According to a recent survey by In-Stat, only 43% of respondents who were interested in owning a 3D television to begin with (meaning, a fraction of the real population to begin with) were willing to spend <$200 extra on a 3D-compatible TV. Of the same group, only 33% would pay an extra <$50 for a 3D-compatible Blu-ray player.

But here's the kicker: 67% of those interested in 3D entertainment were willing to spend <$5 on 3D Blu-ray discs. In other words, consumers are willing to pay for a mostly artificial price premium rather than one fully explainable by technical merit. Rape our wallets at will, Hollywood. [Home Media Magazine via EngadgetHD and image]

The survey shows that users like the hardware keyboard but don't like sliding it out every time they want to type something. Certain Android devices have both soft and hardware keyboards, but they're very much in the minority. It's an interesting problem for Palm, whose rumored next WebOS device, the Eos, features a fixed hardware keyboard but a much smaller screen. Still, Palm wouldn't have too difficult a time updating the Pre's firmware with a soft keyboard—after all, Android did it already. [Electronista]

We all know the US lags way behind in broadband penetration (a phrase that never fails to sound far dirtier than it is), but it's still a little disheartening to find exactly how far. The top 5, which consists of South Korea, Singapore, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Taiwan, are all over 80% penetration while the US struggles at only 60%. Hell, even Canada hit 76%, and they've got way more land and way fewer people. This will change, of course; Obama's pledged to increase broadband penetration, though at the moment he still has to fistfight his way through the legislature or whatever it is he needs to do to get anything passed. Still, it's nice to see Estonia get some good press for once. [Ars Technica]

The straight demographics are hard to argue with—on average, iPhone users do tend to be slightly younger, wealthier, and better educated than users of BlackBerrys or Windows Mobile devices. But the "more productive" conclusion is totally erroneous: It's based on the fact that iPhone users are more likely to use the Internet at least once per week, which in our definition is most certainly not a rubric of productivity. I've spent entire weeks on the Internet and all I've produced is the beginnings of a bed sore and maybe an extra five pounds around the waist.

The survey was, obviously, taken before the introduction of the $99 iPhone, and we're all curious to see if the slightly-cheaper option will impact the iPhone's demographics. Ted Schadler, who commissioned the study, promised to revisit it later this year to see if there's been any change. Until then, enjoy your iPhones, Supermen and Superwomen. Just try not to use them while you're flying to work, it's dangerous. [AppleInsider]

Those surveyed gave the iPhone top marks in all the categories save one: Battery life, where it scored a below-average two out of five. The survey measures ease of operation (30% of final score), physical design (30%), features (20%), and battery life (20%). Apple's total score was a 791, above the industry average of 751, with RIM and HTC at 739 and 744, respectively.

As far as dumbphones, LG scored a high 772, with Samsung nipping at its heels with 759. Motorola tanked, which we all should have expected, with a far below average 659.

We should note, of course, that this survey does not include satisfaction with the wireless service provider at all, which we suspect would have brought the iPhone's scores down to Earth. But at the moment, the iPhone seems to be top dog. [JD Power via CNET]

CR found that, unsurprisingly, the number of folks hitting the stores is higher this year despite the economy's current position in the proverbial shitter—26% versus 21% in 2007. And of that 26%, electronics remain the main target, although much more so this year than last, with 85% heading to the gadget aisles over 70% previously. What's hot with CR's poll respondents? Gaming systems (those Xbox 360 price cuts seem like they're working out pretty well), which 46% of BF shoppers have their eye on first (compared to a much-lower 29% last year. iPods and other MP3 players come in a close second at 44% of folks planning on buying, up from 33%.

Still, I must throw in my two cents here: if you're able to wake up at the crack of dawn to stand in the cold waiting for some electronics deals with hundreds of other bleary-eyed souls, you're simply not doing Thanksgiving with the gluttony and excess it deserves. So save the shopping for later in the day at the computer, in your underpants, with a nice hot mug of the previous night's mulled wine helping you start the day (er, afternoon). That, friends, is a post-Thanksgiving Friday well-spent. [Consumer Reports]

More Advice for the Black Friday Fray:
• The aforementioned Ultimate Survival Guide.
• 5 Gadgets You Can't Skimp On (And How to Save Money Buying Them)
• Best of Black Friday Deals Complete Roundup">All the best deals in one place
• Plus these late breaking ones from Cupertino: Apple Black Friday Deals Include Some Decent Third-Party Discounts
• Warnings: 7 Crappy Black Friday "Deals" That Aren't Really
• How To Choose an HDTV on Black Friday (or Any Day)
• How to set up that new HDTV you just got.

Photochop Contest:
• Brutally Honest Black Friday Ads Showcase Retailers on the Brink

Why You Might Want to Avoid Shopping on Black Friday, altogether:
• 10 Reasons We're Doomed: Black Friday Edition
• WalMart Worker Trampled to Death by Deal-Crazed Black Friday Shoppers

[Complete Black Friday Gadget Coverage at Giz]

Unsurprisingly, exercise is what made people the most unhappy from either gender. Men also were made more happy by "being intimate with another person" than women, while women were more likely to find happiness in pets. And everyone likes relaxing. What an illuminating survey!

In other news, black guys drive like this, while white guys drive like this. [Reuters]

• Go here and take a quick 10 minute survey before next Wednesday (8/20)
• After that, you're entered in a drawing for a $300 Visa Gift Card.
• Rules and stuff are here.

Easy, huh?

[Survey]

Click here, answer some little questions. Then, email surveys@gawker.com and tell them what the last question was. Congrats, you're officially in the contest. (Which is subject to all the usual fine print.) That's it, good luck!

Click here and take the little survey. Then email surveys@gawker.com and tell them what the last question was. Boom! You're entered in the contest, which is subject to all of the usual rules.

It's easier than writing this post, which took a lot of hard work and typing and stuff.

Samsung ranked in the lowest tier of companies with a scant 4% of the polled population feeling the brand is gay-friendly. That puts them right between Quaker (5%) and Cracker Barrel (3%). Technically Samsung tied with Wal-Mart and Frito-Lay.

By the way, we attempted to Photoshop the gay pride/rainbow flag onto the old Apple logo, only to find that, duh, their original logo almost did the job for us. Read more about that here. [Prime Access via MacWorld]

Just click here and take the survey.

When you're done, send an email to surveys@gawker.com and tell them what the last question asked. Of course, the standard contest rules apply.

Just 12 percent of the users cited a color screen as a reason for buying their phone, the same percentage who were swayed by the fact that it had a digital camera. In addition, only 12 percent said they bought a particular model because it offered a speakerphone, though 26 percent of respondents said they use that feature regularly—three to five times per week. The phone's overall variety of features was cited by 16 percent of the consumers.

Apparently, all this fancy Bluetooth isn't working on America's phone-buying public. They like things because they're shiny. – John Biggs

Fancy Features Don't Sell Cell Phones [PC World]