In a recent poll of PDA (personal digital assistant) users, Dell has
uncovered some intriguing differences between the usage habits of men and
women. When questioned about what owners used their PDA's for, women proved
to be more likely than men to play games on their PDA's, while men found
online shopping via a PDA more appealing than women.

The survey showed that 55% of women compared with 42% of men regularly
indulged in games on their PDA's, while 28% of men preferred to use their
PDA's for online shopping compared with only 9% of women.

"Initially the results may seem surprising, but if you consider the medium
and what a PDA offers, it's about convenience and entertainment," comments
Jon Lynch, software and peripherals brand manager, Dell UK. "Women tend to
enjoy puzzle games and old favourites such as Solitaire which are more
easily available on PDA's than more traditional gaming platforms, and are
easy to drop in and out of when filling time on the train, for example. Men,
on the other hand, seem to be using their PDA's to avoid wasting too much
time on what they perceive as chores. Traditionally, men don't enjoy
shopping and so online shopping is more convenient and through their PDA's
they can do it anywhere at anytime."

It is not just shopping that men find appealing; it is most online services.
Almost 30% of men, compared to just 6% of women regularly browse the
Internet for theatre listings, restaurants and cinema times amongst others.
But it seems while men are organising their social lives, women are the more
studious sex, tending to use their PDA's equally for both work and play
outside of office hours more often than men.

"It is interesting to understand more about individuals PDA usage, and
perhaps if we ever find significant operational differences we'll see PDA's
being tailored specifically for men and women. But one thing is for certain,
a PDA is no longer confined to business, it is becoming more integrated into
daily lives and routines whatever its functionality," concludes Jon Lynch.

"This research highlights some of the many customer scenarios in which,
familiar Windows Mobile software, is being used profitably in every-day
life," commented Annemarie Duffy Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft EMEA.
She continued: "Gaming-on-the-go and wireless Internet access both offer
great alternatives to helping us make the most of 'micro-breaks' - those
small amounts of idle time in all our lives that could otherwise be wasted."