Ordering Personal Computers Online:
Web Sites Evaluated
Introduction
I will critically discuss the web sites of a broad range of personal computer sellers as a starting point of a project to put up a design and order system at demCustomComputers.com. The evaluations will be subjective, by necessity, and harsh, by choice. Sometimes, knowing a little about the difficulties of both web site and database design, one can become forgiving of poor user interfaces. I will try to be harsh so I have a strict standard to which to hold my own site.
Dell
The market leader in selling personal computers, with direct selling by phone and Internet often cited as key to their success, has a web site that can be confusing for users but the customization capabilities offered to educational institutions and businesses are among the most powerful.
Full Report on Dell
HP-Compaq
A little slow, with the typical bifurcation between home and work PCs, and a little buggy.
Full Report on HP and Compaq
IBM
Perhaps the most powerful customization I’ve encountered.
Full Report on IBM
Apple
Attractive layout, powerful customization (given the limit to Macintosh products.
Full Report on Apple
Gateway
Like Dell, IBM, and HP but slower and with less information on the products.
Full report on Gateway
Acer
How not to sell computers: have a completely separate web store.
Full report on Acer
eMachines
Little selection or customization, but admirable self-restraint in pushing add-ons.
Full report on eMachines
Fujitsu-Siemens
The leading European computer company, one can’t buy computers through their web site! Needless to say, customization isn’t even a remote dream.
Full Report on Fujitsu Siemens
Computer Outlet Worldwide
Offers only laptops; has no customization; sorted rigidly by brand. Good feature: search across brands based on chosen price range.
Full Report on Computer Outlet Worldwide.
Amazon.com
The American Consumer Satisfaction Index gave Amazon.com a rating of 88, the highest ever given. I found certain things, such as finding the add-to-cart button in the upper left-hand corner of a long page, a little bit bothersome— but millions of people already know how Amazon.com works. Amazon advertizes that they have the lowest price available but implement this promise almost laughably. The hp pavilion 734n desktop pc, for instance, was $749.98 at Amazon.com and $749.99 at HP’s site. (At HP’s site, however, it was out of stock and one could not order it! (“please check back soon”).
Best Buy
With no customization, Best Buy is in some ways a good example of the problems from the customer’s point of view with the presentation of many models from many manufacturers: confusion. A good feature is the option of seeing a back view of each model and a possibly good feature is the product comparison page.
Full Report on Best Buy
Buy.com
Full Report on Buy.com
Affordable Computers
Full Report on Affordable Computers
Custom Computers
This site had no automated customization: apparently no database, and so no web interface to a database.
Full Report on Custom Computers
SEC Custom Computers
Shows unnecessary bifurcation quite clearly: the pages for designing your own Budget and Premium systems are nearly identical. SEC is also an example of offering some ‘options’ that do not actually have any choice associated with them.
Full Report on SEC
PCs for Everyone
PCs for everyone - no pricing of components in intermediate steps
Their categories make more sense: gaming PCs, off-the-shelf, 100% customization, package deals, and customization with help.
Conclusions
are simply not meeting the technical possibilities— what the technical facts of building computers and of designing a database seem to beg for. I believe such a system would provide a service of value to customers. simplicity and power.