Study: iPod Owners Have Tech Savvy

If you own an iPod, it's likely you are more apt to spread consumer-generated media as well as be more technologically savvy than your non-iPod brethren, a survey released on Monday said. Intelliseek, a Internet research firm, said it expects the trend to continue with the recent release of the video iPod.

iPod users are more likely to own digital video recorders, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, laptop computers and cell phones than non-iPod owners. 59 percent of them use text messaging and 45 percent take camera phone pictures, versus 24 and 15 percent respectively who do not own a MP3 player.

"iPod users have more word-of-mouth tools at their disposal to spread opinions and reviews about their iPod experiences," Pete Blackshaw, Intelliseek chief marketing officer, said in prepared remarks. "Provided iPods continue to delight consumers, Apple will benefit from a growing volume of free, trusted advertising from other consumers."

The survey also found 47 percent of iPod users already download video content to their computers, meaning a large market could currently exist for any iPod that adds video capabilities.

1 out of every 100 blog posts mention the iPod either directly or indirectly, versus the same ratio for all other players combined. The reviews on message boards and ratings sites also shine a positive light on the product, Intelliseek said.

Part of the reason why the iPod is mentioned so frequently in blogs may have something to do with the fact that device owners are twice as likely to author one, the study suggests.

For the study, Intelliseek interviewed 660 online consumers during the month of August.