Bow Regards

What of the much-ballyhooed personal computer, though? Fear not, PC lovers. In an unrelated 1996 survey of 1,000 PC-owning U.S. households by research firms Lexmark International and Roper Starch Worldwide, strong allegiance was professed to the mighty machine. So much so, in fact, that most computer owners say they'd rather do without other major appliances than part with their PCs.

Consider: If forced to choose between their stereos and PCs, 67 percent opt for the PC. Change the choice to one between dishwashers and PCs, and the percentage of PC voters drops to 60 percent. Numbers crunch to a virtual dead heat, however, when the choice is between televisions and computers. Still, 51 percent of those surveyed say they'd trade in their televisions--"Must See TV" nights notwithstanding.

This article was originally published in the September 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Bow Regards.