Text version
These are the results of the SVPAL User Survey conducted on December 2000 - June 2001, in which 126 SVPAL users participated.
Here is the rate at which we received survey results (the first 5 days):
Age Distribution
Under 20 1 0.8% 20 to 40 18 14.3% 40 to 60 49 38.9% Over 60 55 43.7% No response 3 2.4% Total 126 100.0%
Gender Distribution
Male 92 73.0% Female 30 23.8% No response 4 3.2% Total 126 100.0%
Type of Account
Text 47 37.3% PPP 71 56.3% Organization 0 0.0% No Response 8 6.3% Total 126 100.0%
Type of Computer
PC 486 or below 19 15.1% PC Pentium or above 80 63.5% Mac 68k 7 5.6% PowerMac, iMac, G3, G4 29 23.0% Other 3 2.4% No response 0 0.0%
Note: These numbers do no add up to 100%, because some people have more than one type of computer.
Mac 68k = Classic, II, LC, non-PPC Performa, Centris, Quadra.
Operating System
DOS 4 3.2% Windows 3.x 14 11.1% Windows 95 or 98 70 55.6% Windows NT, 2000, other 15 11.9% MacOS 7 or below 12 9.5% MacOS 8 or above 23 18.3% UNIX 15 11.9% Other 2 1.6% No response 4 3.2%
Note: These numbers do no add up to 100%, because some people use more than one type of operating system.
UNIX = BSD, Linux, SunOS, IRIX, etc.
Modem Type
9600 or below 7 5.6% 14K 10 7.9% 28K 12 9.5% 33K 10 7.9% 56K 75 59.5% Does not know 7 5.6% No response 7 5.6%
Note: These numbers do no add up to 100%, because some people have more than one type of modem.
Other Internet Access
Yes (another ISP) 51 40.5% Yes, at work 55 43.7% Yes, at school 6 4.8% No 26 20.6% No response 8 6.3%
Note: These numbers do no add up to 100%, because some people have more than one type of access to the Internet.
Children in Household
Yes 13 10.3% No 104 82.5% No response 9 7.1% Total 126 100.0%
Kinds of Use
120 95.2% news 40 31.7% web browsing 82 65.1% web hosting 18 14.3% telnet 41 32.5% ftp 40 31.7% irc 2 1.6% gopher 7 5.6% mailing list(s) hosting 1 0.8% domain name hosting 1 0.8% other 1 0.8%
Note: These numbers do no add up to 100%, because some people use more than one type of service.
Other services users would like SVPAL to offer
Other/more dial-up locations: 408, 415, 650, 510, 561, 775, 800, 831
Other payment options: credit card, online.
Hardware/software: 56K access, DSL, Lynx with SSL, shell accounts, spam protection.
Users who would like announcements about new services
Yes 103 81.7% No 13 10.3% No response 10 7.9% Total 126 100.0%
Content/information (e.g. community, gov't) that you use?
- Government (state and federal).
- Library resources.
- Community information.
- Health care.
- Education.
Content/information you would like?
- Local government contact information.
- Job listings.
- HOW-TOs.
Language or technical difficulties in accessing the Internet?
- Current web sites not W3-compliant; not accessible with text browsers.
- Insufficient instructions.
Disabilities
Physical 9 7.1% Cognitive 1 0.8% Other 3 2.4% None 65 51.6% No response 48 38.1% Total 126 100.0%
How important is SVPAL's lack of commercial advertisement?
Extremely important 64 50.8% Very important 28 22.2% Somewhat important 14 11.1% Somewhat insignificant 4 3.2% Rather insignificant 4 3.2% Insignificant 4 3.2% No response 8 6.3% Total 126 100.0%
How important is SVPAL's policy of protecting your privacy?
Extremely important 104 82.5% Very important 13 10.3% Somewhat important 3 2.4% Somewhat insignificant 0 0.0% Rather insignificant 0 0.0% Insignificant 2 1.6% No response 4 3.2% Total 126 100.0%
How do you feel about SVPAL's fees?
Elated 102 81.0% Somewhat satisfied 21 16.7% Somewhat dissatisfied 0 0.0% Dissatisfied 0 0.0% No response 3 2.4% Total 126 100.0%
Difference SV-PAL has made to you?
"Feeling of being part of a special internet community by association, not an ISP business.""Allowed me to get started e-mailing."
"I use SV=PAL in preference to two other ISPs for email. This is home base."
"It is extremely efficient to use sv-pal due to its text interface and the software I am using to work with my Braille display."
"I've appreciated your low-cost, easy access and reliability. PPP has been even better than text based interface."
"SV-PAL allowed me to set-up my very first e-mail account and learn how to browse the web. It allows me to continue to use my Mac IIsi at home instead of purchasing a new computer."
"Allowed me to access the web with my first computer ( 386SX-20 ) for six years until I replaced it."
"NO COMMERCIALS .... FRIENDLY PEOPLE"
"Not much, cost savings is very nice."
"It has kept me in touch with family and friends."
"A stable e-mail address."
"Without SVPAl I'd have to go to the library (13miles), and even then I'd have to sort through all those %$#@*& e-mails advertising things I'd I'd rather not see."
"A way to use email from anywhere with online access. Unlike most isps, there is no need to reconfigure a browser in order to read mail. Having pine accessable by Telnet is the greatest thing.!!!!!!"
"It is my first sevice and I have not changed. It is my connection to the rest of the I-world."
"Good entry-level system, before a shell account was available to me. Also back-up access to the Internet if my primary service provider is down."
"Pure interaction with the Internet, ie, free of third-party agendas."
"Ease of access from home and work does not disrupt work schedule. Boss is happy."
"Svpal has always been there for me through the years. My email address has not changed for a very long time."
"I like the simple access - email. Allows me to communicate a a low fee while keeping my privacy (I can afford 40/year) versus a supposedly free ISP which means I give up that - ads, demographic survey, etc. Without SVPAL, I might not be able to be connected to the internet."
"It's a great deal. Good services for low cost."
"Allowed me to enjoy the Web despite antiquated equipment & software."
"Not so much for me but for my clients. Many of them are on SSI which is $712/month. They would not be able to afford regular fees."
"It is the only one affordable to me"
"It's my basic way to access the Internet. I'm on 1-2 hours per day. The text-based access is particularly useful because I spend most of this time on e-mail and newsgroups. And much of the web access I need is fine -- and fast -- using the text interface (and I avoid all the commercials, too!)" "appreciate the modest cost and the security"
"SVpal has given me a nice feeling that it is run by people who I like rather than a machine. One of the volunteers talked me through a lot of problems getting access after we purchased a new computer."
"Made it possible to have e-mail without lots of spam. Sometimes it's accessible when other servers aren't."
"I love the plain simple non-intrusive access to the net that SV-PAL provides me"
"Never had internet before"
Would you recommend SVPAL to others?
Yes 113 89.7% No 3 2.4% No response 10 7.9% Total 126 100.0%
Thank you again for your participation