Tucows.com
This site was branded "cartoony" by one serious soul but praised as colorful by others. Although everyone liked the Palm OS selection, some panelists complained that the downloads weren't available directly on the site. "Almost everything on the site is either shareware, freeware, or demos," complained one reviewer who wanted to buy full programs without clicking over to manufacturers' sites. But the most serious criticism concerned other extra clicks. One CEO complained about having to specify the download location that was closest to him geographically before being allowed to search for software; he said that if he hadn't agreed to evaluate the site, Tucows would have lost his business immediately. When it came to rating ease of ordering, those extra steps cost the otherwise well-received site some points.
Palmgear.com
Unlike Palm, which received stronger written evaluations than grades, Palmgear was damned with faint praise. In the categories of selection, navigation, and especially value, our panelists gave the site very low marks. The effort required to slog through a confusing selection of products was the determining factor. "Lots of software in inventory, but it is difficult to find what you need," one CEO said. Difficulties in determining the price and especially the memory requirements of applications immediately discouraged some visitors. Since most handhelds have only 8MB of memory, many users will no doubt want to know the file size of the software they're interested in.
The Bottom Line
On the whole our panelists wanted to cut to the chase. When placing an order, they wanted to get in and get out. "I would like to see the information broken out by device," one panelist said. "If you have a Palm VII, you should be able to search only for Palm VII software." Like many users, he was concerned about file size and hoped that more concisely written software applications would be available soon. "I kept seeing a lot of applications that were memory hogs. Some of them were 4MB or larger," he said.
Our panel clearly saw CNET and ZDNet as the information leaders among the sites -- not just for industry news but for price comparisons. Tucows and Palmgear made our panelists click through too many hoops when they ordered software, and Handango reportedly crashed a browser. If who you are determines what you download, then what you like in a Web site may determine where you download it from. Folks who like to window-shop will flock to sites like CNET and ZDNet that are crowded with information. Those seeking a more streamlined experience will like Palm for its broad selection of software and ease of navigation.
Ron Feemster is a freelance writer based in New York City.
The Savvy CEO's Guide to PDA Software
Comments
|
Would CEOs go back? |
What is the site good for? |
CEOs' quick take |
| www.handango.com |
"Yes." |
"Extensive software listings." |
Varies from "very professional" to "out of business soon" (a comment on the quality of the site, not its financial health). |
| www.zdnet.com |
"Yes, to browse." |
"Product information, tips, and FAQs." |
Judgments from "great for beginners" to "information overload." |
| www.palm.com |
"Yes, as needed." |
"Ordering hardware, software, and accessories." |
"Very fast and easy to navigate." |
| www.cnet.com |
"Yes, occasionally." |
"Product price comparisons." |
"Clear, complete information." |
| www.tucows.com |
"Maybe." |
"Very fast downloads." |
"If you want freeware, Tucows has it." |
| www.palmgear.com |
"Once in a while." |
"Difficult to find things." |
"Needs an overhaul on the user interface." |
Grades
|
Navigation |
Selection |
Ease of Use |
Reliability |
Value |
Average Grade |
| www.handango.com |
A |
A- |
A |
A |
B+ |
A- |
| www.zdnet.com |
B |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A- |
| www.palm.com |
A+ |
A |
B |
A |
A+ |
A |
| www.cnet.com |
A- |
B |
B |
A |
A- |
B+ |
| www.tucows.com |
B- |
C |
C |
A- |
A- |
B |
| www.palmgear.com |
B |
B |
B |
B |
B- |
B |
Our Panelists
Doug Carlson, cofounder and president, Knowledge Strategies
Seth Christian, CEO, HotelTools
Robert Karpman, president and cofounder, Socket Media
Tim Longnecker, principal and CEO, Dynamis Solutions
Sharon Middendorf, CEO, Motorbaby.com
Ron Reed, CEO, Fullscope
Marcus Samuelsson, chef and co-owner, Aquavit
Howard Sherman, CEO, Roundhouse
Scott Snyder, CEO, OmniChoice
Please e-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.
