CNET.com is the definitive online location for gadgets, internet and computer news, tech information and reviews. CNET.com is also the primary destination of online enthusiasts seeking the latest downloads and trials of new or popular programs. With so much to offer on a single website, could it possibly be easy to navigate? Oh yes – simple to navigate and much more.
A Classic Example of Web 2.0 Design
The colors, clean design and simple layout of CNET make it easy to follow and even easier to find what you’re looking for as you navigate the site. Tabs for the different areas of the site are a bright green in contrast to the pale yellow and white of the content and listings sections. The homepage is primarily comprised of listed stories, blog posts and review categories. The site is designed with an emphasis on showcasing a clean list using plenty of white space rather than attempting to cram every article onto the home page. The starkness of the pages is a welcome respite as there is little fluff and virtually no descriptions or teasers for the stories that you often find cluttering up other news related sites.
By keeping the story list to headlines, CNET allows visitors to skim the topics quickly without getting tangled up in related sub stories and photojournalism enhancements. Reading through the latest topics takes just seconds. Most of stories listed CNET’s homepage are breaking news or thoughtful, well-researched discussion of the technology industry happenings, the bottom half of the homepage showcases the almost endless number of CNET blogs covering a wide range of topics and industries.
A Wide Range of Technology Blogs on CNET
The latest blog posts are listed on the bottom of the homepage and featured post titles are pulled and rotate through the homepage list keeping content absolutely up to minute. All CNET blogs are listed on the homepage making it simple to find what you’re looking for in a single step. The CNET homepage also contains special offers and promoted articles on the right and bottom edges of the page, but these don’t make the site feel cluttered. In fact, you almost don’t notice the extra content. The ads and boxes provide a visual border for the crisp white areas which are so effective at showcasing the deceptively simplistic lists of content.
One Stop Technology Stop
CNET.com content leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. The site is one of the most popular on the web with good reason. Need the latest version of WinZip? Try CNET. Want to review handhelds before you buy? Read up on the latest gadgets at CNET. Not only are there reviews for just about everything under the technological sun, the reviews are thorough and detailed enough to be helpful rather than just someone’s rambling opinions on a particular object.
Tabs and lists make it simple to work through reviews and commentary on virtually anything on the site. Many of the review categories are listed on the main menu, but others require a bit more effect to locate. Regardless of how easy the review is to find, and it will be easy enough, the message will be written clearly with pertinent facts and opinion about the object.
CNET.com has collected all areas of Internet and other technology today and organized that information into easily accessed, easily understood offerings. While there is a dazzling amount of information available on the website, you never feel overwhelmed or even confused as to where you want to go next. All content including the new video section is organized within a nuance of category and travel through the site is simple thanks to the clean design. CNET.com is not only the perfect example of the way a modern website should look and operate, it is also the perfect example of the kind of website that keeps the internet simple enough for the rest of us to use.
