Irish embrace technology products and want more

Irish people have bought at least two new technology products this year and plan to buy more in the run up to Christmas, it has emerged.

Smartphones and tablets are set to be the most wanted Christmas gifts, according to research published yesterday by Argos.

Despite the recession, 62% of Irish people have bought at least one device, such as a smartphone, tablet, digital camera, or pair of headphones this year.

The research also reveals that almost half of households own a tablet.

The most popular device is a laptop, present in 85% of homes, followed by a digital camera (78%), DVD player (72%), and smartphone (68%).

It was also found that most homes have two smartphones, 40% have a tablet, and there around three pairs of headphones per home.

However, not everyone wants a smartphone — 54% of people still use a standard mobile.

More than a third (36%) continue to use an analogue radio and the VHS player is still in use, with a quarter of those surveyed admitting that their house had one and that it was being used regularly.

Almost nine out of 10 people said price was a big factor when purchasing a new product, while three quarters said innovation was very important.

Asked about Christmas wishlists, smartphones (13%), and tablets (13%) were the most popular devices for gifts.

Argos technology trading manager Simon Barry said it was clear from the research that Irish people liked to stay ahead of the technology curve.

The retailer opened its first Irish stores in Limerick and Dublin in Jan 1996 and is now one of the largest retail employers in the country with around 1,500 employees.

Argos launched its Irish website argos.ie in 2005 and now has over 20,000 products online.

It is part of Home Retail Group, Britain’s leading home and general merchandise retailer.