Customer Rating:  
Summary: Must-Know Stuff about Web Design for a Large World
Comment: In this book on web usability, Jakob Nielsen is doing a heroic effort to envision how the average internet user (which equals a potential customer for an e-commerce web page) looks today in the year 2000. The average user can be characterised using many parameters like: Internet connection speed, IT knowledge, internet experience, disabilities, etc. Bottomline is that If you want to design a web site having the maximum impact on all potential users, it is crucial to pay attention to such "facts". Why cut away 5% of all potential customers because they for some reason are unable to use image maps for navigation purposes, or because they lack the ability to distinguish different colors? What you get from this splendid book is an update on what you can do to your web site in order to please the user and in the end (it all ends in business anyway) make sure that this user is converted to a loyal customer. The book is not a technical walkthrough of HTML coding. It is merely a large collection of tips and ideas on how to involve the end user, both mentally and physically, in the process of designing stuff for the internet or intranet. There are many good examples thoughout the book on good practice and worst practice. Considering this being a book on Usability, it is relevant to rate the usability of the book itself also. The design of the book is lavish, with a clear and simple layout containing a large number of useful color illustrations (actually almost 30% of the book are illustrations). I found it, however, fairly difficult to read it in a linear manner because of these large illustrations (sometimes extending 3-4 pages). I do recognize that there is no other way around it, unless Jakob should choose a larger but less handy book format (like the triology of Edward R. Tuftes on information graphics) for his next book. All in all a "must buy" for anybody in charge of anything on the internet which has the potential of being serious business.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good and Easy to Follow
Comment: Most books of this sort as dry as the paper they're written on. And although the subject matter, Usability, even sounds boring, Jakob Nielson's love for the subject really comes through. It's funny to say, but it's a real page turner.I love the examples he uses. I know many of them are older it really doesn't matter, the point still remains. They only real issue I have is a minor one. It's obvious that he feels that his way is the only way. And while, I generally agree with what he says, it get a little old to hear him spout off that he is always right. I'd recommend this to anyone who does any design work on the web.
Customer Rating:
Summary: More a Tool than a Book
Comment: Rarely do I deface a book by underlining phrases and scribbling comments in the margins. When I do it means that this is a no longer just a reference book but a working tool, a work which will always sit within arms reach of the keyboard.I squirmed when reading this. Perhaps it was that I successfully convinced others to implement frames on a site or that users who come from search engines deep into one of my sites are in grave danger of getting lost. This book exposes your mistakes. It does this with great clarity of writing and ample use of screen shots. However I found some things annoying: * The author repeats himself. In later chapters when we should be building on the early arguments we get a regurgitation of earlier advice and the book runs out of steam. Perhaps this repitition is deemed necessary for people who are delving straight into particularly chapters. * While there is a chapter specifically called International Use the author at times uses very US specific imagery. Should we in Australia be expected to know of Tom Brokaw (p149)? Also the stats on web connections speeds and their future projections seemed to be for the US only - although this is not specifically stated. * Almost the whole of the discussion about usability is limited to HTML and Cascading Style Sheets. I would have appreciated consideration of Javascripts as well as Flash - which is completely ignored.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Solid advice for a Web designer
Comment: I pegged my hopes too high for "Designing Web Usability." I wanted to learn secrets that would take my websites to a new level. Instead, I read about the techniques and thought processes that I (think) I already infused into my web designs.This isn't bad news. That Neilsen confirmed my thinking was positive for me. I definitely picked up some tips, and did make a few changes to my sites as a result. Be aware that this book discusses the end result that Neilsen believes will maximize your web usability. He says he's planning a second volume to deal with the nuts and bolts of how to achieve the results.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Says Who? Be wary of web gurus selling books
Comment: Writers often manipulate science to sell articles or books. This book is full of "Truths" that are completely unsubstantiated. Only a bit into the book, the whole cloth pronouncements on what "they" (the user) want and find useful come fast and furious. Where are the references? Even an anecdote? Nielsen left out any research to hide complicated conclusions. Nielsen is considered by many in the business to be an expert on web usability, but the book has exchanged any good science for gushing cliches and maxims. Simply no credibility, unusable by mature professionals. Perhaps the book is meant for hobbyists? I did not get that impression from the presentation. This book is written to make money, not to get at the truth. This book is about Nielsen, not web usability. I suppose the scientific shortcuts work well for the publisher, but this is not a serious effort.
|
|
