Tableau - Tool Review by Sarah Wallace

Tool Overview

Tableau Public is free windows software for creating data visualizations online. Many reputable online publishers use the tool, such as the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Mashable, etc.

Additional Resources Required

• Have to have a windows PC, spreadsheet software 

Cost

• Tableau Public is free
• Tableau Personal is $999 
• Tableau Professional is $1999
• Have to call for pricing for Tableau Server 
• There is student pricing between $69 - $99 

Where to Access

Tableau Public is available for download at http://www.tableausoftware.com/public/community 

What the Tool Does Well

• Fantastic beautiful visualizations
• Simple online sharing
• Gives users suggestions on what types of charts they should use for their data 
• Once visualizations are created and posted on website, they are interactive 
• Great usability features:  Drag and Drop Fields and dynamic chart building

What the Tool Does Poorly

• A little complicated to use initially
• Have to install software - windows only 
• Public version can only use some data sources 

Links to Additional Resources

Tutorial videos -  http://www.tableausoftware.com/public/training

Screenshot

Examples

Examples Online (Vizs in the Wild)

Costs of building smartphones  - http://gizmodo.com/5714618/how-much-your-smartphone-cost-to-build-an-interactive-breakdown#comments

Lying Politicians - http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/introducing-the-candidate-pinocchio-tracker/2011/10/07/gIQA35nQTL_blog.html

Console Wars - http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/10/console-wars-visualization/

Twiiter reaction to the iPhone 4s Announcement - http://mashable.com/2011/10/06/iphone-4s-twitter-infographic/