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I’ve never met someone who doesn’t own a computer. Every uni student owns a personal laptop. For all the marketing from Apple, the iPad still isn’t close to replacing a laptop.
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You aren't well connected to GenZ. Especially Gen Z not going into higher education.

The only computers they tend to own are phones, tablets, and maybe a game console.

Heck, my millennial sister in law got her first computer because of covid. Until that point the only computers she was using was her work computer and her phone.

I agree, a tablet isn't as capable as a laptop. However, a very large portion of the population doesn't need those capabilities. They just want something to watch netflix on.

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I am Gen Z on the older edge. Literally all of them I've ever met have a laptop. It may not be a good one or one they use often. Conversely I don't know many who have iPads unless they are artists. Even the ones who aren't in education usually have a desktop to play counter strike or something.
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Your a Gen z in college (or just out of college) and I suspect most of your peer group is educated.

I'm an older millennial with a ton of genz family (nieces and nephews, I have 50 total. Mormon family). Very few of them have or want computers. I see the same thing with my in-laws. They have family computers which the kids have no interest in. It's the Gen x and millennials, mostly, that are obsessed with it.

Edit: I've been looking for stats to back my claim and this is frustratingly hard to find. Perhaps because genz is just starting to fully mature. 14 to 29 is just a large gap in terms of life experience.

The best I can find is the vast majority of Gen z have phones and access to laptops/PCs. One study I saw absolutely backed up what you are saying that Gen z tends to own laptops.

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One reason to buy a laptop is school/uni. After that it feels like many people move there "computing" to their phones.

Time for some Internet researching...

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True. Desktops are becoming a nishe. Casual pc use most likely has a laptop. More and more just a phone and maybe a ipad or other tablet.
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> More and more just a phone and maybe a ipad or other tablet.

And I think this is one reason why, for those of us who grew up with "computers" modern UI trends are, to quote https://idlewords.com/talks/website_obesity.htm, "like we woke up one day to find our Legos had been replaced with Duplos"

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Yes, there are hundreds of millions of professionals who need a computer for their work, while not being techies. They write and publish, do spreadsheets, edit photos and videos, make music, make invoices, read and send e-mails and so on.

It's like asking why a non-mechanic would ever need to use a car.

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I did mention IT at offices buying computers for their coworkers. :-)

I know more and more people who are editing photos and videos on their phone/tablet - not movie producers, sure. But lots of YouTubers, influencers, etc.

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