Microsoft

I chose to analyses and research into this site to not only gain background knowledge of existing software sites but give me a better understanding of the layouts and how they approach the market.
I began by trying out all of the websites features. Seeing what the website consists of and what it does to make it personal whilst meeting the goals of the task in hand.
From first appearances I first noticed how although the software it was selling didn’t leap out straight away. On first glances it had the color scheme and their brand built into the site. Although the structure itself with complex transitions from category to category. It didn’t have Microsoft heading the page, with it subtlety being feed in later on reading. The main structure is produced with a basic drop down bar with a more advanced search bar below to give an easier way of navigating through the site. The homepage has the software at the heart of the design. Consisting of two different homepages. One for the Home version of the software and the second work/office. Giving the option to switch between the two by the click of the mouse. Using a very effective jquery transition. Overall the structure is fluent and has a balance between software details/info and layout design. With few images the text content is broken up with visuals and well placed borders.
Given the genre and basis of the site it is hard to keep the audience interested whilst capturing their imagination, whilst trying to show them the purpose of the site. This being the advertisement t and purchase of the specific software.