By Michele Jacques

Distance Education Clearinghouse on the web at: 
http://www.uwex.edu/disted/home.html  

Here's a short list of some web sites which consistently publish reviews on topics relating to web tools, multimedia, software, hardware, etc. There are many such sites, each carrying their own perspectives and perhaps, bias. Some selections include:

CNET Reviews
http://cnet.com/Content/Reviews/
New reviews are continually being added; currently includes a special section on computers and peripherals

First Look
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/firstlooks/firstlooks.htm
From PC Magazine Online, these are "hands-on reviews of new shipping products"

PC Labs Online
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/pclabs/software/software.htm
Software reviews are included in this section, many programs are compared within most reviews

Web Developer.Com
http://www.webdeveloper.com/reviews/ Review topics include HTML and Site Creation, Java, servers, database development, etc.

InfoSeek Business Channel
http://guide-p.infoseek.com/Business/Consumer_interests/Product_reviews/Desktop_computer_reviews?lk=noframes
Product reviews of desktop computers

IW Reviews
http://www.internetworld.com/reviews/index.html
From Internet World Daily, reviews of individual items, plus archives to earlier reviews

If you need additional information on a particular product, do a web search for that product's name. Be as specific as you can in your selection of search terms, including model number, version, format, etc. Often, the web site(s) that are retrieved will be the manufacturer, vendor, or distributor of the product. Their information is usually helpful and informative when trying to discover more about a particular product or program.

Michele Jacques
Distance Education Clearinghouse
Information Resources Manager
Instructional Communications Systems (ICS)
University of Wisconsin-Extension
jacques@ics.uwex.edu