content - the 7 Cs of the web site

APPLE uses several types of dimensions of content to present its products, promotions, and latest information of the web site.

First of all, it uses offering mix to show the product's features and benefits. For example, visitors are able to read the information about iPhone regarding its benefits, apps for iPhone, 3.0 software update, and new in MobileMe.

Secondly, there are promotional and communications messaging projected by APPLE in the web site. It shows that APPLE is using cognitive appeal mix content as well. For example, you can see there are few promotional columns on the web site like Introducing iPhone 3G, buy and get free iPod touch, and zero in on a new Mac.

Lastly, APPLE also provide a number of media for the visitors to explore. For exampla, the image and graphic of certain products, downloadable music, featured video and downloadable software.

- featured video

- music

- games + apps

-downloadable software

APPLE is having current content on the major part of its web site, which mean it does not require frequent updates as the information, promotion, and prices of the products not much changes even after a period of time.

However, a minor part of the website is using time-sensitive content. For example, the downloadable software would change from time to time when a new product is launched in the market to meet the visitors' demands.

context - the 7 Cs of the web site

APPLE is using hybrid design in its web site, which mean a combination of both aesthetics and functional dimensions.

For the aesthetics part, we can see that the promotion of "the new MacBook Pro family" is highly visual in the middle column , with appealing images of 3 different sizes of MacBook Pro so that the visitors can have a clearer picture in their mind about the products. APPLE's site strategy not only focuses on product offering but attract customer through its identification with modern and flexibility of products.

On the other hand, APPLE's functional dimension can be seen clearly from offering several options for visitors to access and view its latest electronic products, downloadable softwares, and all the checkout options that visitors have come to expect, in a clean and simple design package.

Is APPLE a good wed site??

To me, the answer is definitely YES. A good website can be divided into few catogories to describe its design features, which includes the text, navigation, graphic and general design. Apple ( http://www.apple.com/ ) has fulfilled the basic requirement features of being a good web site.

First of all, the background does not interupt the text. It uses a plain white background to make the visitors only focus on the text and products pictures. Besides, the text is big enough to read, but not too big. The hierarchy of information is perfectly clear for the visitors to read.

Secondly, the navigation buttons and bars of the web pages are easy to understand and use. For instance, if you want to read more information about iPhone, you may just move your mouse cursor to the navigation bar and click on the "iPhone" then it will bring you to the page. The navigation bar are consistently throughout the web pages. It located on the same position in every pages. Beside that, the frame are not obtrusive because the web site is using frame to display its information. It helps visitors to read and view conveniently.

Next, the graphic of this web site. Its graphic and background using browser-safe colors and certain graphic has an alt label. Moreover, some of the graphic link has a matching text link. For example, different product in "store" page will have different link to other pages for visitors to get more information.

Lastly, the general design of the web pages. The pages can be downloaded quickly in seconds, it saves the visitors' time. Yet, every web page in the upper site (tagline) looks like it belongs to the same site. The logo of APPLE is repeatedly carried throughout the pages.

However, nothing can be perfect, but only keep improving our strengths in order to survive in this competitive age. A web site represents the image of a company, so the features of the web site should be appropriate to show the professionalism and maintain the visitors loyalty for the long run.