Should we remove numeric scores for reviews?

[W1zzard]

I keep seeing criticism for that, so I wanted to poll the community

Please vote for the poll in this thread

 

[dorsetknob]

No
Scores in a Review Give a Basic point of Reference.

 

[MrGenius]

I don't think you should. Different numbers mean different things to different people. That's just how it is. Can't please all the people all the time...

 

[W1zzard]

Please make sure you vote at the start of the thread

 

[Kursah]

I voted yes. The reason I'm voting this way, which is actually against my knee-jerk response when I read the title of the thread is that I think looking at the Pro's and Con's makes more sense than a score for viewers, members, lurkers, etc. to obtain at least a little more educated opinion on said review rather than a number-out-of-10 score that may or may not properly reflect the Pro's versus Con's in that user's perspective.

Frankly I like how ARSTechnica does their "Good, Bad and Ugly" ratings at the end of their reviews. Recent review of MAC OS 10.14 Mojave as an example: https://arstechnica.com/features/2018/09/macos-10-14-mojave-the-ars-technica-review/

I don't mind the scoring system on TPU reviews, but when I see the number I do find myself spending less time reading the summaries, and even pros and cons than I would if the score didn't exist because I feel if something rates a 9/10 or higher, it shouldn't really have much for cons. My path of ignorance may not reflect others here, but I have a feeling there's quite a few folks that click to the last page, see the score, maybe breeze over the summary and then move on. Removing the score would emphasize relying on what you say in the review rather than the score and I feel that would be more beneficial to TPU's reviews.

Just my two cents tho.

 

[notb]

Obviously not. Why would anyone want that? Someone got offended by his GPU's score or what?

IMO you should actually expand it. The final score could be an average of some aspects (e.g. for motherboards: OC-usefulness, features, I/O and so on). It seems most PC reviewers adapted this idea already, just like the rest of the world.
I agree that a lonely number does seem a bit arbitrary and that sometimes it seems very connected with reviewer's private preferences... but isn't this exactly what reviews are about?

I think people too often mistake reviews with standardized controlled tests, aka benchmarks.

 

[dorsetknob]

And there was me thinking it was the Reviewer giving the Score ( and By inference either Validating My TRUST in the Reviewer or not)

 

[cadaveca]

It has been mentioned in many review comments that because scores are often 9.0+, and don't ever seem to go below 7.5, that the scale is meaningless.

Does the score serve a purpose and is it useful? You bet.

Its also very interesting to read other reviewers comments on other sites about the scores here on TPU.

 

[VSG]

And there was me thinking it was the Reviewer giving the Score ( and By inference either Validating My TRUST in the Reviewer or not)

It is indeed the specific reviewer for the specific review who gives the score, not sure what you thought was different.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I voted yes. The reason I'm voting this way, which is actually against my knee-jerk response when I read the title of the thread is that I think looking at the Pro's and Con's makes more sense than a score for viewers, members, lurkers, etc. to obtain at least a little more educated opinion on said review rather than a number-out-of-10 score that may or may not properly reflect the Pro's versus Con's in that user's perspective.

Frankly I like how ARSTechnica does their "Good, Bad and Ugly" ratings at the end of their reviews. Recent review of MAC OS 10.14 Mojave as an example: https://arstechnica.com/features/2018/09/macos-10-14-mojave-the-ars-technica-review/

I don't mind the scoring system on TPU reviews, but when I see the number I do find myself spending less time reading the summaries, and even pros and cons than I would if the score didn't exist because I feel if something rates a 9/10 or higher, it shouldn't really have much for cons. My path of ignorance may not reflect others here, but I have a feeling there's quite a few folks that click to the last page, see the score, maybe breeze over the summary and then move on. Removing the score would emphasize relying on what you say in the review rather than the score and I feel that would be more beneficial to TPU's reviews.

Just my two cents tho.

You convinced me, i kind of skip read them ,skipping games i don't play and packaging shots mostly but I agree a score is too relative to the moment ,and reviewer to , even a driver update can change bad to acceptable or good making an 8 still an 8 atm.
In my honest opinion if you have a score ,that score has a finite shelf life ,then it's real value diminishes as competition forms or improves, making it worthless , like gtx1080ti cards 9-10 whatever, they don't seam worthy of that score today, and I mean because of Rtx2080ti.
So yeah get rid for me, ill read more.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I feel the review score is inflated. Even lackluster GPU’s for instance rarely go below 8 -something. The vast majority are over 9. I actually ignore the score now, because it is meaningless.

Why not a “Not recommended”, “Approved” or “Good” seal at the end? Save something like “W1zzard’s Seal of Approval” for exemplary products? It would necessarily have to be rarely given to mean something.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[sneekypeet]

I say write for you, and ignore the trolls. You cannot please everyone

 

[cadaveca]

I say write for you, and ignore the trolls. You cannot please everyone

You are right that you cannot please everyone, but you can do things to cater towards your audience.

Helping them helps you.

If you're not writing for your audience, then why even post reviews publicly?

Why should they (the readers) care to read what you write?

 

[newtekie1]

Personally, I don't think the score at the end has ever changed someone's opinion of the product being reviewed, or at least it shouldn't.

The score, to me, is just there for lazy people that don't even want to read the review. But they should at least be reading the conclusion or failing that just the pros VS cons.

Me personally, I never even look at the score. I go to the pages that are important to me and make my own judgment. That's why I voted yes to removing the score. It is a largely meaningless number if you actually read the reviews.

 

[Frick]

No, but it should be redesigned. Now it's arbitrary and no product ever gets less than what, 8.7 or so?

 

[jboydgolfer]

I think the numeric scoring is a helpful system, which, (at the least), helps people who do their product research in the way that I do.

I don't trust any one opinion on a given subject/product, so what I'll do is take five or ten reviews , see what the author rated the item, & add it to the collective score, with the scores from others sources, i get (in my opinion), a good idea of where the item stands in its product category.

obviously any scoring system, or review is subjective. It's up to the reader to do the legwork, and find out if the item is right for them. Ultimately, the scoring system is a positive aspect, not a negative one.

PS
keep in mind, there are people who simply view tech site reviews for a quick opinion on a product, and removing something that sums up three or four pages of a review could only be a detriment in my opinion. If people can't get what they want to here, they might go to another site ,where they can get it. It's very easy to ignore the number if you prefer to read the review, but if you don't have the time to read the review not having the number is an issue.

 

[sneekypeet]

You are right that you cannot please everyone, but you can do things to cater towards your audience.

Helping them helps you.

If you're not writing for your audience, then why even post reviews publicly?

Why should they (the readers) care to read what you write?

I don't disagree, but my point still stands. If you are writing just to please everyone else, it takes away from the fun of doing what you do too.

 

[dirtyferret]

I prefer something simpler like A,B,C,D, and F grades. What is the difference between a product that receives a 92 grade or a 95 grade? Even Gold, Silver and bronze awards like hardware secrets used to do.

 

[notb]

even a driver update can change bad to acceptable or good making an 8 still an 8 atm.

And will this driver update automatically erase a con "badly optimized"?

it's real value diminishes as competition forms or improves, making it worthless , like gtx1080ti cards 9-10 whatever, they don't seam worthy of that score today, and I mean because of Rtx2080ti.

Does the same 2080Ti mean W1zzard should correct the "High price" con here:
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1080_Ti_Lightning_Z/35.html
or maybe "New NVIDIA technologies" from here:
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_1080_Ti/35.html
?

Review ratings only make sense in a particular time window - just like sport records and scientific achievements.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

And will this driver update automatically erase a con "badly optimized"?

Does the same 2080Ti mean W1zzard should correct the "High price" con here:
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1080_Ti_Lightning_Z/35.html
or maybe "New NVIDIA technologies" from here:
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_1080_Ti/35.html
?

Review ratings only make sense in a particular time window - just like sport records and scientific achievements.

No the con stands to be read and evaluated in the moment obviously, and wouldn't require change or update, taken as ,"in the moment".

And yes that's fine too in the moment it was expensive, it's still not cheap either.
A review is dated!.
The number however date's and flick readers could be misslead simple.
And scientific achievement , of any worth is imortal in it's truth, and has no window besides someone actually knowing or discovering it.

 

[looniam]

i voted NO but i think things need . . changed.

personally i like review scoring broke down into categories such as, value, performance, quality of components/build and maybe anesthetics (though subjective it will show people how the reviewer scores for RGB) then scores avg.

for an example, if i am looking for a PSU, i take a look at JG's site i can tell if a PSU would be better for a budget build (high value ok in evverything else) or a boutique build i want to last for years (lower value but high quality comp/build)



btw, i like BOTH JG and TPU for PSU reviews. sorry if i lacked etiquette mentioning JG.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Remove it. It has no meaning anyways. For one flaws maybe plus like lack of RGB for example.

One has to read it anyways to have the whole idea.

 

[R-T-B]

I voted "yes" but I would be fine with making a firm scoring system as well. As it stands everyone gives out too many points making everything look swell and great, even on some subpar products.

 

[Norton]

How about a 0 to 5 W1zzy scale?

Here's 3-1/2 as an example:

Would eliminate the extended debates/arguments over 1-2 point differences between reviews

 

[cadaveca]

it takes away from the fun of doing what you do too.

Maybe for you it does, but myself, I really enjoy all the conversations and feedback given, both positive and negative. I love the interaction, and if I was just doing what I wanted, there wouldn't even be a single benchmark. I see the job of a "reviewer" to provide honest and accurate information at all times, and when you're honest, people thank you for it. I personally view that comparing a $1000 high-end product with a $100 entry-level product, and then basing a score on that compare, is insane. but a simple score, as many have already said, doesn't tell you the full picture, so there might be limited value in just a general scoring system. You need a way to differentiate things.

Yet if I removed my own vote right now, the majority vote would be to get rid of the scores. I voted for no removal.