Website Comparison

Objective:

Using one of the sites I researched for Blog Post 1, write a more in-depth analysis of the differences and similarities between the mobile and desktop versions of the website.

In expanding further on the similarities and differences between Lynda.com mobile and desktop versions, I will refrain from regurgitating the same information as I did in blog 1, but rather delve deeper into some of those things mentioned in blog 1, as well as discuss some other differences I noticed between the 2 versions:

Key differences between the lynda.com desktop version versus the mobile version:

• On the mobile version, all on the same line at the very top is the logo (left), followed by a “sign up” and “login” link. Just beneath that on the mobile version is a very prominent “Search” bar followed by the main horizontal navigation which includes a “Home”, “Subject”, “Software”, “Author”, and “New” buttons.

• On the desktop version, all on the same line at the very top is a “Become a member” link, followed by the “Products”, “New Courses”, “Support”, “Subscribe”, “Reactivate”, and “Login” links. Just beneath that, all on the same line, is the logo (left), the “Subject”, “Software”, and “Author” links, and the “Search” bar.

Focusing on my comments above, you can see in the 2 diagrams below, the 2 versions vary quite a bit. I tend to like the way the desktop version’s home page defaults to the “All” category which lists all of the “New Courses” first. You’ll note that this “New” category within the mobile version was in the main navigation, for there is no “All” category on the mobile version. Beside the “All” category on the desktop version, there are buttons breaking the “New Courses” down further into specific categories, such as Photography, Video, Web, etc.

On the mobile versions Home Page, I really like the “About lynda.com: Who we are” video that appears at the top of the page. This video captures the essence of what Lynda.com is all about. It almost seems as though the mobile versions home page is geared toward people who perhaps have never visited the site before, whether on desktop or mobile.

• The URL’s are different for each site. In the URL for the mobile site there is an “m” that comes first, followed by .lynda.com….  This “m” indicates that this is a mobile URL.
• At the bottom of each of the versions there is an area that lists numerous menus, however,  the information from version to version is drastically different. On the mobile version it actually lists a couple of features that are specific to mobile environments, such as the “Full Site” and “Mobile Site Feedback” options.
• I had to do a little searching on the desktop version to find the “Contact” button, which is listed under the “Support” dropdown menu at the top of the page. In contrast, the “Contact” button is clearly visible at the bottom of the page on the mobile version.

Key Similarities between the lynda.com desktop version versus the mobile version:

• Each site offers a prominent “Search” bar at the top and bottom of each page.
• Each site displays the main navigation at the top of each page.
• Each site uses the same color scheme and fonts.