¶ … Audience

Sites

Since this is a comparison of sites for a new computer, we shall compare the brands of computers that exist out there. But first, there are the list of audiences that exist out there. Examples include regular users, small business users, large business/corporate users, educational users (e.g. students), teachers/professors, vendors/resellers of computers (e.g. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon, etc. And the computer companies themselves, which would include people like Acer, Apple (Macintosh), Gateway, HP and Dell.

Scenario ideas include the following

A first-time computer buyer that just needs a desktop computer for web surfing, music playing and productivity software (Word, Excel, etc.)

A power-user that wants a high-powered laptop for video/audio editing or gaming

A corporate user that needs a functional yet not flashy computer with high network speed and processing capability

A student who needs a cheap but functional laptop for classwork/note-taking

A store chain that would like to sell laptops that you make

The screen caps below will be scored 1-10 on three different categories…site design, ease of use and simplicity/complexity.

Dell

Site Design Score: 8….a lot like other sites in a lot of ways. The demarcation of "work" and "home" use is good, although that line can blur quite a bit in some says.

Ease of Use: 9….clear links for different customers and what they want.

Simplicity/Complexity: 8 of 10….clearly links to their different products, a search field and a clear link for home and work use.

Acer

Site Design Score: 7…..perhaps too broad a product array on here…monitors and projectors is perhaps something that should be left for another site as everything else on this opening page seems to pertain to computers

Ease of Use: 8…..well-designed but too many different things lumped together…good other than that

Simplicity/Complexity: 7 of 10….clearly links to their different products, a search field (although not well-marked) and no clear separation of home/work….most home users would not need a server…but they may need storage.

Site Design Score: 9….Top menu bar shows a clear separation of its different product offerings/options as well as its support link

Ease of Use: 9….clear links for different customers and what they want.

Simplicity/Complexity: 8 of 10….don't believe that Apple has a big corporate market…so the lack of a personal/corporate delineation is not a negative hyere.