascent invoices?
37.7% Plain text via email
42.6% PDF via email
5.8% HTML via email
1.0% Rich text via email
0.3% Word doc via email
11.6% Hard copy via post
1.0% Don't care
11 September, 2003
How would you like the shopping cart to count items?
86.4% As it does now (every item counts as 1, so 2 of the same thing equals 2 items)
5.3% Each unique item counts as 1 (so 2 of the same thing equals 1 item, not 2)
8.3% Don't care
26 August, 2003
Which of the following new features appeals to you the most?
52.1% Faster load time
4.8% Ability to customise the display
7.9% The Advanced Filter
8.2% More specials & listing of clearance items
5.2% Price movements added to product listings
5.8% Listing of most popular products
16.1% More modern look
04 August, 2003
What resolution do you use for your operating system?
3.8% 800 x 600
1.0% Other < 1024 x 768
45.2% 1024 x 768
10.7% 1152 x 864
29.6% 1280 x 1024
6.5% 1600 x 1200
3.2% > 1600 x 1200
17 June, 2003
Which browser do you use most of the time?
38.2% Internet Explorer 6.x
1.7% Earlier version of IE
4.9% Netscape Navigator
5.3% Opera
46.5% Mozilla
3.4% Other
16 May, 2003
What is the most you would consider paying extra annually for an on-site service contract for an ordinary PC (not server or notebook)?
83.8% I wouldn't bother
6.6% less than $50
6.6% $50 - $100
1.5% $101 - $150
0.3% $151 - $200
0.6% $201 - $250
0.6% more than $250
28 April, 2003
Has the talk of possible power blackouts this winter caused you to reconsider the protection you have in place for your computer?
18.9% No, already have a UPS
65.3% No, I'll take my chances
15.3% Yes, might get a UPS
0.5% Yes, definitely getting a UPS
04 April, 2003
What is your main reason for subscribing to the weekly Email Specials mailing list?
51.2% For the specials
25.3% To find out what's new on the site
23.5% Don't subscribe
05 March, 2003
Which of the following case brands would you most like to see added to our range?
12.0% Foxconn (Hyena)
11.7% Auriga
1.3% Atlas
1.7% Saturn
8.3% Olympic
65.0% None - current range is fine
04 February, 2003
Which of the following hardware categories would you most like to see more of?
30.5% Motherboards
21.4% Cases
22.4% Video cards
10.0% Monitors
5.7% Media / consumables
4.8% Keyboards / mice / joysticks
5.2% ADSL / routers / firewalls
21 January, 2003
It is our policy to stop listing products that have excessive failure rates or that are poorly supported by their local importers, even if the product is a well known brand (eg Abit motherboards). Would you prefer that we
87.6% Continue the current policy
12.4% List everything and leave it up to you to decide
24 December, 2002
If we could source any of the following, what would you most like to see added to our range?
19.9% TVs
0.4% VCRs
11.5% DVD players
33.6% Home audio
21.2% Car audio
11.1% Phones
2.2% Fax machines
28 November, 2002
Which of the following would you most like Santa to bring you for Christmas?
26.4% Bigger hard disk and/or more memory
14.2% Speedier video card
31.0% High-speed internet connection
10.4% Digital camera
10.7% DVD Writer
4.3% MP3 player
2.9% New printer
18 November, 2002
What resolution do you use for Windows?
0.0% 640 x 480
0.0% 800 x 600
53.1% 1024 x 768
12.3% 1152 x 864
26.8% 1280 x 1024
5.6% 1600 x 1200
2.2% > 1600 x 1200
05 November, 2002
Other than price and secure order processing, what is the most important factor to you when choosing between online computer stores?
42.3% Product range
0.8% Order tracking
13.8% On-time delivery
5.7% Customer support (the human element)
32.5% Speed of response
3.3% Website features and performance
1.6% Physical store (eg for pickups, returns)
29 October, 2002
What is the most important factor to you when choosing between online computer stores?
74.5% Price
4.7% Product range
0.9% Delivery
15.1% Support (the human element)
3.8% Speed of response
0.0% Website features
0.9% Physical store (eg for pickups, returns)
16 October, 2002
Typically, how many online NZ computer stores do you check out before making a purchase?
3.2% None
7.8% One
16.9% Two
34.4% Three
5.2% Four
1.3% Five
31.2% Six or more
10 October, 2002
When you add something to your shopping cart you are no longer taken to the checkout page when each item is added. Instead, you now just click on Your Shopping Cart when you are done. Do you prefer this aproach?
83.9% Yes
5.4% No
10.7% Don't care
25 September, 2002
The more products on a page the longer it takes to load (eg Motherboards has in excess of 120 products). Would you prefer that we split long pages into several shorter pages?
91.7% No, keep it as is
1.3% Yes, no more than 25 per page
3.5% Yes, no more than 50 per page
0.9% Yes, no more than 75 per page
2.6% Don't care
06 September, 2002
Which of the following would you like to see more of?
17.2% Product images
31.2% Product specs (not links)
1.8% Links to manufacturers' specs
38.0% Reviews
3.2% Links to drivers
1.8% Links to manufacturers' support pages
6.8% None of the above - add more products!
25 July, 2002
In which of the following categories do you feel Ascent is least competitive?
7.4% Hard drives
19.5% Memory
1.7% Motherboards
5.6% CPUs
2.6% Cases
59.7% Video cards
3.5% Input devices
11 July, 2002
What is the most important factor in choosing a case?
4.4% Haven't given it much thought
32.4% Stylish & modern, colour
33.8% Construction quality
7.3% Ports (eg USB, sound) in front
0.7% Name brand
7.6% Number of bays
13.8% Cooling features
18 June, 2002
How do you prefer to spend your leisure time?
3.8% Using the Internet
1.0% Non-Internet computer use
45.2% TV
10.7% DVD / video
29.6% Computer & TV simulateously)
6.5% Game console
3.2% Other (sport, reading, hobby, etc)
10 June, 2002
What is the thing you like least about dealing with Ascent?
3.9% Nothing - you guys rock!
0.8% Prices
45.2% Product selection
10.8% Pre-sales support
29.4% Post-sales support & returns
6.7% Product availability & delivery
3.2% Website performance
31 May, 2002
When are you likely to buy a DVD writer?
38.2% When one format emerges as the common standard
1.7% When they get a lot cheaper
4.9% When they get a little bit cheaper
5.3% When they get faster
46.5% Any day now
3.4% Not sure
0.0% Not interested
13 May, 2002
We can add the following motherboards to our range, although after-sales support is not as good as the brands we currently list. Which brand, if any, would you most like us to add?
83.8% Soltek
6.6% Chaintek
6.6% Abit
1.5% EpoX
0.3% Tyan
0.6% SuperMicro
0.6% None - only stock brands with good after-sales support
18 April, 2002
What do you like best about the new website?
51.2% The look
25.3% PC Builder
23.5% Price & stock watch
0.0% User-defined price display
0.0% Display by manufacturer option
0.0% New sign-in method
0.0% Other
18 March, 2002
What sort of connection do you have to the Internet?
12.0% 33.6k or less dialup
11.7% 56k dialup
1.3% TelstraSaturn/Paradise cable
1.7% Telecom JetStart
8.3% Telecom Jetstream
65.0% Ihug Ultra
0.0% Other high speed access
11 February, 2002
Which of the following best represents your position regarding pirated software?
31.6% None of my software is pirated
18.7% Most of my software is pirated
2.2% I copy games, not business software
0.4% I copy business, not game software
12.9% Some of my software is pirated
34.2% I start with a pirated copy, but buy a legitimate copy if the software is any good
24 December, 2001
Which of the following best represents your position regarding pirated software?
87.6% None of my software is pirated
12.4% Most of my software is pirated
0.0% I copy games, not business software
0.0% I copy business, not game software
0.0% Some of my software is pirated
0.0% I start with a pirated copy, but buy a legitimate copy if the software is any good
28 November, 2001
What is the primary use of your main PC?
19.9% Games & simulations
0.4% Internet & mail
11.5% Music & video
33.6% DTP, image processing
21.2% Business applications
11.1% Education & reference
2.2% Other
16 November, 2001
In what era did you buy your first PC?
3.6% Pre-historic (pre 1977)
16.8% TRS80; Apple II ('77-'80)
24.0% IBM PC / XT / Macintosh ('81-'84)
26.0% 80386/486; Windows 3 ('85-'90)
10.2% Pentium; DOS 6 ('91-'94)
16.8% Windows 95/98/NT ('95-'98)
2.6% Windows Me/2K/XP ('99-'01)
02 November, 2001
What CPU are you planning on using in your next PC or upgrade?
26.4% AMD Duron
14.2% AMD Athlon Thunderbird
31.0% AMD Athlon Palamino
10.4% Intel Celeron
10.7% Intel Pentium III
4.3% Intel Pentium 4
2.9% Other
17 October, 2001
Have the events of September 11 caused you to postpone or cancel any plans for computer-related spending?
8.3% Cancel
0.0% Postpone
61.1% Made no difference
02 October, 2001
What sort of software would you like to see more of?
29.6% Games
60.1% Educational / Reference
4.4% Utilities
2.0% Design / Multimedia
1.0% Internet-related
3.0% Programming
0.0% Business applications
18 September, 2001
Would you prefer to have a customer loyalty programme that rewards everyone a little (eg, like Flybuys), or a few people a lot (eg, like Lotto)
19.8% Everyone a little
3.4% A few people a lot
76.8% Other (email your suggestions)
04 September, 2001
Are you planning to upgrade to Windows XP by the end of the year?
27.4% Yes
6.0% No
21.0% Undecided
45.6% Switching to Linux
22 August, 2001
What resolution do you use for Windows?
37.7% 640 x 480
42.6% 800 x 600
5.8% 1024 x 768
1.0% 1152 x 864
0.3% 1280 x 1024
11.6% > 1280 x 1024
22 August, 2001
What resolution do you use for Windows?
30.5% 640 x 480
21.4% 800 x 600
22.4% 1024 x 768
10.0% 1152 x 864
5.7% 1280 x 1024
4.8% > 1280 x 1024
10 August, 2001
What is the next big feature you would like to see added to the web site
85.7% PC Builder
5.3% Access to your financial history (invoices, credits, etc)
8.3% Personalised price drop notification system
0.0% Online leasing option
0.0% Customer loyalty programme
0.8% Discussion board
0.0% Live online sales help
01 August, 2001
What is going to be your next major PC-related purchase?
2.9% Entire PC
2.1% CPU and/or motherboard
1.1% Monitor
3.7% Video card
2.4% Hard drive
40.5% Peripheral (eg scanner, camera, printer, etc)
47.4% Other
19 July, 2001
What factor is the most important in your decision to buy from Ascent?
32.5% Price
5.4% Product range
0.6% Delivery
9.6% Pre-sales support
51.8% Post-sales support
0.0% Speed of response
0.0% Website
09 July, 2001
Who makes the best DSL modems for games?
11.9% Asustek
2.5% 3Com
65.3% Dynalink
6.8% Nokia
13.6% Dlink
0.0% Cisco
0.0% Other
25 June, 2001
What would you most like to see more of?
7.4% Reviews
19.5% Pictures
1.7% Specifications
5.6% Wider range
Top
CUSTOMER SERVICES

Contact us
FAQ
Gift vouchers
Terms and conditions
COMPANY INFO

About us
Announcements
News
Awards
Testimonials
PC BUILDER

Build PC
View or edit config
Compare configs
Price watch
PC builder help
TOOLS

Kingston memory finder
Consumables search
Server Configurator
View hardware by brand
View software by brand
WEBSITE

RSS
New listings
Recent price movements
Clearance
Specials
Hardware
Software
Payment types POLi payment type

Click here for more details Bizrate