These are the results of the Laptop Survey conducted for 10 days: Tuesday, April 2 - Thursday, April 11 with 84 respondents. A copy of the original survey form is here. There is also a spreadsheet report.

Question #1 Users:

• 79 -undergraduate
• 5 - graduate
• 0 – faculty
• 0 - staff
• 20 – on campus
• 24 – off campus
• 40 - no answer (most likely due to placement of this on survey form)

Question #2 Own a computer?

• 69 – yes
• 15 – no

Question #3 Use cluster computers at other locations often?

• 49 – yes
• 35 – no

Question #4 Frequency of use of library laptops:

• 16 – first time
• 16- once every 2 weeks
• 24 – a few times
• 28 – 2-3 times a week
• 0 – daily

Question #5 Problems with laptops:

• 19 – logging on
• 1 – printing
• 2 – skipping of cursor to random parts of document
• 2- logging off correctly
• 1 – port problem
• 1 – problem with saving to disk
• problem with getting timed out of the cluster when laptop wasn’t used for a certain length of time

Question #6 Preference:

• 74 – would rather use cluster laptop in library
• 6 – would rather use cluster desktop in library

Question #7 Please let us know your primary reasons for choosing to use this laptop:

• It’s really convenient.
• Convenience and unavailability of Cluster Computers
• Can go any where in the building with them
• No word processing software on other library computers. It’s convenient to type up the Paper here as I do Research
• Use In group study rooms. Can move to a less populated & quieter areas.
• Cool
• Comfortable Paper writing and Research
• To write a paper- not enough cluster computers
• Convenient
• It’s Convenient and I can use it in places that are more quiet & less Distracting than the area in front of the reference desk
• I can do my typed assignments in a less populated (noisy) part of the Library. They are ideal because they offer Microsoftword/excel and internet access at High speed
• More relaxed atmosphere than in the computer clusters
• Convenience
• I am able to type and use a computer at a location of my own choosing anywhere in the library. By using a laptop I don’t have to sit in a cluster surrounded by many other students typing- which I find Distracting.
• Comfort
• For typing
• I can take a laptop to a quiet place + spread out my work. I feel like a Businesswomen w/a brief case.
• Surfing the ‘net A.K.A. Research
• B/c all the Desktop clusters were taken & this is more Private
• Convenient
• Privacy –not Noisy
• I needed to write a paper in an isolated place
• Convenient to have an information resource in the Private study rooms.
• Availability, easy access
• Be by myself, more room to spread out, can concentrate better. Love using this new technology. I feel this helps me Prepare for the future.
• I have considerable difficulty concentrating in the desktop cluster environment, but the freedom of using the laptops allows me to choose my work environment, greatly enhancing the effectiveness of time spent in the library.
• I need to do research on materials that were only available for 2 hours, it made more sense to do my work in the Library where the materials were than at home.
• It allows me to work in a more relaxed environment than the desktop clusters
• So I can go into a private room to get away from noises, good for writing papers
• So it is portable to other rooms to discuss Projects
• It’s a laptop so I can move around the library & I am not confined to the Cluster area – also the clusters are always in use
• Convenient , I can bring it to a table so I can Spread out my things, I can Find a quiet place to work
• When Desktops are full. When I don’t want to hear the clacking of others typing. When I need it for awhile. If I am working with a group we grab a couple of laptops it works great.
• Easy and Convenient
• I frequently do research & and like carry the laptop close to the Journals I use.
• I needed to look up information on the library website and on others for info w/a report I am doing for a class. Can take somewhere else- rather than a desk top
• I didn’t bring my own
• Mobility
• Convenient…. take to a quiet place
• All the clusters were full
• It is nice to be able to go off into the library and do work> plus they are normally available during the day when the cluster Desktops are not.
• Convenience, I can take it to almost anywhere I choose to work in the Library
• To have the free movement of a Computer in the Quiet library setting
• It lets me have "freedom" in the library. I can move around with it with out the fear of someone wanting to use a desktop. The library only has a few PCs so sometimes I am forced to use a laptop in order to get work done.
• Nice
• It has a quick connection an allows me to be Mobile if Necessary
• It’s easy and it’s easy to get quiet and Privacy. You can go to the floor you need to do research on.
• -Often there are no desktops available -I like the mobility / I can go to where my resources are -I can find quiet space
• I really like being able to go off to my own area where there are not to many distractions
• I don’t have a computer
• Do HW assignments, not enough clusters in the library I can wok w/ a group in a room w/ this laptop or in a less busy area of the library for easier concentration.
• Because it’s very convenient when doing work in places in the Library other than the clusters
• Word processing and research
• It’s nice to have your own space at the library and there are never any free desktops. This is a very good idea. Thanks
• Convenient, can move to my own table
• I like to use the laptop at one of the secluded desks through out the library where there are few distractions
• There are not enough cluster Desktops w/word> they seem to always be occupied
• It’s much easier to do my work with some space around me to keep book out. It is nice to work on a computer in a more private spot. I think we should have more lap tops than desktops in the library for log on.
• I like it better, usually it is hard to get an open Desktop @at the Library
• I am able to spread out more on the tables, I want to familiarize my self with using laptops as I will likely Purchase on in the Future.
• Group project
• Because I can go almost anywhere in library to do work. I can find a quiet spot to hook up the computer & use it w/o having to wait for a machine @ at the cluster.
• There aren’t enough cluster desktops in the library and it’s nice to take the laptop to nicer places to use it in the Library rather than in cluster area.
• Convenience- you can use it all over the Library & people aren’t hovering over you like at the clusters.
• These laptops are very convenient! It saves me from having to go back to the Gables during the day.
• I like the Mobility & being able to spread out ( I feel crowded @ many cluster computers)
• It is so much easier to concentrate on writing a paper in the library than in my room ( when I don’t Procrastinate by filling out surveys)
• Portable , Convenient
• I can work better @ at my own table in the Library rather than @ at a cluster where it is Noisy.
• They are convenient and I can find a comfortable corner to sit in.
• Needed to write a paper during Study hours
• I can find a comfortable place to do my work
• Let’s me go to a Quiet place in the library so I can do more work but still use a computer to do research
• Because you can work in a quieter place w/ less distractions
• More Accessible , don’t have to wait, more private areas
• I needed to write a paper with out the distractions of my room
• I like to go upstairs to the booths where I can spread out all my work, and feel a little more private there than in big rooms
• Because I can

Posted on March 04, 2005