Rating Guide
Information that details how we "rate" products and services. |
How We Rate Products and Services:
When
Home Office Reports
reviews, tests and rates
the products and services that might be useful to a home based business,
we use a system methodology based not only on technical performance
but on business performance as well. Our unique review
criteria are designed to help you understand not only how and how well a
product or service works, but also how it will help (or hurt) your
business. Additionally, we'll give you tips on using a product or
service successfully as well as features and/or functions to avoid (based
on level of experience as well as business requirement).
Additionally, we rank products on "who" should use (or want!)
them - from Pro, to Amateur to
Rookie. You can find out our descriptions of those ratings as well by
following the links in this paragraph.
So, let's take a look at the
Home Office Reports rating system!
|
Criteria |
Definition |
Scale (1 to 5, 5 being best!) |
|
Simple
Start-Up |
How easy
is it to implement and install the product or service? How
much time will it take? |
นนนนน
It's a snap!
นนนน
Very simple.
นนน
Not bad, minor problems.
นน
Problems encountered, some pain, extra time.
น
Nightmare city! |
|
Cost
|
Is the
product or service worth the investment (in time and money)? |
$$$$$
Great
value for the money!
$$$$
Good
stuff! Buy it!
$$$
Can be a
good investment for target applications.
$$
Feeling
rich?
$
Only for
the billionaire! |
|
Time
Savings |
Does this
product or service make you or your business operate more
efficiently and effectively? Does it save (in quantifiable
numbers) time? |
นนนนน
Wow! What a timesaver!
นนนน
Headed for the golf course!
นนน
Saves time for some businesses, business owners.
นน
Maybe sometimes.
น
Time waster! |
|
Ease of
Use |
Is the
product or service easy to learn and use? Are manuals and help
screens effective and coherent? If there are problems, is
access to customer support fast - and are the people (or Web site)
knowledgeable? |
@@@@@
Easy to
use, great support!
@@@@
Very
simple, almost everything in one spot.
@@@
O.k.,
support and help could be improved.
@@
Might be
worth the effort to learn - for the not too busy.
@
Are you
kidding? |
|
Works
With |
Does the
product or service integrate easily with a variety of systems and
software? Are there looming driver or other incompatibilities? |
YYYYY
It's love
at first implementation!
YYYY
Not much
to argue with!
YYY
Almost
everything is "happy", some issues.
YY
Lover's
quarrels.
Y
Needs to
see a psychiatrist! |
|
Support |
Is the
product or service reliable and/or durable to stand up to the
requirements of a home based business? If it breaks, how fast
(and cost effectively) can it be fixed? Can you rely on this
product or service - period? |
ppppp
Tough as
nails!
pppp
Ready when
you are.
ppp
Better
have a back up plan.
pp
Probably
will get "stood up".
p
Never
there when you need it. |
|
Features |
Finally,
what are the technical capabilities of the product or service?
What are its differentiators compared with its competitors? |
iiiii
Very rich
set of features/functions - top of the line.
iiii
Solid set
of features and functions. One of the best.
iii
Has what
one one would expect. Solid performer.
ii
It better
be cheap, because it isn't rich in features/functions.
i
Not worth
the effort. |
|
Overall Rating |
A "weighted" average of the above scores. We
give more "weight" to the top 3 rating criteria - simplicity, cost
effectiveness and productivity gain. |
%%%%%
Absolutely
top notch!
%%%%
Wonderful
product or service
%%%
A good buy
%%
Big
maybe.
%
Move on. |
|
