Tom's Hardware Guide: structure, features, and resource evaluation

Tom's Hardware Guide Review

Structure and Purpose

Tom's Hardware Guide is one of the most popular online resource sites for technology. It was established in 1996 by Dr. Thomas Pabst and is currently owned by Best of Media Group Company, which is one of the world's top three online publishers for technology. In 1998, Tom's Hardware Guide drew over 400,000-page requests a day, 12 million a month (Pabst, Desmond, Barber, & Gross, 1998), and 42 million average monthly page views in 2007 (Best of Media Group, 2008). It offers in-depth information for personal computer and computer products. The structure of the site is well laid out and organized so that information is readily accessible. Tabbed categories for Articles, News, Forums, Charts, IT Pros, Brands, and Shopping are easy to use.

Analysis: Pros and Cons

The depth and breadth of information offered is one of the guide's strongest assets. Users greatly appreciate the ability to do price comparisons, and read comprehensive reviews for computer hardware and technology. The site presents this consumer friendly information for motherboards, CPUs, storage, memory, graphics, and computer peripherals. A great feature at Tom's is the well-used forum and featured web log articles. Some threads on the forum have responses and reads into the thousands. This gives the site a dynamic element that keeps the information current, relevant, and objective.

The primary drawback to the site is that the massive amount of information, though well organize, can be overwhelming, especially for the novice. The field of technology is intricate and detailed, thus the reviews, articles, and information offered on this site are the same. Many focus on highly specific information and, perhaps, lose touch with the everyday computer user. Sites that focus on specific aspects of technology, such as memory or peripherals, may prove more useful and accessible than Tom's Hardware Guide.

Another drawback, which is increasingly permeating the internet, is the persistent and distracting ads, seen both in the sidebar and embedded in the text. This advertising/revenue-seeking approach distracts from the overall design or attractiveness of the website and contributes to the sense of information overload.

Resources

Best of Media Group, Company achieved 150% growth in website traffic and top 3 ranking worldwide for high-tech sites. (2008), Retrieved from http://us.bestofmedia.com/us/news_20080312.html, January 24, 2011.

Pabst, T, Desmond, M, Barber, L, & Gross, F. (1998). Tom's Hardware Guide. Que Publishing

Tom's Hardware Guide. Powered by Best of Media, Retrieved from http://www.tomshardware.com, January 24, 2011.