If You Had To Choose: Microwave or iPod

There was an interesting infographic in the USA Today over the weekend. (Yes, the print edition... someone must have been at a hotel ...) As you can see, the chart asked Americans how much certain items are needed, or are considered necessities. Since 2006, the microwave has fallen 21 points, while the iPod has gained a point, along with high-speed internet and flat-screen TV as gainers. It's interesting to note that "home computer" dropped a point over the same time period, so good luck syncing those iPods.

Clothes dryers and home air conditioning were also big losers on the list, moving from necessity to discretionary according to the Pew research. While the gains for most electronics are well within the stated (and large) 3.6% margin of error, it looks like we're headed to a world in which we slave over the stove, or dine out, and hang our clothes up to dry. It's all good as long as we can listen to our iPods while we do it.

As much as I enjoy my iPod, I have to tell you if I was stranded, and had ample electricity, I would probably go with the microwave, or at least a computer before I would worry about my iPod.

What do you think? Bogus poll, or a real shift in our perceptions of necessity items in the 21st Century?