Lexmark says Printers are Good as Gold

According to Lexmark, the ubiquitous printer tops the list of technologies that computer users deem essential to be enable them to do their jobs. That’s according to a national telephone survey of knowledge workers , defined as individuals who use a computer at work for word processing, database, spreadsheet, Internet or e-mail applications.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, a global polling and market research firm, says that knowledge workers deemed the following technologies as essential : printer, 94 % ; Internet, 93% ; email, 92% ; copier, 86% ; telephone, 86% ; high-speed Internet, 83% ; access to company network, 83% ; access to specialized software, 79% ; cell phone, 62% ; scanner, 48% ; wireless capabilities, 47% ; and PDAs, 19%, The printer was also identified by the most respondents (73%) as the technology they miss the most when they are traveling or otherwise out of the office. Respondents also said they want wireless printing capabilities in the following locations : their workplace, 81% ; their home, 78% ; company locations other than their own office (such as a conference rooms), 63% ; hotel rooms, 62% ; outdoors, 38% ; in a vehicle (car, bus, train or plane), 34 % ; cafe or restaurant, 34% ; any of the above, 92%. Ipsos interviewed 711 knowledge workers by telephone between Oct. 10-24, 2006. The margin of error for the total sample is said to be +/- 3.7% with a 95% confidence level. So much for the paperless office.