Home computers – MetaFacts TUP Client Portal

September 10, 2024October 4, 2024

The continued decline of widespread personal computer use

Market penetration is one of the core overall measures affecting all manner of technology companies: hardware, software, services, and support. The key device types measured in this analysis are the active use of a home computer, an employer-provided “work” computer, or any other computer, such as one supplied by a university or in a library, cybercafé, or owned by a friend or neighbor. The primary measure reported in this TUPdate is the percentage of online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, or China actively using any of these computers.
Approach: This TUPdate is based on the surveys of 82,101 respondents in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China from 2019 through 2024. In the TUP/Technology User Profile questionnaire, we asked respondents to identify the active installed base of connected devices they use – smartphones, feature phones, computers, tablets, and game consoles. In addition, we had them specify the source of funds for the computers they use – home, work (employer-provided), or other (public, school, library, cybercafe, friend, etc.)

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Usage guidelines: This document may be freely shared within and outside your organization in its entirety and unaltered. It may not be used with a generative AI system without separate licensing and express written permission. To share or quote excerpts, please contact MetaFacts.

February 28, 2024April 24, 2024

Computer penetration rates drop, but less so among older adults in many countries

Computer usage has declined among adults across many countries as an increasing number rely on their smartphones for activities from shopping to checking email. To the extent active computer penetration rates have been sustained, they have been supported mostly by older adults in Germany, Japan, and the US. In the UK and China, the age gap is less pronounced.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who actively use a home computer, employer-provided computer, or any other computer such as one owned by a cybercafé, school, or library. The results are split by country and age category. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0228_agpt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

February 14, 2024April 24, 2024

Work PCs still trail home PCs even as home PC usage drops

Many more workers use a home PC than a work PC, although the trend in some countries is that some medium-sized and larger employers are providing computers. Even as home PC usage continues its decline, employed home computer users still far outnumber work PC employees.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of US, German, UK, Japanese, and Chinese workers who use a home PC and an employer PC, split by employer size. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0214_hwpt] in TUP Lenses: PCs; Work/Life Balance; User Profile

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

February 5, 2024February 29, 2024

The unbundling of American home PCs and home printers

The unbundling of American home PCs and home printers – One of the biggest home technology shifts among American adults involves their use (or non-use) of home computers and home printers. Only a decade ago, it was widespread practice to have both a home computer and home printer, and often to buy them at the same time. That has changed dramatically, as the number of Americans using both has plummeted. Instead, there has been substantial growth in the share of Americans using only a home printer or neither a home computer nor a home printer. This shift has played out differently among Gen Z and millennial Americans than among Gen X or Silent/Greatest generations.

This MetaFAQs reports on the number and percentage of Americans by their combination of use and non-use of home computers and home printers. These are split by generational age group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0205_core] in TUP Lenses: PCs; Printers; User Profile

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

January 15, 2024January 17, 2024

In-country computer use: age matters

Computers such as Apple Macs, those running Microsoft Windows or ChromeOS are being used by most online adults worldwide, although penetration rates vary by age group within countries. In the US and Japan, computer users skew older. In the UK and China, computer users skew somewhat younger, although not strongest among adults aged 18 to 24. Instead, a growing group of online adults rely on smartphones for everyday activities and turn to computers for a declining subset of things they regularly do.
This MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of online adults who actively use a computer that they acquired with personal funds (a home computer), one provided by an employer (work/self-employed), or from someone else (a school, library, government, neighbor, or other). Report [TUP_doc_2024_0115_agpc] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

January 13, 2024February 1, 2024

Home PCs shine again for remote work

The rapid spread of the pandemic caught many employers and employees by surprise. Most were unprepared to work remotely and many were uncertain how long they might be working remotely. Consequently, many workers simply used their personally-owned home computers to get work done. Although 2020 saw high levels of home PC use for work which then shrunk markedly in 2021, we’re now seeing a return to broad home PC use for work. Using a home PC for work activities is a widespread practice, even among workers who may have an employer-provided PC available to them when they are in the workplace. Although work email is a major activity for home PCs, there is a long list of work activities regularly done by many remote workers.

This MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of remote workers and workers who never work remotely that use a home computer for work-related activities. This is split by country. Further, this report details the list of work-related activities that remote workers regularly do with their home PC. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0113_hwrt] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Households; Activities; Work/Life Balance

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

December 23, 2023December 5, 2023

More workers use a home computer than a work computer

More workers worldwide use a home computer than a computer provided by their employer. Many factors contribute to this. Only a portion of workers are in occupations that require computer use. Also, the rapid onset of the pandemic forced many workers to work remotely before their employers could respond by supplying an adequate set of technology products. So, many employees put their existing technology to work to get their jobs done remotely. While some employers embraced the practice of BYOD – bring your own device – others chose to supply workers with technology devices that would help support the employer’s confidential corporate information. Decisions about remote work policies and the subsequent provision of in-home technology are still evolving.
This MetaFAQs reports on the average (mean) number of home computers and work/self-employed computers in active use by workers in five countries: the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1223_hwpc] in TUP Lenses: PCs; Work/Life Balance

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

November 11, 2023October 26, 2023

Home PCs: the unsung heroes of remote work

Home PCs: the unsung heroes of remote work – Getting things done for work from home often demands using a computer. Activities from Webex or Zoom group meetings to creating presentations or reports benefit from using the larger screens of most computers. However, employers have been slow in providing PCs to remote employees. Just as they wavered in their commitment to supporting workers working from home, they’ve vacillated in their policies around providing technology to remote workers.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of workers who use a home computer for work-related activities. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1111_hwrk] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Households; Activities; Work/Life Balance

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 28, 2023October 4, 2023

Employers finally updating home technology as employees move on

There’s a discernible trend in American workplaces: while many employees need to rely on personal devices for work, there’s an increasing tilt towards employer-provided technology. From 2021 to 2023, the percentage of employees using their home computer for work declined from 52% to 40%. This shift can foster enhanced protection of digital assets and boost collaboration. Furthermore, when employers provide the tools, it solidifies trust, as employees aren’t shouldering costs that effectively reduce compensation.

By 2023, 40% of American workers were using company-issued computers, a growth from 37% in 2021. However, there’s an emerging trend of employees not using computers at all for work, which increased from 29% to 35% in two years, while smartphone usage has risen. This shift holds implications for tech enterprises basing projections on dominant computer usage.

Lastly, employer-provided computers are becoming increasingly, if belatedly, updated. By 2023, 46% of employees using both personal and work computers found their work PC to be the more recent device, up from 42% in 2021. This progression indicates a commitment to providing current tech tools in professional settings.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of American full-time and part-time employees who actively use a home computer for work-related activities, an employer-provided work computer, or the combination. It also compares the age of the employee’s home computer used for work with the age of the one supplied by the employer.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 13, 2022January 30, 2023

Which activities are primarily done using smartphones, computers, or game consoles?

Smartphones have continued to expand in their use as Americans’ primary connected devices, displacing home and work computers. However, some activities are done primarily with home computers, work computers, and game consoles. Most computer-focused activities are being done by somewhat older Americans, while immersive gaming is done by younger Americans using game consoles.

This TUPdate looks at the primary types of devices used for a wide range of activities: shopping, entertainment, work-related activities, productivity, social networking, cloud storage, communication, and many others. These have been split by age group.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here