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Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

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Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

#1

Post by jonknee »

Netbooks are my new favorite gadget. I bought one a few months back, but it was a pain to compare all the models and decide (I ended up with the Acer Aspire One A110 and highly recommend it). So to make it easier I created a database that makes it a whole lot easier.

http://www.netbooktracker.com

Basically a niche buyers guide. The code's abstracted, so it can easily be used to power different verticals. People seem to be enjoying it so far, the average visitor goes through 7 pages in a visit. It's still a bit confusing to use at the moment, so I'm hoping for some good advice here.

Browse through the site and when you see a model you're interested in, hit compare. It creates what amounts to a shopping cart of models you're interested in. When you have more than two selected, the comparison page does its magic. This is still a bit confusion, so if anyone has ideas I'm all ears.

Re: Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

#3

Post by jonknee »

davidw wrote: post #2

Cool. Maybe it's just my flu-addled brain, but it would be handy to have a way to search that's a bit more point-and-click. Where'd you get the data?

What do you mean by point and click? There's a free text search (top right) and then an advanced search form (linked in the menu bar). I need to add some more metrics to the advanced search, but it's point and click if I understand what you mean.

As for the data, good ol' manual spec hunting. Hunting down manufacturer spec sheets was a lot of it. Not too bad once you get the hang of it.

Re: Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

#4

Post by davidw »

jonknee wrote: post #3
davidw wrote: post #2

Cool. Maybe it's just my flu-addled brain, but it would be handy to have a way to search that's a bit more point-and-click. Where'd you get the data?

What do you mean by point and click? There's a free text search (top right) and then an advanced search form (linked in the menu bar). I need to add some more metrics to the advanced search, but it's point and click if I understand what you mean. As for the data, good ol' manual spec hunting. Hunting down manufacturer spec sheets was a lot of it. Not too bad once you get the hang of it.

I mean just sort of clicking around to find some categories, like the 'browse' tab gives you, but not just manufacturers, but also price points, maybe a few other things to select on. You can get all that in the search form, but you have to sit there and fill it out.

Re: Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

#5

Post by jonknee »

davidw wrote: post #4
jonknee wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean by point and click? There's a free text search (top right) and then an advanced search form (linked in the menu bar). I need to add some more metrics to the advanced search, but it's point and click if I understand what you mean. As for the data, good ol' manual spec hunting. Hunting down manufacturer spec sheets was a lot of it. Not too bad once you get the hang of it.

I mean just sort of clicking around to find some categories, like the 'browse' tab gives you, but not just manufacturers, but also price points, maybe a few other things to select on. You can get all that in the search form, but you have to sit there and fill it out.

Ah yea, that's on the list. Browse by price, screen size, OS, etc.

Re: Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

#7

Post by dsaewra »

davidw wrote: post #4
jonknee wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean by point and click? There's a free text search (top right) and then an advanced search form (linked in the menu bar). I need to add some more metrics to the advanced search, but it's point and click if I understand what you mean. As for the data, good ol' manual spec hunting. Hunting down manufacturer spec sheets was a lot of it. Not too bad once you get the hang of it.

I mean just sort of clicking around to find some categories, like the 'browse' tab gives you, but not just manufacturers, but also price points, maybe a few other things to select on. You can get all that in the search form, but you have to sit there and fill it out.

I think it is a bit cumbersome to compare the items. Right now, it's browse -> manufacturer -> netbook -> click compare, and then you cycle that for each netbook.

A filter on the browse page to browse by predefined categories, such as screen size/price point would help as well as being able to select an item to compare from the list view, without clicking through to the details view.

Re: Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

#8

Post by sidsavara »

This site is awesome. I (well, a virtual assistant =P) went through the same pain collecting all the data.

Instead of "cells" can you put also expected battery life? I would also be interested in weight and size

I also own an Aspire One - 6 cell variety, shiny blue outside. It's awesome. Light, battery lasts on the full plane flight from Hawaii to/from West coast (tested to/from Los Angeles and Seattle ;) ) with movies running.

My only complaint is the Wifi is a bit weak

Perhaps show inline Amazon reviews? Not sure why so many come up as question marks. Perhaps add a minimum amazon review to the search as well?

Re: Ask YN: Review my new side project, Netbook Tracker

#10

Post by amjith »

In the Browse section instead of listing the manufacturer logo's start listing the netbooks (with pictures). Then have a way to filter out by manufacturer, price range, etc... Kinda like how NewEgg handles it (eg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&#3...)

Have a little checkbox in the browse section next to each picture to select netbooks, and then use it for comparison.

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