Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Book reviews

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Before purchasing a book, most people will check a few reviews of the book before spending their money. Most newspapers and magazines carry a review of few fiction and non-fiction books in their weekly supplements. Online reviews are also available, but some may not be reliable unless the review sites has strict editorial guidelines

A book review usually consists of the following :
1. Introduction which contains title, type of book, year published, publisher and publisher’s location, writer’s credentials, experience, education and training(for academic books)
2. Analysis and Evaluation of the book consisting of :
a) organization of chapters – whether events are in chronological order or flashbacks, table of contents, index, appendices
b) readability of the book – the kind of vocabulary used, whether illustrations are provided and the complexity of sentences
3. Recommendation about the book, whether it is of any value to an individual or to society, whether the reader should spend his or her money on the book

Consumer reviews

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Most consumer electronic products are expensive and it is advisable for a buyer to check features, prices and reviews before making a purchase decision. There are many online and offline sources for consumer electronic reviews, some are free, others are only available to subscribers.

Some of the popular review sources are :
1. Consumer reports magazine: Many consider it to be the most reliable source of consumer electronic products, but it is not free.
2. CNET : has reviews, price list and also instructions on how to use the particular appliance. Since different models of consumer electronics products are available in Asia and Europe, a non-US buyer may prefer to refer to the regional version.
3. ZDNET, PCMag, PCWorld : for computer and IT related products
4. Viewscore: has a summary of reviews at all popular review websites.
5. Buzzillions : has reviews from verified buyers of products from Staples, RadioShack, REI, Adorama, RitzCamera and other consumer appliances