UCI

Orange County is well wired, with more than six in 10 residents saying they use a computer often and another 15% saying they do so sometimes. Only 23% do not use a computer. Computer use in Orange County is ahead of the state, with 57% of Californians saying they use a computer often, 15% saying sometimes and 28% saying never, according to a February survey by the Public Policy Institute of California.

However, a "digital divide" is evident in Orange County. Computer use is considerably higher among non-Hispanic whites and South County residents than among Latinos and North County residents. The number often using a computer is higher among 18- to 54-year-olds (70%) than older people (42%). Frequent computer use is also higher among those earning $36,000 or more (76%) than among those with incomes below $36,000 (40%), and among college graduates (79%) than among those without college degrees (50%).

Nearly two in three residents use the Internet, with 54% doing so often, and 13% sometimes. Statewide, 47% use the Internet often and 13% do so sometimes. Again, use is higher among non-Hispanic whites and South County residents. Younger people are more likely to use the Internet often (62%) than are those aged 55 and older (33%). Seven in 10 college graduates often go on-line, compared to 41% of non-graduates. And 68% of those earning $36,000 or more are frequent Internet users, compared to 29% of those with lower incomes.

Sixty-four percent of Orange County homes have personal computers, and 54% use them often. Non-Hispanic whites are nearly twice as likely as Latinos to have home computers. Ownership and use are also higher in the South County. Sixty-eight percent of 18- to 54-year-olds have home computers, compared to 55% of older residents. Eight in 10 college graduates have computers at home, compared to 52% of those with less education. And 78% of homes with incomes of $36,000 or more have home computers, compared to 43% of those with incomes below $36,000.