One in four Britons says that their computer is the “most irreplaceable thing in their life”, according to new research. A third say they use a PC for more than two hours every evening, even if they’ve also used one throughout their working day. One in seven claimed that their ideal evening now involves surfing the internet. The study of 2,000 users indicates that 14 percent, however, regard their computer as a fashion accessory. A quarter of respondents say their computer says more about them than their clothes. Futurologist Dr. Rachel Lawes said that the PC “is the essential piece of kit that defines what it means to be alive at this moment in history”. She said that the research, funded by Microsoft, indicated that the “PC is to consumers what the car used to be in the 20th century.” She also claimed that it vindicated Microsoft’s strategy of increasingly emphasizing the range of colors and styles available across different computers, via its ‘Collection’ brand. Most users – 68 percent overall and 78 percent of 18 to 24 years olds – also said that they would rather have a PC than a TV. Six out of ten also said they would be replacing their hi-fi with something computer-based in the next three years.