Product reviews

Ultimately, you’ll want to read what other users have said about a given product. Editorial reviews can be good, though some may largely quote the manufacturer. Manufacturers do provide helpful info such as specs—size, weight, etc.—along with product features. Users advise us if those features are user friendly.

Even with sites such as Epinions (http://www1.epinions.com/) and Buzillions (http://www.buzzillions.com/), sites that exist as user review sites, it can be difficult to get reviews! Why? When you bring up the product, you see “Be the first to write a review on this product.” Nonetheless, these sites are worth knowing about. There are other options, however. In general, I’ve had the best luck with Amazon for user reviews, doubtless because it has so much for sale which, in turn, generates many buyers to do reviews.

Reviews on software and hardware/electronics:

Top Ten Reviews http://www.toptenreviews.com/ The comparison of features makes this a very useful site. I often start here, then proceed to Amazon and check the user reviews.

Amazon Electronics http://www.amazon.com/electronics-store/b/ref=topnav_storetab_e?ie=UTF8&node=172282

Amazon Software http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dsoftware&field-keywords=&x=26&y=17

PC Magazine http://www.pcmag.com/reviews

Kim Komando Buyer’s Guide http://www.komando.com/buyguide/

ZDNet http://www.zdnet.com/?tag=header;header-pri

CPU Benchmarks http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ from here you can get to benchmarks for hard drives, video cards, systems—graphics used (use IE browser for best viewing of this site)

Reviews on Digital Cameras—the old standby sites haven’t been surpassed:

Steve’s Digicams http://www.steves-digicams.com/ current reviews & back to 1999

dpreview http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/ current & some reviews back to 1998

Digital Camera Resource Page http://www.dcresource.com/

All 3 of these camera sites have user forums.

Reviews on Books:

Amazon (computer/internet books) http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=internet+for+seniors&sprefix=internet+for+

Reviews on a fairly wide range of products:

Consumer Search http://www.consumersearch.com/

Consumer Reports http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm

Wired http://www.wired.com/reviews/

Product Reviews http://www.product-reviews.net/

Reviews on automobiles: (some of the sites immediately above also include autos)

Consumer Guide Automotive http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/

CNet http://www.cnet.com/ Not just electronics here!

--Ann Finley, September 2009