Google Buzz survey: Yeah, no one's using it

Google Buzz has a great deal of work to do to convince even tech-literate Web users that it's a viable service, a CNET UK survey shows. We asked our exquisitely discerning readers what they think of Gmail's status-updates feature and the results are in.

Some 220 people responded to the survey, 44 of whom had used Buzz. Criticism of the service ranged from its implementation -- "clustered and annoying" said one user -- to its openness, with one respondent concerned about the recent privacy kerfuffle. The low adoption rate put others off, with no one to talk to.

A smattering of users like it, however, with one pointing out that "it works well on mobile" and another preferring it to Facebook. That was a distinctly minority opinion, however: 75 per cent of respondents use Facebook, compared to 20 per cent who use Buzz. Forty-seven per cent make use of Twitter, while just 15 per cent are on MySpace.

Reasons given for using Buzz included "trying it out", "keeping in contact with friends from the US", "keeping up-to-date with current technology" and as an alternative to Twitter.

Let us know what you think of Buzz in the comments section below -- does it have a future? Or was the launch so botched it's dead in the water? Also, if you've got a moment, please give us your opinion on the Apple iPad and you could win £50 of Amazon vouchers -- just click here to get started.