Which manufacturer has the "best" website and why?

Research_Guy · Post by **Research_Guy** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:17 pm

HA HA
This site is awesome....

Honestly though, I'm actually being quite serious when I ask for patient input. I wouldn't waste all of our time otherwise.
I hope you all have a pleasant weekend.

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:52 pm

Research_Guy

If you build it they will come!

Seriously if your company comes up with a better interface people will flock to your website to check it out.

So with that I will place my order for a full face mask or some better alternative that will handle my pressure of 19 without having to be strapped down too tight, it must not leak and it must be quiet.
The bridge of my nose is sore and my eyes are all puffed out in the morning so can the mask avoid that area all together?
As you can see on my avitar I have facial hair that I don't want to shave off so it must also deal with that.

If you don't work for a company that makes masks.............Nevermind

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:42 pm

Research-Guy wrote:I'm asking because I have an obvious notion that OSA patients don't go to Resmed.com or Respironics.com to read about OSA

I think it's a wrong notion. Resmed's video about the auto-advantage - which shows OSA happening is one of the best info source there is. Since many don't get enough info from their doctors, the first place they visit may actually be the company's site.

Links to support or patient advocacy groups, e.g. ASAA are also highly appreciated.

As are Respironic's mask fitting tips with animation.

I second Nighthawkeye suggestions, and yes, all maunals downloadable for all are a greate idea.

Hmm... I wonder if you're a person with a axe to grind at the way someone else made (or is planning to revise) your company's site....

I would apperciate a link to your list of conclusions (or final report, as that maybe) once you've finished your "research". I'm using quotes because clearly, the sample you get here is highly biased - internet savvy yes, but only those who stick around.

O.

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:08 am

I just don't get it. I'll give my head a shake but all the information you would ever need or want is contained in past postings. If you have been reading you would see this. .

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:01 am

How to improve websites
Reduce all the corporate garbage.
Make links easy to find.
Use big buttons.
Use plain English.
Answers needed for XPAP are: -
How big
How heavy
How much power
Voltage rating
Pressure range
How noisy (not just the db rating, but the comparitive noise)
How easy to use
Portability
Serviceability
Reliability

Thats my starter for ten.
Do I get my fee now

Billy

Yoga · Post by **Yoga** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:21 am

I would like to know how much water the humidifiers use? I have not been able to find the amount used in the M machine.

I would also like to know why the M machine only uses a black filter.

MaskedMechanic · Post by **MaskedMechanic** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:20 pm

What a disappointing thread. An obvious employee of a manufacturer asks the community here about manufacturer websites and all most of you have is snide remarks. The originator of this thread means no harm. The post is purely constructive. So what do you want? Target practice on a well meaning visitor or better websites?

Here is my want list.

1) Post EVERY manual for every piece of equipment you have ever made.

2) Post your customer service policy.

3) Make a place where we can post product feedback and suggestions for all to see.

4) Post lots of high quality pictures and videos of your best new products. When you have a new product, present it professionally, not with some lame text presenting it to dealers.

5) Support other websites, both resellers and sites like cpaptalk.com

Now those of you with snide comments show us your merit and post something constructive.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:46 pm

MM,

I'm not so sure that it was that "obvious" that he/she is an employee (or contractor) of a manufacturer.
I'm kinda with DVL in that there IS so much OBVIOUS information readily available on this site.

I'm wondering.... If the manufacturer is only interested in their website design and getting users to look at their products..... OR, are they REALLY ready to deal with the wants and needs of the "end-users" (a website portal for the users to directly contact the manufacturer with their issues). For that, they would be betraying their relationship with DMEs and the clinicians.....and I can't visualize that happening......yet.

Den

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:51 pm

Yoga wrote:I would like to know how much water the humidifiers use? I have not been able to find the amount used in the M machine.

The humidifier tank, which is 325 ml. (1 2/3 cups), will provide humidification for at least 8 hours per night. This has been validated under the most extreme conditions of pressure setting, humidification setting and sleep environment. Note: Excess mask or other system leak will increase water consumption.

Yoga wrote:I would also like to know why the M machine only uses a black filter.

The REMstar M Series requires new, smaller filters including reusable foam filters and disposable filters for fine particles. A foam filter is installed in the device. A replacement set of foam and fine particle filters is also packaged with the device.

The device uses a gray foam filter that is washable and reusable, and an optional white ultra-fine filter that is disposable. The reusable filter screens out normal household dust and pollens, while the optional ultra-fine filter provides more complete filtration of very fine particles. The gray reusable filter must be in place at all times when the device is operating. The ultra-fine filter is recommended for people who are sensitive to tobacco smoke or other small particles. Two reusable gray foam filters and one disposable ultra-fine filter are supplied with the device.

Under normal usage, you should clean the gray foam filter at least once every two weeks and replace it with a new one every six months. The white ultra-fine filter is disposable and should be replaced after 30 nights of use or sooner if it appears dirty. DO NOT clean the ultra-fine filter.

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-dis ... script.htm

Guardian · Post by **Guardian** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:59 pm

Ditto to all the above plus these:

I like comparison charts where you can compare features at a glance. Not enough websites use these. Makes things very easy and I'm more likely to buy from a site that uses them.

Make sure the specs are all listed for each product.m Sometimes they're omitted.

Don't use cookies. I'm kind of a libertarian sort and I don't want just any old heaven knows what put on my hard drive without my permission.

But by far my biggest gripe is this: For heaven's sake write it in a flavor of HTML that every browser can understand and forget about all the fancy stuff like javascript and such. I don't care what the web developers say. When I go to a site, I go for info, not glitz and fancy dropdown boxes. Nothing irks me more that to see "This site is best viewed by IE or Navigator". I use neither. My son uses a Mac with Safari and he has trouble with some sites too. I use Linux with Firefox and Opera and Konqueror. In making a statement like this you seem to be saying that *I* need to accomodate *you* in browser choice. It should be the other way around. I would think you would want to design these sites so as many people as possible could view them if you're trying to sell something. I'm certainly no software expert, but I think If you use pure HTML, they will,

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:17 pm

MaskedMechanic wrote: An obvious employee of a manufacturer asks the community here about manufacturer websites and all most of you have is snide remarks.

MM, I'll have to admit, I didn't think he was an obvious employee of a manufacturer. But you're in the loop, so you may know something we don't.

It would be great if this were a ResMed or Respironics rep making a concerted effort to connect with users. It would be great if this rep was working on improving the manufacturer's website to make it end-user friendly. We're just so used to being put off by the manufacturers (they refuse to deal with the patients directly and refer any and all questions/comments to the DME) that it seemed (to me anyway) unlikely to be a genuine solicitation for suggestions. I'd love to be wrong.

___________________________________________________
A pessimist is just an optimist with experience.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:42 pm

Two possibilities:
1) Our guest is legit
2) Our guest is a fraud

If he's legit, then we potentially win big-time by responding in a straight-forward manner. If he's a fraud, then it's still a useful exercise to verbalize exactly what our expectations of manufacturers should be. One way or another the manufacturers will hear about some of it.

Seems to me that the only way we lose is by not articulating what our perceived needs are.

Regards,
Bill

MaskedMechanic · Post by **MaskedMechanic** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:41 pm

Well said.

MaskedMechanic · Post by **MaskedMechanic** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:36 pm

Here is another one for the manufacturer's websites.

Let vistors know about cpaptalk.com Post Links to it..

Of the manufacturer's I think Respironics is best, particularly http://global.respironics.com/ProductGroups.asp#Home. Distant followers include http://www.fphcare.com/, http://www.puritanbennett.com/prod/List.aspx?S1=SPT, http://resmed.com/portal/site/ResMedUS/ ... _door=true

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:24 pm

MaskedMechanic wrote: Of the manufacturer's I think Respironics is best

I would have to agree with you on that one it was the most user friendly of the three that I looked at.
I was looking for any new FF masks that might be out and respironics was the best site to navigate.