Existing Unix users have a very high level of planned future investment in Unix systems, according to a new report: Unix Users in the UK, 1989 from Computergram’s sister paper Unigram/X. One third of the 260 users interviewed for the report said they had firm plans to acquire further Unix hardware over the next twelve months. Future purchasing plans over this period represented an increase of over a third of the number of processors already installed, with an emphasis on workstations. The average user planning to buy more hardware over the next year is expecting to spend between UKP20,000 and UKP50,000 on processors. Classifying user sites according to industry sector and size, Unix Users in the UK presents a detailed analysis of user strategies, expenditure, factors influencing hardware and software purchasing decisions, and attitudes to suppliers. Its aim is to provide suppliers with an insight into how their customers are thinking. On the whole, users appear satisfied with the quality and reliability of Unix-based systems, something that would have been markedly different if the survey had been carried out a few years ago. Supplier, price and quality of the Unix system were seen as the most important factors when purchasing systems, with breadth of product range consider far less important, in contrast to the marketing emphasis placed on this by many large suppliers. The 115 page report contains 44 detailed tables and 20 graphs: it was produced by Unigram/X in conjunction with Benchmark Research Ltd, and is available from Unigram Products Ltd, 12 Sutton Row, London W1V 5FH at a cost of UKP275: telephone London 528 7083.
