Women Now Choose Plasma TV Over Diamonds

[kurth]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend, according to a new U.S. study that found three of four women would prefer a new plasma TV to a diamond necklace. The survey, commissioned by cable television's Oxygen Network that is owned and operated by women, found the technology gender gap has virtually closed with the majority of women snapping up new technology and using it easily.

Women were found on average to own 6.6 technology devices while men own 6.9, and four out of every five women felt comfortable using technology with 46 percent doing their own computer trouble-shooting. "People make the assumption that women are not as advanced as men when it comes to technology and I was surprised at the parity men and women now have in terms of technology," Geraldine Laybourne, chairman and chief executive of Oxygen Network, told Reuters.

The Girls Gone Wired survey of 1,400 women and 700 men aged 15 to 49, which was conducted by market researcher TRU, found that given the choice, women would opt for tech items rather than luxury items like jewelry or vacations. The study found 77 percent of women surveyed would prefer a new plasma television to a diamond solitaire necklace and 56 percent would opt for a new plasma TV over a weekend vacation in Florida.

Even shoes lost out. The study found 86 percent would prefer a new digital video camera to a pair of designer shoes. The study found over the next five years women see themselves increasing their activities in six tech areas: digital cameras, cell phones, e-mail, camera phones, text messaging and instant messaging...

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2006/08/02/technology_is_a_girls_best_friend_study/

[Atman]

1. My wife hates diamonds. She knows where they come from.

Diamonds are a bigger sham than oil. They aren't rare at all. Their value is totally due to artificial manipulation of the supply by the DeBeers cartel. They are mined with the worst type of slave labor to sell to suckers willing to plunk down 10,000 for a tiny rock which is indistinguishable from a CZ. People are crazy...give me that Plasma TV!

[liberal N proud]

2. Not my wife!

She is not going to let me get away with buying her a plasma TV. But I can bring jewelry home any day.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. So, that means no more dirty looks...

when she gets one of those Star Trek vacuum cleaners for her birthday?

[Robb]

4. My ex did prefer diamonds

...except during the Stanley Cup. At which point I could've taken out a third mortgage for a big TV. :evilgrin:

[squarepants]

5. not THIS woman!

I love technology and all that, but I'm not going to turn down any diamonds! lol

[NewJeffCT]

6. While I agree that diamonds are overpriced...

A diamond is going to be around in 50 years, and in 100 years. You can pass it on to your children and grandchildren.

How long is a plasma TV going to last? 5 years? 7 years? And, then it will be replaced by a newer technology that will last 3-5-7 years...

and, then another new TV after that, and then another, and another.

[lukasahero]

7. Not only do I prefer plasma to diamonds

I'm the only one in the house who knows how to hook up the system (and set the VCR clock!)

And hey, get this, I even WORK with computers. What's the world coming to when women can actually use technology? :eyes:

[Missy Vixen]

8. More for me, then

>found three of four women would prefer a new plasma TV to a diamond necklace<

Fine jewelry's forever.

Julie