Apple Inc. sent the business world buzzing yet again last week with its release of its new tablet computer, the iPad. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that the plurality of adults (43%) think Apple is more innovative than Microsoft in terms of product development.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Americans say Microsoft is more innovative with their products, while another 28% are undecided.

Even more Americans (49%) choose Apple over Microsoft when it comes to product promotion. Just 22% say Microsoft does a better job promoting their products. Another 29% are not sure which company does a better job.

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Perhaps surprisingly, adults between the ages 18 and 29 are more likely to say Microsoft is superior in terms of product innovation than Apple, while adults from every other age group pick Apple.

When it comes to product promotion, adults 30 and older strongly favor Apple over Microsoft. Adults ages 18 to 29 are evenly divided: 40% say Apple does a better job; 39% pick Microsoft.

Fifty-percent (50%) of adults nationwide have at least a somewhat favorable impression of Apple CEO Steve Jobs. That’s little changed from results a year ago. Just 23% hold an unfavorable opinion of Jobs, while another 28% have no opinion of him.

In January 2009, 36% said Microsoft founder Bill Gates was a better innovator than Jobs, while 23% said the opposite. Forty-one percent (41%) were undecided.

In July 2008, 59% said Gates had done more for the computer industry in general, while only eight percent (8%) picked Jobs.

Recent polling finds that three out-of-four Americans (75%) believe children spend too much time on computers and other electronic devices. However, most Americans see computers as a major plus for education.

Only 23% of adults think they personally spend too much time using the Internet, computers and mobile communications devices. But 87% of adults oppose the use of dashboard computers while driving.

In a survey last August, 51% of adults said they use the Internet every day or nearly every day. Another 14% said they are online several times a week. Six percent (6%) said they are on the Internet once a week or less, while 28% rarely or never go online.

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