'NOTEBOOK HOOLIGANS' CAUSE HAVOC IN UK

New research highlights cost of carelessness for nation's mobile workers

Wiltshire, UK - 8th August 2002 - Careless laptop users are costing UK companies millions of pounds each year according to new research by Techair, the computer luggage manufacturers, and Vanson Bourne. The survey shows that the most common reason for laptop damage is physical misuse by users, and each damaged portable PC takes between three and seven days to repair.

The survey of 100 UK IT managers, conducted in July 2002, found that 41% of IT managers believe that the most common reason for laptop damage is physical breakages by users. The survey also found that 59% of IT managers saw a direct cost to their company's bottom line because of this problem.

"UK laptop users seem to be little more than 'hooligans', treating their technology with a complete lack of respect," said Alex Pidgley, managing director of Techair. "With an increasingly mobile workforce, technology is carried around from place to place a lot more, but the way users protect their PCs from breakage is woeful."
A third of companies have to repair between 10-20% of notebooks because of physical damage each year. Given that many large organisations often have up to 3,000 laptops in service at any one time, this can amount to millions of pounds.

Graham Opie, director of Vanson Bourne Research said: "Our research shows that IT managers are extremely annoyed by the amount of laptops that get damaged because of sheer carelessness. It's wasted resource for something that is completely avoidable."

Two out of three respondents also estimated that laptops take between three and seven working days to repair, meaning massive productivity losses for careless workers.

"Despite advances in technology, laptops are still extremely fragile and should be treated with respect - a bit like your best china," continued Alex Pidgley. "And you don't carry your best china around in a Tesco carrier bag!"

About Techair
Established in 1995, Techair is the European leader in the manufacture and design of luggage to protect the latest technology products from damage and theft while on the move. Techair produces more than 50 varieties of carry case, featuring TechAir® - an advanced air-cell technology that provides exceptional levels of protection to delicate, high value and fragile items.

Techair has numerous partners across Europe, selling through retail, mail order and corporate resellers. The company also manufactures products for leading technology manufacturers such as Toshiba and Acer.

Techair's European headquarters are in Wiltshire, UK, with offices in France, Spain, Germany and Holland.

For further press information on Techair and its products, please contact:

Jessica Simpson/Jon Lonsdale
Octopus
T: 01753 672755
E: firstname@octopuscomms.net

THIS RELEASE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED BY WEBITPR (www.webitpr.com)

Disclaimer:

Whilst WebitPR.com Limited endeavor to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this Release, WebitPR.com Limited cannot accept any liability for:-

·   the inaccuracy or otherwise of any information contained in this Release; or
·   any loss liability or expense which may be suffered by any party in consequence of acting or omitting to act as a result of any information contained in or omitted from this Release.; or
·   any loss or suffering which may be caused by or to any party either as a result of the information contained in this Release or such information contained in this Release being inaccurate or otherwise misleading.

In the event that any information contained in this Release is inaccurate or misleading then please contact WebitPR.com at the above e-mail address.