Posted: 22nd Oct, 2003 By: MarkJ
Symantec's latest survey has revealed that over 86% of UK computer users get irritated and stressed by PC problems. Internet related difficulties, such as SPAM, have exasporated the problem:
The survey of 500 UK adults, conducted by Ipsos Research, came up with five irritants most likely to make a users blood boil. In order of annoyance these were: slow performance and system crashes (cited as worst irritant by 23 per cent of those quizzed); "spam, scams and too much email" (20 per cent); pop up advertisements (15 per cent); viruses (14 per cent) and files getting lost or deleted (four per cent).
According to the survey, 39% of us are likely to have an extreme reaction to computer-induced stress, including "swearing, shouting and even violence". Pressing random keys out of sheer frustration "in an attempt to make something happen" is also a popular response to problems.
40% of us will go for the pragmatic approach - looking to resolve a problem ourselves or seeking help from others - almost one in five of us will eventually give up on their machines when problems arise.The Register notes that just 14% of people claimed to never get irritated by such difficulties; a likely story =).