Plugged In: More Americans say they access Internet at work
>>By Clint Swett -- Bee Staff Writer
>>Published 5:30 a.m. PST Thursday, March 7, 2002
>>The Internet has become a more integral part of American life, with
>>more
>>than 55
>>million people going online from work, according to a survey by the Pew
>>Internet
>>& American Life Project.
>>Comparing Internet use between March 2000 and March 2001, the survey
>>found
>>55 million
>>Americans went online from work, up from 43 million in March 2000.
>>Of that group, 36 percent used the Internet to do work-related research
>>and
>>44 percent
>>said the Internet improved their ability to do their jobs.
>>"The Internet has gone from novelty to utility for many Americans,"
>>says
>>Lee Rainie,
>>director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
>>The survey also found the majority of users used the Internet to make
>>purchases.
>>The number of Internet users who bought products online grew from 47
>>percent in March
>>2000 to 53 percent in March 2001. The proportion who had purchased
>>travel
>>services
>>had grown to 42 percent from 34 percent. The number who had done online
>>banking grew
>>to 23 percent from 17 percent.
>>Wi-Fi big in Bay Area
>>Wireless Internet access is one of the sexier trends in the tech
>>industry,
>>and in
>>that regard, there is no sexier place than the Bay Area.
>>The ability to connect your laptop in a public place via a wireless
>>modem,
>>a technology
>>known as Wi-Fi, is slowly growing, with the Bay Area leading the nation
>>with 257
>>public access points, according to hereUare Communications, which
>>provides
>>hardware
>>for public Wi-Fi access.
>>Following the Bay Area are Seattle (154), New York (107) and Dallas
>>(105).
>>Despite
>>its representation of a who's who of high-tech companies, Sacramento
>>did
>>not make
>>the list.
>>Most Wi-Fi public access points are found in coffee houses such as
>>Starbucks, hotels
>>and airport lounges.
>>The technology is seen as attractive to business travelers who want
>>high-speed Internet
>>access on the road without tying up phone lines.
>>Another DSL option
>>SBC Pacific Bell has installed new equipment in the Natomas area,
>>making it
>>possible
>>for some area residents to get high-speed DSL Internet service.
>>High-speed connections in Natomas already are available through AT&T
>>Broadband and
>>WINfirst's cable modem service, but SBC Pacific Bell now gives about
>>1,800
>>homes
>>and businesses a third alternative.
>>HP tops in PC sales
>>Hewlett-Packard PCs were the top-selling models in the fourth quarter,
>>shipping 10.6
>>percent of all desktop and notebook models worldwide.
>>According to figures from IDC Research, Compaq accounted for 9.1
>>percent of
>>the worldwide
>>market and Dell captured 8.9 percent.
>>HP said its PC sales were
>>up 42 percent from the third quarter, a reflection of increased
>>consumer
>>spending
>>in both the United States and Europe, according to the News.com Web
>>site.
>>HP has said it hopes to continue its momentum by bundling such
>>consumer-friendly
>>features as DVD-burning drives into its spring line.
>>About the Writer
>>---------------------------
>>The Bee's Clint Swett can be reached at (916) 321-1976 or
>>[log in to unmask]


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