Slow computers, Italians lose a week a year waiting

The slow connection steals us on average 164 hours a year, the equivalent of 6,8 days – Most of the time (3,35 days) is lost waiting for files to upload, while 2,2 days are lost waiting for applications to download – PC and laptop startup times are less expensive (1,3 days throughout the year).

A week a year lost staring into space. Or rather, on a blank screen. This is the time Italians spend waiting for computers, applications and files to load. The slow connection robs us of an average of 164 hours a year, the equivalent of 6,8 days. From the moment we press the button to when we can actually work with the computer, 13 minutes pass – again on average. This was revealed by a study commissioned by SanDisk and conducted on a sample of 8.001 consumers who use PCs.

In this strange international ranking we are last, yet we do not despair. Indeed, we boast enviable endurance skills. According to the research, among the 1.001 respondents from Italy, 27% lose hours of sleep due to slow computers, but only 20% remain in a bad mood throughout the day when the PC slows down their work. A significantly lower figure than that of the French (35%) and Chinese (37%), evidently more sensitive to wasting time.

But how do we react when the computer throws a tantrum? 19% of Italians relieve frustration by crushing or throwing objects against the wall. The least inclined to react aggressively are Americans and Chinese (14%), while the most predisposed to physical reactions are the Germans (23%).

Now let's see what slows down our work in front of the screen the most. In one year, Italians wasted most of their time (3,35 days) waiting for files to be uploaded, while 2,2 days were wasted waiting for applications to be downloaded. On the other hand, PC and laptop startup times are less expensive (1,3 days throughout the year).

The digital slowdown has thus entered among the top seven stressful experiences that Italians have to face every day. As many as 43% of those interviewed classify it as "between stressful and very stressful". Higher in the ranking of major causes of stress and nervousness we find waiting for a seat in a restaurant when you haven't booked (53%), waiting for the bus or train (57%) and waiting for boiler (61%). First and second place are occupied respectively by waiting for a medical appointment (77%) and by the phone (75%). All experiences that the support of an internet connection should speed up.