BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research released by memory upgrade provider Crucial.com reveals interesting insight into how Americans are choosing to vent their frustrations when confronted with computer problems.
According to a nationwide online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Crucial.com in June 2013 among over 2,000 U.S. adults (ages 18 and older), 36% of those Americans who experienced computer problems in the past 6 months admit that at some point in the last six months, they have lashed out at their slow, underperforming computers by using profanity, screaming and shouting, or by striking it with a fist or other object. In addition to the verbal and physical abuse, those who experienced computer problems also indicated that computer problems have taken an emotional toll on them by eliciting feelings of frustration (65%), anger (10%), helplessness (10%), and victimization (4%).
“We’ve become so dependent on our computers and think of them as helpful partners, making it that much more painful when they betray us at the worst possible time,” said Roddy McLean, Crucial.com e-Commerce Marketing Manager.
When asked who or what is most to blame for their computer problems, nearly half of adults* (46%) cited viruses or malware, 16% said they were not sure what the cause was, 12% of adults* blamed themselves for their computer mishaps, 10% pointed to installed software, and 8% suspected insufficient memory (RAM) as the prime culprit.
“Many are quick to blame viruses or malware as the likely cause for a computer that has become sluggish and unresponsive, but many times the problems are simply due to not having enough internal memory - an easy, do-it-yourself fix that most people never consider as a solution,” added McLean.
The results come on the heels of a recent announcement that Crucial.com has joined forces with legendary tough guy and recovering aggravated computer user, Lou Ferrigno, to find America’s most frustrated computer user. Computer users are invited to visit ToughOnComputers.com and submit a 30-second or less video, expressing their state of irritation with their loudest, most fearsome, spine-tingling roar for a chance to win $5,000 or memory upgrades from Crucial.com.
When compared to those aged 35 and over, young adults* (aged 18-34) seemed more apt to resort to abusive behavior such as cursing (39% vs. 25%), screaming (29% vs. 12%) or hitting it with their fist (12% vs. 2%) as a result of frustration and anger caused by their computer not meeting expectations. Young adults also outpaced all others when it came to crying, with 7% of 18-34 year olds admitting to having cried at some point in the past 6 months as a result of their computer problems, compared to only 2% of those 35 and over.
Founded on the concept of making upgrades easy for the everyday computer user, Crucial.com has been serving customers for over 15 years, while providing the knowledge and tools needed to select and purchase the right computer memory upgrade. Just go to Crucial.com and run the Crucial® System Scanner tool to find the right memory upgrade options that will improve system performance and extend the life of an existing computer.
Visit www.crucial.com for more information, follow Crucial on Twitter at @CrucialMemory, “LIKE” Crucial at www.facebook.com/CrucialMemory, and subscribe to helpful videos at www.youtube.com/crucialmemory.
*Adults who experience computer problems
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Crucial.com from June 25-27, 2013 among 2,074 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,816 have experienced computer problems. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Will Ostedt at wostedt@ppmgcorp.com.
About Crucial.com
Crucial.com is a leading online retailer specializing in computer memory (RAM) and solid state drives (SSDs), and is operated by a subsidiary of Micron Technology, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers of computer memory products. Crucial.com offers more than 250,000 compatible products for nearly every computer system: home and business, old and new, PC and Mac® computers. Utilizing a suite of easy-to-use, free online tools, including the Crucial® System Scanner and the Crucial Memory Advisor™ tool, Crucial.com makes it easy to find a compatible upgrade to improve computer performance and restore system reliability. For more information, visit www.crucial.com.
About Micron
Micron Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets a full range of DRAM, NAND and NOR flash memory, as well as other innovative memory technologies, packaging solutions and semiconductor systems for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, embedded and mobile products. Micron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.
©2013 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information is subject to change without notice. Crucial and the Crucial logo are trademarks of Micron Technology, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
