Thank you for the opportunity to review the new feature you are
developing for your web site. So that you understand where I am
coming from, let me briefly describe my background and computer
configuration. I am extensively familiar with headsets because I have
exclusively used speech recognition to interact with my computer for
the last six years. I use McAfee Internet Security and Webwasher at
all times when surfing the Internet to eliminate pop-up's, JavaScript,
Java applets, and to provide a software firewall. I am using the Sun
Microsystems Java plug-in version 1.4.1, and I have a DSL connection.
When I went to the first link with my usual Internet filtering
software active, the list boxes did not work, but the choices were
presented as links in rectangles beneath the question marks. The
question marks did not function either. As an expert, I was able to
click on Plantronics, over the ear, and then noise canceling to find
the Plantronics Mirage Noise-Canceling Headset (H41N). I can
appreciate the benefits of a quick disconnect cord, but as a
nonexpert, the lower popularity rating might make me reluctant to
purchase a significantly more expensive H81N even if I would find it
beneficial. What does "Popularity" mean anyway? It could mean
anything from an unusual feature set that most people don't like but
some people would really like to a low quality selection that people
are dissatisfied with and avoid. I clicked on the word, but it
resorted the results by popularity, so I could not find a definition
for it.
I try again with Webwasher filtration turned off. Each time I visited
a page, I was asked if I wanted to allow scripts to access Java
applets. That was annoying. The list boxes and the question marks
functioned properly. I found the ability to get information about the
various headset characteristics helpful.
For both trials, there was a small delay to load the choices resulting
from each selection from the list boxes. I could see that being
annoying over a dial-up connection. It was a little tedious even with
DSL, and I wondered why the whole page had to be reconfigured with
each selection before I was done defining my selection criteria.
I then clicked on the second link you provided. The first page worked
fine with Webwasher being active. I thought it was a much cleaner and
easier to use approach to the filtration problem. The results page
with the options for refining the search are a bit messed up with the
gray rectangles being repeated a second time beneath the first set,
and the list boxes are open showing the links in rectangles as before
with the actual list boxes being nonfunctional. The product results
were displayed correctly. I continue to have reservations about the
undefined "Popularity" metric since the more expensive microphones
seem to be consistently lower rated. I selected the Plantronics
DuoSet Convertible headset with noise-canceling microphone (H141N).
I then turned off Webwasher filtration and tried the second link
again. I thought it was much easier to use and faster than the first
link because product results were not loaded at each step, and I did
not have to click twice to make a selection. However, the box about
wanting to allow scripts to access Java applets kept appearing. Also,
I missed the opportunity to find out information about the various
styles and microphone types. Perhaps a solution would be to change
the graphic displayed based on the radio button clicked prior to
initiating the search along with restoring links to the text pop-up's.
Having the text in blue in the graphics for manufacturer, style, etc.
tricked me into thinking those were links with more information. I
was disappointed when they turned out not to be. While making them
into links would be one approach, I think it is overly subtle and
would prefer an explicit button like in the first link.
In conclusion, except for the loss of the ability to obtain
information about the various styles and microphone types, I preferred
the second approach to searching for a product. Regardless of the
approach, I am concerned that the undefined "Popularity" metric steers
people away from your more expensive products even if they would be a
better fit. I also think that the quick disconnect cord, since it
seems to play a major role in price, merits its own filter to draw
attention to it.
I hope my review has been helpful to you. Please request
clarification if needed before reading my answer.
Sincerely,
Wonko |
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