Plasma television set now a girl's best friend

NEW YORK - Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend, according to a new US study that found three of four women would prefer a new plasma TV to a diamond necklace.

The survey, commissioned by US cable television's Oxygen Network, which is owned and operated by women, found the gender gap has virtually closed with the majority of women snapping up new technology and using it easily.

Women were found on average to own 6.6 technology devices to men's 6.9, and four out of every five women felt comfortable using technology, with 46 per cent doing their own computer trouble-shooting.

"People make the assumption that women are not as advanced as men when it comes to technology and I was surprised at the parity men and women now have in terms of technology," Geraldine Laybourne, chairman and chief executive of Oxygen Network, said..

The Girls Gone Wired survey of 1400 women and 700 men aged 15 to 49 found 77 per cent of women surveyed would prefer a new plasma television to a diamond solitaire necklace; 56 per cent would opt for a new plasma TV over a weekend in Florida.

Even shoes lost out: 86 per cent would prefer a new digital video camera to a pair of designer shoes.

The study found that over the next five years women see themselves increasing their activities in six tech areas: digital cameras, cell phones, email, camera phones, text messaging and instant messaging.

- REUTERS