[brainout]

Before PC World's website became dysfunctional with large pictures and unintuitive link locations and scrolling forever, I tried to do a lot of shopping here. Mainly, I read the articles to see what was 'out there', and then went to Amazon to search for the item. Because here, I could never get enough data, and the PC World search engine is far worse than Google (i.e., even if I searched on the title of a PC World article it wouldn't show up in the search results).

Now, with the dysfunctionality here even worse, it's a wonderful stable and intuitive shopping experience at Amazon. They NEVER change the interface, you ALWAYS get a lot of links in familiar places, there isn't too much image clutter, and they are usually good at keying relevant products to your history.

Takes me 10 minutes from initial search to purchase, in most cases. In and out. If I need to linger, I can, but usually I don't need to linger long. So, I buy more.

Since there is no place WITHIN Amazon where I can REVIEW the shopping experience there, I picked this as a new topic. I shop there first, now. But still try to get my info here at PC World, except that now with the article lag time, it takes me three times longer than a month ago, to read an article. So I pick fewer articles, and avoid the Home page like the plague.

Really happy camper, with Amazon. If they stupidly adopt the large-picture and unintuitive link system that PC World now has, I'll go nuts.

[coastie65]

brainout, on 07 October 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

Before PC World's website became dysfunctional with large pictures and unintuitive link locations and scrolling forever, I tried to do a lot of shopping here. Mainly, I read the articles to see what was 'out there', and then went to Amazon to search for the item. Because here, I could never get enough data, and the PC World search engine is far worse than Google (i.e., even if I searched on the title of a PC World article it wouldn't show up in the search results).

Now, with the dysfunctionality here even worse, it's a wonderful stable and intuitive shopping experience at Amazon. They NEVER change the interface, you ALWAYS get a lot of links in familiar places, there isn't too much image clutter, and they are usually good at keying relevant products to your history.

Takes me 10 minutes from initial search to purchase, in most cases. In and out. If I need to linger, I can, but usually I don't need to linger long. So, I buy more.

Since there is no place WITHIN Amazon where I can REVIEW the shopping experience there, I picked this as a new topic. I shop there first, now. But still try to get my info here at PC World, except that now with the article lag time, it takes me three times longer than a month ago, to read an article. So I pick fewer articles, and avoid the Home page like the plague.

Really happy camper, with Amazon. If they stupidly adopt the large-picture and unintuitive link system that PC World now has, I'll go nuts.

I have been shopping Amazon for years ( I get my Computer stuff from NewEgg or TigerDirect, mostly Newegg ). They have never changed their interface been the same all along. They don'y have enough info on the Computer stuff though.

[smax013]

brainout, on 07 October 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

...and the PC World search engine is far worse than Google (i.e., even if I searched on the title of a PC World article it wouldn't show up in the search results).

Yep, the PCWorld search function is horrible...both for the main site, but also for the forums. Thus, I have always just used Google and tossed in a "site:www.pcworld.com" or "site:forums.pcworld.com" parameter to the search to just search the main PCWorld site or the forums. Typically works pretty well.

[smax013]

coastie65, on 07 October 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

They have never changed their interface been the same all along.

I will disagree slightly...they have made changes, but unlike PCWorld, it has been minor changes. The overall look and feel has been there for quite a while.

They apparently believe in the philosophy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[brainout]

coastie65, on 07 October 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

brainout, on 07 October 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

Before PC World's website became dysfunctional with large pictures and unintuitive link locations and scrolling forever, I tried to do a lot of shopping here. Mainly, I read the articles to see what was 'out there', and then went to Amazon to search for the item. Because here, I could never get enough data, and the PC World search engine is far worse than Google (i.e., even if I searched on the title of a PC World article it wouldn't show up in the search results).

Now, with the dysfunctionality here even worse, it's a wonderful stable and intuitive shopping experience at Amazon. They NEVER change the interface, you ALWAYS get a lot of links in familiar places, there isn't too much image clutter, and they are usually good at keying relevant products to your history.

Takes me 10 minutes from initial search to purchase, in most cases. In and out. If I need to linger, I can, but usually I don't need to linger long. So, I buy more.

Since there is no place WITHIN Amazon where I can REVIEW the shopping experience there, I picked this as a new topic. I shop there first, now. But still try to get my info here at PC World, except that now with the article lag time, it takes me three times longer than a month ago, to read an article. So I pick fewer articles, and avoid the Home page like the plague.

Really happy camper, with Amazon. If they stupidly adopt the large-picture and unintuitive link system that PC World now has, I'll go nuts.

I have been shopping Amazon for years ( I get my Computer stuff from NewEgg or TigerDirect, mostly Newegg ). They have never changed their interface been the same all along. They don'y have enough info on the Computer stuff though.

You're right. I forgot to make that point. That's why I come to PC World, to try and decide what to research.

[brainout]

smax013, on 07 October 2012 - 05:26 PM, said:

brainout, on 07 October 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

...and the PC World search engine is far worse than Google (i.e., even if I searched on the title of a PC World article it wouldn't show up in the search results).

Thank you for the tip. I'll use that for future searches.
Yep, the PCWorld search function is horrible...both for the main site, but also for the forums. Thus, I have always just used Google and tossed in a "site:www.pcworld.com" or "site:forums.pcworld.com" parameter to the search to just search the main PCWorld site or the forums. Typically works pretty well.

This post has been edited by brainout: 07 October 2012 - 06:23 PM

[brainout]

smax013, on 07 October 2012 - 05:28 PM, said:

coastie65, on 07 October 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

They have never changed their interface been the same all along.

I will disagree slightly...they have made changes, but unlike PCWorld, it has been minor changes. The overall look and feel has been there for quite a while.

They apparently believe in the philosophy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Good points!

[LiveBrianD]

I never even used pcworld's search engine. That said, amazon's isn't great either. For instance, tell it that you want, say, a laptop that's new and under $500, and it assumes I mean (if condition = new OR price < 500), NOT (if condition = new AND price < 500). Plus, the filters don't always work that well, and it misses a lot of things. (and you have to tell it what category before you can sort the search. Well, what if I don't know what category they used? For computer components, that's THE main thing driving me to newegg. (besides, Amazon recently started collecting tax in CA - Newegg has been doing this all along because they're in state - and the prices are often pretty similar)

[coastie65]

smax013, on 07 October 2012 - 05:28 PM, said:

coastie65, on 07 October 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

They have never changed their interface been the same all along.

I will disagree slightly...they have made changes, but unlike PCWorld, it has been minor changes. The overall look and feel has been there for quite a while.

They apparently believe in the philosophy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Must have been minor, as I didn't notice them.

[nonseq]

Amazon's site and evolved and greatly improved over time but the changes were not jarring and certainly had purpose. Amazon's user interface makes the technology as transparent as possible facilitates the buying experience. I do almost all of my shopping at Amazon these days and being a Prime member I can buy the cheapest item and get it shipped for free. Their customer support and attitude is second to none. Kudos to Jeff Bezos and company.



Many thanks to Amazon for reshaping my approach to shopping.

This post has been edited by nonseq: 08 October 2012 - 07:34 AM

[brainout]

nonseq, on 08 October 2012 - 07:33 AM, said:

Amazon's site and evolved and greatly improved over time but the changes were not jarring and certainly had purpose. Amazon's user interface makes the technology as transparent as possible facilitates the buying experience. I do almost all of my shopping at Amazon these days and being a Prime member I can buy the cheapest item and get it shipped for free. Their customer support and attitude is second to none. Kudos to Jeff Bezos and company.

Many thanks to Amazon for reshaping my approach to shopping.

Oh, you said that so well! I'm a happy Prime Customer also. You do know that many video rentals are free on Amazon Instant Video as a result of being a Prime Member.. right?

Amazon is my #1 favorite place to shop. If I have a choice of a cheaper price elsewhere vs. Amazon, I'll pick Amazon, unless I can't find what I want to buy, there. The Amazon shipments are so regular, the UPS guy just knocks on my door each week and then walks away.