This week: A follow-up on Part I and Part II of this series. Keep your ideas coming. If you know of sites or services worth paying for, e-mail me at poynter@sree.net (and let me know if I can quote you).
Zagat.com (Digital download for PDA: $29.95; Web Subscription Options: 1 year, $14.95; 30 days, $2.50;
one-day pass, $1.50)
Jonathan Dube, my Web Tips partner, writes: Zagat now has their own service which I think is worth paying for. You can subscribe to either the website, or get the data downloaded to your PDA (with updates for a year included). With both plans you get access to Zagat reviews from EVERY city and you can do searches by location, making this a much better deal than simply buying a book. I personally think the PDA version is a much better deal, because not only can you take it with you, but you can mark and save all your favorite places.
Jon points out that Vindigo, which was praised in Part I of this series, no longer gives users Zagat listings — the new food ratings provider is Gayot. “Still a great service, though,” says Jon.
CooksIllustrated.com ($24.95 a year; $19.95 with magazine subscription; $3.95 for a month)
Angie Drobnic Holan, researcher, Tampa Tribune, writes: This is not journalism-related, but I think cooksillustrated.com is worth paying for. In fact, I paid for it, dropped my sub, and then re-subscribed after I missed it too much. And that’s in addition to my longtime sub to the print magazine! It is just the best cooking magazine around, it has NO ads, and all the recipes are scrupulously tested so they come out as promised. The beauty of the website is that I can look up any entree, snack, or side dish I feel like cooking and get a recipe I know will be good. Most other recipes you get off the Internet are a real gamble — maybe they’re tasty and maybe they’re not. I probably sound like I work for them, but I don’t. I just love them dearly and count myself as a devoted reader. I think they are a great example of how superior content can engender rabid consumer loyalty, at least for me, anyway.
GuruNet.com ($39.99)
Ben L. Kimbell writes: The most complete reference library on the ‘net to my knowledge. A plethora of reference books from dictionary to medical, government and sports.
Ben’s right – a service worth paying for. Here’s a review I did of it.
Have a site you like? Let others know. Send your suggestions to poynter@sree.net.
Sree’s Links:
Journalism workshops, panels, seminars at SAJA’s annual convention in Manhattan, June 20-22. You don’t have to be South Asian to attend!
