Digital Planet Any corporate page from a Web site design company that purports to expand "the interactive medium's power to entertain, enlighten and inform" had better present zeniths in content and technology. Digital Planet doesn't stumble. The company, which has designed areas for Philips Media, Universal Pictures and MGM/UA Home Video, vaults its own self-imposed hurdles, and sets new standards with lavish artwork, technological gimmickry and quick, intuitive navigation. Clearly, the people behind the coding have spent significant energy in studying online communication models. The fruits of their travail? State of the art Web design. Anything less would be unpresentable. An opening splash screen displays a seamless integration of texture-rich background illustration and accompanying iconography. Think Carlos Segura, the innovative graphic artist and type designer. Think album cover art from the likes of Xmal Deutchland and other members of the 4AD music catalog. Overall, the site's imagery quietly announces authority and sophistication. Likewise, the site's editors have posted tasteful, concise bits of text that spread the Digital Planet credo without bludgeoning surfers with gratuitous self-promotion. Via quickly downloaded tutorials - your browser should digest the bite-sized chunks quite easily - you'll learn about building online corporate identities in a sober, reserved manner. Couth insouciance is the name of the game here, and Digital Planet is a regular Cary Grant. Or perhaps Digital Planet is a regular Thomas Edison. The company promises potential clients all the latest in Netscape and HTML trickery, and, behold, the bells and whistles are amassed in full force. When you travel to a portfolio area displaying links to the external pages of current clients, a server push mechanism launches an animated stream of the clients' company logos. The effect is sure to impress any Web neophytes who have yet to discover this particular gimmick. And, of course, the site's main interfaces are devoid of archaic text links. Surfers instead navigate via custom-designed hot buttons. Digital Planet has obviously shown forethought in employing navigation devices that eschew out-dated (and now inappropriate) print-and-paper models. Finally, Digital Planet offers an intriguing sense of mystery. Since the site doesn't include extensive corporate "backgrounders," one leaves wanting to know more about the people behind the creativity. Unfortunately, the site doesn't encourage two-way communication between the company and its fan base. It doesn't even include a snail mail mailing address, or mention of its city of origin. But perhaps Digital Planet just wants to be left alone while it tackles pressing projects at hand. -JP

A+

Adobe Systems Incorporated The mainstay of desktop publishing software offers a professional-looking site that should inspire confidence in Adobe products, and provide tangible assistance to end-users. A well-designed home page offers sleek hot-button icons (as opposed to clumsy text links) that lead users to tech support resources, tips and techniques, and, most conveniently, *free software*. That's right: Plug-ins, filters, and printer drivers are available online for immediate downloading. When the site adds a search engine, it will realize its full potential.-JP

A-

i33 Communications Beginning with a stark white opening screen displaying nothing but a red admission ticket and a pragmatic credo - "Businesses establishing a presence on the internet should be driven by opportunity, not fear."- i33 Communications sets a standard for tasteful, understated corporate Web collateral. Other Web page construction companies would do well to mimic i33's soft-sell sense of reserve. From images to text, the content is devoid of gratuitous self-promotion. -JP

A

JC Penney I expected a dull page from an institution as venerable as J.C. Penny. I was not disappointed. This site is kind of like a Penny catalog with a scant few items, bad pictures, and no order form. The pictures are pathetic. One was so low-res, I couldn't even discern the item in question. This site would be useful if you could actually order items. I suspect this complaint will be addressed as soon as Web commerce becomes more widely accepted. But for now the site is disappointing. -BB

C+

Mobil Corporation This site looks good, and offers some interesting material. There is a section on the Pegasus medal, an international literature award sponsored by Mobil. The only problem is that Mobil doesn't actually tell you anything about the books or authors that received the kudos. The site also offers a section that looks up your legislators, and helps you send them e-mail. You can also apply for credit cards, and buy Mobil racing merchandise. Be ready for a healthy load of propaganda, my personal favorite being pictures and commentary on "Mobil's New Fast and Easy Nozzles".-BB

B+

Penguin USA Home Page This place is kind of bare, but it looks like a good beginning. The site seems to be designed well. There is already info, some of it quite in depth, on new releases. There is also a pretty good list of book links. If you are a teacher or librarian make sure and check out the section on academic books, like the rest of the site there is not a whole lot there, but they are going in a good direction. If you are a book lover, keep an eye on Penguin, it may develop into a very good site.-BB

B-

PriceCostco While PriceCostco conducts its buy-it-by-the-pallet business in cold, prefab warehouses, its Web site offers a warmer experience. A relatively snazzy splash screen leads you to innovative content items, including Web Words, an online contest (users employ highlighted words hidden throughout the site to compose their own poems), and, Debate, a running statistical survey of consumers' political leanings. Returning to business at hand, the online delivery catalog is a great resource for small companies who want to keep their break rooms stocked with plenty of sodas and candy bars. Simply download your order and wait for the truck to arrive.-JP

B+

Silicon Graphics' Silicon Surf While Silicon Surf's content transcends the marketing-oriented requisites of a corporate Web site, its artistic appeal and HTML aptitude fall short. This, friends, is nearly a damning sin for a site presented by the leader of computer graphics technology. Yes, you will find comprehensive answers to esoteric technical questions. Yes, you will find copious amounts of freeware. And, yes, you will find end-user case studies, image galleries and step-by-step instructions for off-the-wall design projects. But you *will not* find a site whose intrinsic imagery cries out a high-tech, 21st century aesthetic. -JP

B-

Sun Microsystems Any corporate site that repeatedly uses the terms "productivity"and "solutions" is obviously geared to the suit-and-tie set. Likewise, any site that pushes a 2.7 MB .WAV file speech from the company CEO is clearly aiming to trumpet its Wall Street image. But don't fault Sun for highlighting its dry marketing collateral. If you happen to stumble upon the SunWorld Online hot button, you'll find valuable content for regular old end-users who *actually use* Sun hardware and software. Overall, the site is easily navigated and downloads quickly; a nifty search engine shoots you straight to desired destinations.-JP

B

Synergy Production's Home Page Peter Nowell *is* Synergy Productions, a humble San Jose, California consulting firm that designs and creates trade show presentations, 3D animations, CD-ROMs, and "architectural walk throughs." By clicking various items on an image map of a living room scene, viewers can learn more about Synergy's services: RealAudio files offer real-time commentary from two *completely satisfied* customers evangelizing how Peter changed their lives, and surfers can even download an animation of one of Peter's 3D architectural tours. While the site boasts plenty of bells and whistles, it eschews artistic risk-taking; a comfortable resource, perhaps, for the suit-and-tie set.-JP

B

The Saturn Site The folks at Saturn have worked hard to develop a homey kind of image. Their web sight manages to continue this tradition quite well. There is a lot of info about each car in the Saturn line, including fairly detailed technical specs. The site also has a good section detailing the Rails to Trails project, and information about the Saturn bike team. Perhaps my favorite feature was the database (support group?) of Saturn owners, which the company claims will soon be extended to allow customers to communicate with each other directly.-BB

B+

Volkswagen Volkswagen has always prided itself on being eclectic when compared to other car manufactuers. Its web site continues this tradition. The opening page is composed of a series of intentionally vague image maps. You're supposed to just click around and check things out. Eventually you'll find press releases, a Volkswagen museum, the current line of cars, and several other goodies (including a strange Jerry Garcia tribute). Volkswagen fans will love this site - except those using a low bandwidth, who will hate the large file sizes. -BB

B+

Wal-Mart Stores Inc Wal-Mart hasn't exactly *endeared* itself to the body politic: "60 Minutes" skewered the megastore chain for ravaging large chunks of small-town America, and last year Usenet patrons almost erected alt.activism.walmart, a newsgroup for employee gripes and war stories. Thus explains this site's focus on *good* press - hypertext links that lead you to glowing, self-congratulatory P.R. on cultural diversity and community involvement. Still, Wal-Mart can't be faulted for protecting its identity. It *can* be faulted, however, for failing to provide product and sales information on all the household staples it sells nationwide.-JP

C-

Welcome to Corel Corel, a Canadian software company, is perhaps most famous for its suite of art programs. It's flagship product, CorelDraw, a cheap and quite awesome draw application, unfortunately lends itself to a "typical look."Users tend to employ the same amazing special effect filters in the same way, and resulting imagery often screams, "I was created on CorelDraw!"Such is the case with this site's opening screen, an unspectacular presentation that lacks artistic flair, and leads to a surprisingly brief menu of content items. Thankfully, Corel does provide a stout area devoted to technical support - a must for all those Windows-based applications.-JP

C

Welcome to Honda Honda seems to be very proud of its racing team. What would you expect from a company whose founder almost died in a racing accident? The racing section is quite good; fans won't want to miss it. Surprisingly, this site does not offer very in-depth info about Honda cars, and it isn't readily apparent how to access what is available. (Here's a tip: Click on the car images at the bottom of the Model line-up pages). Precise info on current lease terms and specials should be very helpful to those who care.-BB

B

Welcome to Texaco Online How do you make petroleum exciting? Texaco apparently doesn't have an answer. This is essentially a typical corporate Web page: short history of the company, abbreviated shareholder report, the mandatory "we are so environmentally aware" section... You get the idea. The site's high point is definitely the auto racing section, which includes daily reports, schedules, pictures, driver bios, and other racing info. Texaco racing fans will love it. There is also a nifty little 10-page document that will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about oil. A must read for home mechanic types.-BB

B-