The Halcyon days of Computer Magazines
Submitted by iantm on May 16, 2006 - 1:49am.
Other Computers
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Mods - I'm not sure exactly where this should be posted, so here it goes
Does anyone miss the halcyon days of computer magazines and publications? The days when magazines like MacAddict, MacUser, and Macworld were chock full of useful technical info. I miss the MacUser magazine of the mid 1990's before it ended up being absorbed by Macworld. It was a great, magazine that was easily approachable for someone new to the mac fold at the time. Back in those days, you could find information on the latest accelerator card, your expansion options for your five year old IIci, and other useful info.
MacAddict was great up until 2000 or so. The original crew was gone, and with it, the entire feel and sense of the magazine. It used to be a fun read, with the usual letter from Reuben Reynoso that was chock full of mac themed tomfoolery, the "This Old Mac" series that would have info on a particular vintage machine and what your options were with it. The Disc that came with the magazine was often pretty awesome. A pity that it ultimately became a marginal improvement over the freebie AOL discs that deluge our mailboxes.
Macworld was awesome in the 90's. Thick glossy pages, in depth articles on new technology and trends, the great David Pogue column, and a monthly guide to the latest shipping macs and what they had going for them.
It's been said that the internet has caused magazines like Macworld and MacAddict to lose subscribers. The internet was around back in those days. Sure, broadband wasn't as widespread, but remember that the target market is much smaller than it once was. Frankly, I'd say that the fact that my cats are capable of producing better content would have something to do with it. The fact that a new car brochure has more heft than these magazines, and less advertising content in them would probably be why everyone is going elsewhere for their info and not subscribing.
Thus ends my rant. Perhaps someone within MacAddict or Macworld is listening. The moment they produce a magazine that is fun, interesting, and a good read, is when I'll buy it. Until then, I'll keep reading Maxim and FHM for the articles. (I worked for a magazine firm, and will be getting those for as long as I live - then my survivors will be deluged with Maxim and FHM - heheheheh)