How Do You Stack Up on Gadget Ownership? Vote Now!

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By Ashley Watson, dealnews writer

Children of the 1980s may have technological superiority over Baby Boomers, having grown up with Nintendo, but they have nothing on the this younger generation of gadgeteers. A new survey on gadget ownership shows that young people are sporting cell phones, laptops and music players in greater proportions than ever before, beating out all other age group for multi-gadget ownership.

Overall, cell phones are the most beloved gadget among American adults, with that coffee-shop companion; the laptop, closely following. According to the survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, 85% of Americans 18 and older own a cell phone, and practically every household in America has at least one computer, whether it's a desktop or laptop.

The study also reports that 70% percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 are more likely to have a laptop computer than a desktop (57%). Only 28% of Americans 75 and older own desktops and 10% own laptops. Although eBook readers, such as Amazon's Kindle, are taking off in sales, only 5% of Americans own one of these devices.

Almost 50% of Americans own iPods or other MP3 players, which are most popular among the 18 to 34 group, with 74% of that crowd owning at least one MP3 device, and the percentage gradually decreases as the age goes up. Game consoles are popular with a wider group — ages 18 to 46 — the study shows that 63% own one and the percentage falls to 38% in the 47 to 56 age range.

While Pew Research dutifully admits a margin of error of plus or minus 3%, it's evident that most Americans have at least one popular gadget, since only 9% of the 3,001 people surveyed consider themselves "gadget-less." Not surprisingly, that number increases to 20% among those between the ages 66 and 74, and a remarkable 43% of people over the age of 75.

But what about those 9% of "gadget-less" folks out there? Are you one of them? If not, what's your favorite gadget?

Ashley Watson received her MFA from Goddard College in January 2006. Upon completing her degree, she taught writing composition at the University of Arizona and began her career as a freelance writer. She is a contributor to the 2007 Teacher's Guide to Living Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, and she has published articles in various online and print magazines. She currently resides in Vermont.

Photo: CoolGadgetConcept.com

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