Comments on: Speed Linking: Fender’s Obnoxious New Site, Budda’s Superdrive 45, Reverend Manta Ray http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/ News, Reviews, And Commentary On The Latest Guitars & Guitar Gear. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:44:38 +0000 hourly 1 By: G L Wilson http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-13352 G L Wilson Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:32:08 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-13352 Ugh! I hate PRSs. Ugh! I hate PRSs.

]]> By: Tom L http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12716 Tom L Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:29:30 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12716 Take a few minutes to visit www.prsguitars.com Enjoy the silence. And the beautiful guitar featured on the home page. That's what I'm talkin' about! Take a few minutes to visit http://www.prsguitars.com

Enjoy the silence. And the beautiful guitar featured on the home page. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

]]> By: Rick http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12623 Rick Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:22:06 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12623 Jon.... I think what defines a "Web 2.0" site is still unclear.... I agree that it has driven community building and new levels of interactivity... but from a design perspective, there is a "Web 2.0 look" that a lot of companies (like Apple, Adobe, Microsoft) are moving towards. Some analyst firms define Web 2.0 as giving a thin client web browser, fat client capabilities....What companies choose to do with it is another story. Cary.... I got my guitar...Check out the forums: http://www.tubefreaks.net/vintage-guitars/78-my-new-tele.html#post384 Jon…. I think what defines a “Web 2.0″ site is still unclear…. I agree that it has driven community building and new levels of interactivity… but from a design perspective, there is a “Web 2.0 look” that a lot of companies (like Apple, Adobe, Microsoft) are moving towards. Some analyst firms define Web 2.0 as giving a thin client web browser, fat client capabilities….What companies choose to do with it is another story.

Cary…. I got my guitar…Check out the forums: http://www.tubefreaks.net/vintage-guitars/78-my-new-tele.html#post384

]]> By: Cary http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12616 Cary Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:02:25 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12616 Yikes! I see what you mean, Jon ;) I wish I had a screen shot of what the US version looked like before they changed it -- I think then you'd understand the frustration. The website used to be incredibly easy on the eyes, with a much classier design, and it loaded much faster. Gibson's website leaves a lot to be desired as well, but I've never had them blast loud music at me without warning... I just think that's really bad form. Of course, the Ibanez site has always been ugly and fairly difficult to navigate. I wouldn't give any of theses sites an A+, but the old Fender site at least got a B+ in my book, and I'm sorry to see it go. Yikes! I see what you mean, Jon ;)

I wish I had a screen shot of what the US version looked like before they changed it — I think then you’d understand the frustration.

The website used to be incredibly easy on the eyes, with a much classier design, and it loaded much faster.

Gibson’s website leaves a lot to be desired as well, but I’ve never had them blast loud music at me without warning… I just think that’s really bad form.

Of course, the Ibanez site has always been ugly and fairly difficult to navigate. I wouldn’t give any of theses sites an A+, but the old Fender site at least got a B+ in my book, and I’m sorry to see it go.

]]> By: Jon http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12588 Jon Sat, 16 Jun 2007 00:53:54 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12588 I'm confused guys, has anyone checked out the Ibanez or Gibson sites lately? I'm not seeing much difference? You click on products, you get all the products listed, you click on stratocasters and you get the sub menu with all the strats, and Rick Web 2.0 isn't about javascript and QTVR it's about creating a community and having people feel like they are contributing. I agree it's not what it should be, especially for a company the size of Fender and features like serial lookups would be nice. It's more Coca-Cola than Fender but compare it to what I have to put up with in Australia, <a href="http://www.fender.com.au" rel="nofollow">www.fender.com.au</a>! I’m confused guys, has anyone checked out the Ibanez or Gibson sites lately? I’m not seeing much difference? You click on products, you get all the products listed, you click on stratocasters and you get the sub menu with all the strats, and Rick Web 2.0 isn’t about javascript and QTVR it’s about creating a community and having people feel like they are contributing.

I agree it’s not what it should be, especially for a company the size of Fender and features like serial lookups would be nice. It’s more Coca-Cola than Fender but compare it to what I have to put up with in Australia, http://www.fender.com.au!

]]> By: Tom L http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12425 Tom L Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:56:31 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12425 Yuk. The home page doesn't even appear to be that of a guitar manufacturer. More like a record label. I'm trying to be open minded, understanding that companies always have to be mindful of target demographics...and we are talking about rock & roll here...but the site definitely does not convey the message that you're visiting a company dedicated to building quality musical instruments. I have to give it a thumbs down. Yuk.

The home page doesn’t even appear to be that of a guitar manufacturer. More like a record label. I’m trying to be open minded, understanding that companies always have to be mindful of target demographics…and we are talking about rock & roll here…but the site definitely does not convey the message that you’re visiting a company dedicated to building quality musical instruments. I have to give it a thumbs down.

]]> By: Cary http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12244 Cary Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:10:19 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12244 Hey, did you pick up your new Tele yet? Hey, did you pick up your new Tele yet?

]]> By: Cary http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12243 Cary Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:09:22 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12243 Yikes... that's one of my big pet peeves these days -- any company that has a presence on the internet but is <em>still</em> not responding to e-mails is losing serious mindshare. This is one of those situations where the small mom 'n' pop shops do phenomenally better than the big boys. I think the internet really is turning into a great equalizer -- it's good for us, and bad for any entity that isn't willing to truly interact with its potential buyers. Hehe... if they think adding a forum to their site makes it Web 2.0 then I think they've already missed the boat :) Yikes… that’s one of my big pet peeves these days — any company that has a presence on the internet but is still not responding to e-mails is losing serious mindshare.

This is one of those situations where the small mom ‘n’ pop shops do phenomenally better than the big boys. I think the internet really is turning into a great equalizer — it’s good for us, and bad for any entity that isn’t willing to truly interact with its potential buyers.

Hehe… if they think adding a forum to their site makes it Web 2.0 then I think they’ve already missed the boat :)

]]> By: Rick http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-12239 Rick Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:58:21 +0000 http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/06/14/speed-linking-fenders-obnoxious-new-site-reverend-manta-ray/#comment-12239 The Fender website is trying to go for that "Web 2.0" look ... but it's all flash and no substance (very similiar to Apple's new design, although it Apple has a lot more rapidly changing content). True Web 2.0 sites have a higher level of interactivity (ala Digg.com or Google's Reader...a bit of cool AJAX) and actually provider more value to the reader. What would make it cool is a serial number lookup to get manuals/specs and other interesting information about a specific guitar.....Also a way to compare previous years models....heck even 360 degree zoomable pictures would make the site more "Web 2.0".... right now it's a glorified catalog. Line6 actually has a better site in many respects, simply because they have web integrated software. I once sent an email to support at Fender from the website, and never got a response. The Fender website is trying to go for that “Web 2.0″ look … but it’s all flash and no substance (very similiar to Apple’s new design, although it Apple has a lot more rapidly changing content). True Web 2.0 sites have a higher level of interactivity (ala Digg.com or Google’s Reader…a bit of cool AJAX) and actually provider more value to the reader.

What would make it cool is a serial number lookup to get manuals/specs and other interesting information about a specific guitar…..Also a way to compare previous years models….heck even 360 degree zoomable pictures would make the site more “Web 2.0″…. right now it’s a glorified catalog. Line6 actually has a better site in many respects, simply because they have web integrated software. I once sent an email to support at Fender from the website, and never got a response.

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