Enterprises are launching "corporate portals," gateway sites that act as an entryway to both a company's Web presence and its intranet. In this column, Web consultant Kelly McKnight gives his stance on a corporate portal, highlighting strengths and weaknesses that may translate to your visitor's Web presence. The following index provides an objective look at the site's features.
Kelly's thoughts on the Priceline Web site
Priceline.com isn't just a travel site; you tin can bid on all kind of things there. Besides deals on airline tickets, auto rentals, and hotel rooms, yous can bid on dwelling financing, leasing or ownership a auto, even buying groceries!
This is part 2 in a new serial, "Around The Earth," in which we will review travel-booking sites, including Expedia and Travelocity. Fasten your seatbelts folks, and let's accept off.
Previously, I've had some successful and unsuccessful bid attempts hither. A couple of months agone, I saved $200 using Priceline for a round-trip ticket to New York Urban center. I had to land in Newark, so I Iost an additional $50 on cab fare. All in all, it was a pretty good deal.

But I also bid on my trip to Ireland on Priceline—and didn't save a penny. The moral of this story is sometimes you lot win and sometimes you don't. If you have time, it'southward worth it to take a shot at the jackpot.

Priceline is easy to use. Just enter the engagement and place you want to become, give them a few options like alternate dates and airports, ready the cost you're willing to pay, and they will e-mail yous within 24 hours if you have a deal. During the bidding process, you volition be solicited with some consumer offers to save on your fare. Merely still, the whole process takes virtually 5 minutes and could save you some serious greenbacks.

The site is fast, but it does take a few speed bumps. For example, I've had problems when I was submitting alternate airports. I found that instead of using the prompt, it's easier to resubmit your bid.

On my latest visit to Priceline, the grocery ownership intrigued me, then I went for a whirl. As a new shopper, they gave me some saving tokens, and I ended up buying some NT strips and pork chops. Information technology was really a hoot! A friend called me and just did a calendar week'southward shopping, saving $30 on a $45 purchase. Nifty.

Kelly'southward verdict
Here'southward the deal with Priceline: If you have the fourth dimension, you tin save a dime. If y'all accept to exit tomorrow, forget about information technology. This holds truthful for airfare—or steaks. Bon voyage and bon appetit.

Kelly McKnight is a primary of Via Internet Studio , a consulting firm that specializes in corporate Web site pattern, Internet marketing, and eastward-commerce.

Now it's your plough to review the Priceline Web site. Just click on the Charge per unit this Site! button, and you can assistance split up the good from the bad from the ugly. It only takes a minute or two to complete your rating, so don't waste any more than time—charge per unit this site at present! For Kelly's rating, roll below.