We?d like someone to use one of the tools on our site and compare it
with a new tool we?re developing (both tools are very simple).  Our
name is Headsets.com, and we sell everything headsets.  This review
will yield the best results if the reviewer walks through this
step-by-step, without jumping ahead (should take no more than 15
minutes).

1) Imagine you are a business person who works in a noisy office.  You
are quite good looking (surely you don't need your imagination, and
you don?t want a headband to ruin your look.

2) Browse to the following page and find a Plantronics headset that
meets your needs.  Spend no more than 30 seconds.
http://www.headsets.com/headsets/corded/corded_gallery.html?sort_1=manufacturer_rank%2Casc&style=0&app=7&price=0&manufacturer=0&component=2&mic=0&prod_division=1&connector=0&max=200

3) Were you able to find a headset that met your needs in 30 seconds
or less?  Which headset did you choose?

4) Now go to the following page, but this time find a Plantronics
headset with a ?Convertible? wearing style.  Spend no more than 30
seconds.
http://www.headsets.com/headsets/corded/ch_corded_gallery.html

5) Were you able to find a headset that met your needs in 30 seconds
or less?  Which headset did you choose?

6) Compare the two experiences.  Which did you find easier to use and why?

7) What did you like and dislike about both, and why?

We are not interested in a review from a creative design or highly
technical point of view.  Please write about your experiences as
someone who?s just trying to buy a headset.

We welcome both positive and negative responses.  We?ll pay $20 for a
review.  We?ll tip up to another $15 for a particularly insightful
review.

Thanks!
Headsets.com
www.headsets.com

Hi Mr. Headset,

It's always fun to go back to your website and see how you are coming
along...  Ok, here we go...

1) 45 seconds
Executive Pro Series: Aria Headset (with noise-canceling microphone) 

2) 45 seconds (including the time it took to load up the second page)
Plantronics DuoPro (Convertible) Noise-Canceling Headset (H171N) 

3) Hmm, I prefer # 2.

I can't say very much without going back to look at the two pages, I
hope that is ok. I don't work particularly well when I'm being timed -
I was just trying to get the job done within the alloted time and then
hoping I chose the right headsets! So my following thoughts are
written after going back and studying both pages better.

For some reason, I did not notice all the sorting options available
for # 1 - all's I saw was just a long list of headsets that I had to
scan down and try to find what I wanted. Therefore when I saw # 2, I
immediately liked it because it allowed me to cull out some headsets
immediately, making the list shorter and easier to browse. I was a bit
concerned that I'd miss seeing something by doing that, but I
understand that it is possible to see the entire list with # 2 too,
which is good.

However, playing with it some more, it seems like the button page of #
2 is just an extra step, that I ended up at something very similar to
# 1 anyway. Oh, what the heck, I still like # 2.

The directions seem a bit wordy on # 2 - here are three suggestions
without the "Do you know":

Which manufacturer do you prefer?
What wearing style do you prefer?
What microphone type do you prefer?

The illustrations that go along with the three questions are very
helpful - simple but easy to understand.

Sorry, but I still don't like the stars - why would I order something
with only three stars?

The website seems a bit clunky for me, but I don't exactly have
up-to-date equipment. I'm just on a dial-up with a failing modem so
maybe that is why your website seems so rough to move around in - not
smooth at all.

That's all I can think of for now, I hope it's what you had in mind.

Thanks again,
hummer

Hummer, do most sites seem clunky on your modem, or just ours?  I
haven't used a modem in a while, but if I remember correctly,
everything was clunky and slow.

The website seems a bit clunky for me, but I don't exactly have
up-to-date equipment. I'm just on a dial-up with a failing modem so
maybe that is why your website seems so rough to move around in - not
smooth at all.

Just to put in my 2 cts worth , I am on a 3Mbit connection and it is
very smooth sailing

Dear headsetswebmaster,

Thank you for the nice rating and tip - that is very nice of you.

I just went to your website again and it seems to work better today,
I'm sure it's just me and nothing for you to worry about - java in
particular always give me trouble.  However, to answer your question,
no, yours was the only website yesterday that acted that way, others
were "relatively" fine.

Sincerely,
hummer