Apple's iPad tops holiday wish-lists, survey shows

Computerworld - Grown-ups and IT departments aren't the only ones eying the Apple iPad this year.

Seems that kids have the the popular device, which is gaining ground in the workplace on their wish lists, too.

A Nielsen study shows that 31% of kinds in the U.S. between the ages of 6 and 12, are hoping for an iPad above all other devices this holiday season. While the iPad is the most hoped-for electronic device this season, the iPod Touch tied with a computer for second place, with 29% wanting one or the other.

"With Black Friday rapidly approaching, parents may want to get up early Friday morning to find deals, as a recent survey shows their kids are eyeing some wallet-stretching electronics this holiday season," Nielsen reported. "Given the continued pressure on consumer spending, it is difficult to know how robust a holiday season this will be for tech devices, but this survey suggests the electronics aisle will be heavily traveled this season."

The Nielsen report noted that the iPad and the iPod Touch both outpaced perennial handheld gaming favorites Nintendo DS (sought after by 25%) and Sony PlayStation Portable (wanted by14%) among those surveyed.

Another Apple product made the list, as well. The Nielsen survey showed that 20% of kids want an iPhone. Another 21% said they want a smartphone that's not an iPhone.

So, what's not so popular this year?

The Kinect for Xbox 360 tied with the PlayStation Portable at 14%. But even they came in ahead of the Microsoft Xbox 360, which grabbed 12%, and an e-reader, which is wanted by 11% of those surveyed.

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed . Her e-mail address is sgaudin@computerworld.com.

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