A Look at Two Computer Hardware Review Websites :: Compare Contrast Papers

A Look at Two Computer Hardware Review Websites Although it is true that many people, when confronted with the task of buying a new computer, will simply go to the closest Best Buy and purchase whatever is on the shelf, an increasing number of people these days are turning to building their own computers. Whether they are interested in saving money, or just like the idea of being in control of what goes into their computer, they need to know which parts are the best for their needs, which parts are the best value. Getting this information from an impartial place can be challenging, but thankfully there are a few websites around today that have a reputation for giving honest reviews and going the extra mile to find the best hardware for your money. I am reviewing two of these sites today, Tom's Hardware Guide, and AnandTech. The first site I am reviewing is Tom's Hardware Guide. Tom's Hardware Guide(THG) is well known and is viewed as one of the most respected places to get information about computer hardware. It might not be immediately evident why anyone should believe that this website should have a lot of credibility, though. According to the "About Us" page, it was originally started in 1996 by Dr. Thomas Pabst, a doctor in Germany. Despite the fact that Tom was not a professional in a computer field, THG has grown to become one of the most popular and trusted places to get independent hardware reviews and has earned the credibility that it now has. I was not very impressed by the layout of the website. It looked like they were trying to put too much information onto the main page, and it was just too cluttered. The front page was full of news stories from the past few days that visitors to a computer hardware review site might find relevant, and links to some of their recent reviews even farther down on the main page. Along the sides there are a large number of computer related ads. I found it rather hard to find my way around the website.