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Poll Results: Our New Review Format
In October and November we asked site visitors their preferences for a new review format. (You can read the comments below.)
Based on what was said we've come up with a format that we hope addresses our reader's needs.
The new format provides for each review to be in two sections:
1. A tabular Quick Selection Guide that allows users in a hurry to find what they want as quickly as possible.
2. A text-based comparative review for those who want to look at the strengths and weaknesses of all the products in order to decide which best suits their needs.
You can find a sample of the new format here: http://urltrim.com/media-player-new-format.htm
(Don't take the contents of the review too seriously - it's just a mock-up)
We do hope you like the new style. Feel free to leave a comment below.
It's a huge job to cut over all the reviews to the new format so we ask for your patience. We may be well into 2009 before it is completed.
Gizmo
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Comments
A good article comes with a style.
The style in the sample, which is Introduction - Discussion - Quick Selection Guide, would have been better if it is changed to Introduction - Reviews - Summary.
At least the word 'Reviews' better reflects what it is. It is a review provided by the editors, rather than a discussion which should involve at least the editors (you) and the viewers (me/us). While in your case, the viewers are allowed to post in the comments, not to post in the 'Discussion' part.
Nevertheless, 'Quick Selection Guide' may still be acceptable, as it serves as a Summary of the whole article.
It is great, the new sample is having the best of the 'previous new' and the old formats! Good decision.
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All comments below this refer to the October/November reader survey of preferred review format
Gizmo
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Really the two formats are just a difference between footnotes (or the new style) and end notes (or the old style) about each product. I sort of prefer footnotes (the new format) since they stop you from having to read in different places about the same product, but I think they should be written in smaller font.
The argument for the old style (or the of of the end note) is that it (1) de-clutters the article and makes it easier to read; (2) and it emphasizes important information and de-emphasizes unimportant information (the recommendations and the reviews for each product are the important stuff, not the stuff about homepages (some of which is already hyperlinked in the article).
The historical and current way that professionals who use footnotes get around the clutter problem is by making the footnotes and less related material have a very small font. Think about the example of writing a paper -- by making footnotes smaller, it gives the reader the option of skipping them, but if they are just as large as the font size of the text, then it is very difficult to skip them.
The third alternative is the use of in-line citations in which you put all the relevant information right in the article, and don't use footnotes or endnotes. Supreme Court justices write all of their opinions in this format, and so do many writers in the humanities. It would make less sense in this type of article since there is so much technical detail about the recommended software.
The fourth alternative has to do with the new high-tech world we live in! (Kidding...) You could use tabs and have a first tab for the review as the default front of the article and make a second tab for the technical details.
I would recommend the fourth option, if it were a choice! But since it isn't, I'd just go with the footnotes (but in a smaller font size).
Sorry for the typos here and there -- I should have proof read. But those typos did remind me to provide a few examples of what I meant:
IObit makes great use of tabs for their products and I'm sure this technique could be extended to a full article.
http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html
File hippo does it too:
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
This would help keep the review separate from the technical details.
New format
BY the way, keep up the excellent work
New format definitely, much better
New format. Keep up the good work.
New format. Much more convenient.
new format
New format
new format.. renewed interest.. exciting... interesting.
New format 100% but i will be ok with it if you decide to keep the current format.Love you site too,
Definetly prefer the new format, much easier to comprehend
Everything Gismo keeps getting better and better.
still I agree with 22: Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis=
collate a and b get c.
both formats work for me.
you have helped me so many times as i have built or rebuilt several hundred computers'
thanks,
abetageek
Hi Gizmo,
Fabulous site, whatever you choose I'll still be recommending you to everyone!
I prefer the Main Column old format as it is a clearer overview: first the list of recommended software, then the website and download site. It has a clearer, simpler approach.
On the top left, the new 'Gizmo's Best / Navigation' column seems a good development, although there is nothing wrong with the old 'Navigation' column.
Top right, the various different 'Platforms' seems more purposeful than 'Hot Finds / Forum'
Thanks for reading, Garla.
I think it depends on the focus you'll try to give to the site: the old format works more as personal/jouranlism article, where you read the opinion of the reviewer or the people in charge of the section and as you describe, it has a more interesting read. The new format may be more eye pleasant, but I really think it is starting to look like any other freeware site out there, where you only read a small description of the program, the platform supported, download size and link, and that´s it.
A great deal of this site is that it has that personal touch given by the opinion in each ARTICLE, and the comments of the people reading it. Hope this helps. Keep up the great work!!!
The old format has a more personal feel, which gives users the overall experience of deciding what is best for their needs. The old format forces readers to read the whole story before choosing what to download, and understand what the products offer relative to each other. Currently, articles are written in a top-down approach, with some descriptions referencing previous paragraphs. However, the new format puts borders between all product descriptions, which may make it tough for someone to follow the article if they begin by reading about a random product or just glance at section headings. Additionally, with the new format, a few users may not bother to read the whole story, and will just click whatever download link is listed first - we don't want that!
New format is far better, looks cleaner.
How about a format that include software for the Mac?
New format
I personally think that the new layout looks superior.
as you like it....thx
I like the new format but would ask that you retain the "old" review summary at the top of the page which is the most read part of each page.
I like the new format because it places the download links right next to the descriptions of the product. I think the summary descriptions should be at the very top of the section.
Thank you for a wonderful resource.
I prefer the old format:
Written as an informative article, the comparaison of products is easily understandable.
Hi Gizmo, thanks for the great service !
I'm in favor of the new style
I like old format better, it's more like reading a friend's letter, plus it leaves you more flexibility.
Why not put a link to the bottom list in the product name (and put the link to the bigger image on the small one)?
To make it short I agree 100% with: #29 Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 04:27.
Anyway thank you so much for this great job you're doing
I'll contribute ASAP
new is best
The new format is really great. I am a long time reader and i definitely think the new format is better. With the old format I used to get irritated as i didn't get the website of the product and had to scroll all the way down, especially if i had already made the choice i wanted. But as all of your readers will definitely agree old or new we will still come back.
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