From Network World Magazine:
U2 Web site leaves fans singing the bluesCarol Sliwa
"But I still haven’t found what I’m look ing for "-U2
Webmasters might want to heed some of the problems encountered by fansof the rock band U2, who tried to access the band’s "first official" Web site(http://U2popmart.msn.com), launched June 20.
The lesson seemed to be: It will not do you any good to build a fancy Internetor intranet site unless your target audience can get to it.
The Microsoft Network and U2 launched the Irish band’s Web site with aone-hour live Webcast.
The site is designed to chronicle U2’s worldwide PopMart tour, which beganon April 25 in Las Vegas.
The Web site promises hip, interactive tricks to anyone who downloads Microsoft NetShow as well as Shockwave and Real Player plug-ins. Downloading these plug-ins "only takes a few minutes," the site promises. "Trust us, it will be worth it."
Well, many of U2’s wired fans begged to differ and those are the ones who could even access the site in the first place.
Many did not have the right equipment, and others had trouble with thedownloads.
A sampling of their comments from "The Wire Archive, The Mailing List for U2 Fans" follows:
"Mr. Gates - If you are truly the ’god’ of the computer world, how can youdo this to your children? Don’t you love us?"
Jan (who claimed to have gone through six pots of coffee and three cartons of cigarettes trying to complete the downloads) .
`Good graphics, loads fast, really interactive and fun.’ " Hmm…. Was that meant sarcastically? Granted, I don’t have the fastest computer in the world, but it’s certainly not the slowest, either. I felt like I was using a 286 last night."
Mary (who finally accessed the site after "about six hours [of] trying")
Of course, if the site was easier to access, perhaps Microsoft Corp. and U2 would have received a few more messages like this:
"I personally enjoy the site, even though I had to download the plug-ins. Ten minutes of download time is worth it, I promise you. I can’t wait to see the bandon tonight!" -Brad
Related posts:
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Recent Comments