Pole axed: Microsoft and XP, Apple and Porn

Over the past two months my minions and I have been running surveys on the BuzzDash home site and the Tynan on Technology blog to take users’ temperature on issues such as censorship and innovation. Now it’s finally time to report on what we’ve found. The results may surprise you.

First Question: If someone built an Internet free from pornography, would you come? (Hold your dirty jokes to the end, please).

With 375 votes tallied, the score is “Yes” 22 percent, “No” 61 percent, and “Define pornography, please” with 17 percent. In other words, three-quarters of Netizens either don’t want or don’t trust ISPs or Uncle Sam to filter the Net. No big surprises there, IHMO. Johnshier comments:

“Ewww. I’m really disgusted that 25 percent of the people voted yes. I’m just as disgusted if not more so at the people who think that judgment is needed to define pornography. I am strongly against censorship in all its forms.”

Question Deux: You’re buying a new OS. Which one would you pick?

More than 400 people responded to this one, and the results are: Windows Vista (13 percent), Windows XP (70 percent), Linux (8 percent), and the Mac OS (9 percent). Frankly, this one surprised me. Oh, I knew Vista would take it in the shorts, but I expected a stronger showing by the Mac OS. The Apple fanboys were probably too busy trying to get MobileMe to work to weigh in. Commenter Austin says,

“I run XP on four machines and Ubuntu on another machine. Hell will freeze over before I install Vista. Dell’s customer support may stink to high heaven but their marketing is smart to continue selling XP.”

Question the third: “Complete the following sentence: The Apple iPhone is….”

Here’s a real shocker. “God’s gift to geeks” (24 percent) lost to “Overhyped and underpowered” (57 percent). Didn’t see that coming. Sixteen percent of our 160+ voters consider it just another smart phone, and the rest responded “What’s an iPhone?” (You people really need to get out more.)

Finally, Question IV: “What company has created the most innovative technology?”

This was a much tighter race than I’d anticipated. With 128 votes counted, Apple leads with 35 percent, followed closely by Google (30 percent) and Microsoft (25 percent). Sony and Palm bring up the rear. I thought Apple and Google might split the vote, but I’m shocked Redmond registered so high. Then again, maybe I picked the wrong mix of companies. Someone calling him/herself The Geekster suggested a lineup of “Intel, Apple, Xerox, and Motorola.” Not a bad call. Maybe we’ll use that for a future poll.

What do you want to know? Suggest a poll idea below, or or e-mail me direct: cringe (at) infoworld (dot) com. Top tipsters qualify for Polish swag.