Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 Designing Web Usability... In The 20th Century April 30, 2006
27 out of 28 found this review helpful
Having read the wealth of positive reviews for this book, both on Amazon and on various industry websites, I assumed that 'Designing Web Usability' would be the ultimate purchase for those interested in usability and related practices.
Had I made this assumption about five or six years ago, I may have been correct.
Sadly, this book is let down by an extremely dated outlook, which belies the author's "future-proof" claim that the principles advocated in this book will remain important regardless of technological progression. Certainly, some of the broader doctrines it advocates will always retain their relevance (such as the importance of creating simple user-centric designs) but these are sadly obscured by some spurious predictions and a seemingly complete lack of foresight towards some of the major advancements in web technology (such as the massive uptake of broadband, and the use of CSS for anything other than styling fonts and table cells).
Such woeful inaccuracies could be overlooked by virtue of the fact that this book was first published in 1999 (not an incredibly long time in any other subject matter, but an entire lifetime in the field of web design). Nevertheless, if an author is willing to retain a book on the market (without any significant overhaul other than a pithy preface) then they must be prepared to face the criticism, comparison and scrutiny that will inevitably ensue. Thus, despite the bet-hedging get-out clauses with which the author laces his final chapter, statements as ludicrous as "we have to wait until approximately the year 2007 for books to go away and be fully replaced with online information", will always colour the reader's judgment towards the book's other less questionable claims.
In summary, you are likely to find free, up-to-date, and much more relevant information from various locations on the Internet (Jakob Nielsen's website - www.useit.com - included); and more concise and less spurious information from books such as Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach To Web Usability". For a snapshot of pre-21st Century web usability however, this may be the book for you!
 Knowing the rules April 15, 2003
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
This book explains the rudiments of usability on the web with examples of best practice. Anyone developing projects for the web should heed the advice in these pages. Although designers like to break the rules, I think its imperative to know the rules before you break them.
The Web Usability Bible December 18, 2002
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
If you are planning to design a website for your company, or indeed if your company already has a web site, you must read this book. It is very well written, and develops a clear, progressive and logical argument: design for usability or run the risk of having your customers turn elsewhere. Although Nielson can sometimes come across as slightly arrogant, you shouldn't let this put you off. What he says is more important than how he says it.The book is primarily targeted at business users who are looking to design a corporate website, probably with some sort of online purchasing system. If this is not you however, there is still a lot of content that is relevant to all sites. I am currently designing an information website, and even though I have no 'customers' as such, I still find Nielson's approach useful, something that is reflected in the feedback I have received about the site layout.
In short, this is an essential purchase if you are looking to have a web site. Of any description.
 A Bible for Practioneers June 25, 2002
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
I manage a web site for large company and this book is our Bible. It is probably the most insightful book on web design I've ever read read. While I give 5 stars for the content, I feel the need to comnment on the book's lousy construction The inside flaps curl immediately (and irrepairably) and the book's coating seems designed to collect fingerprint stains...
Buy borrow or steal this before you pollute the internet January 11, 2002
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
If everyone who ever made a website read this book before they started hacking code, Webland would be a much better place for all of us. Even experienced usability professionals will find this a very valuable reference guide to have within reach. Handily, it's also chunky enough to physically beat your web "master" about the head with, if you can't metaphorically beat him about the head with the book's message. It is true that there is little in this book that Jakob does not explain for free on his site..., but it's worth the investment. Go buy it. It really impresses the girls too. Honestly.
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