Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: A Proposal (was Re: Why do we read PC mags?)
From: markh@GHOST.MCS.stcloud.msus.edu (Mark Holden)
Date: 11 Jan 93 00:55:56 -0600
Distribution: world
Organization: Saint Cloud State University

	First, a couple of quotes from comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware --

	gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) says:
	"Sorry about the tirade.  However, I know that there are at
	least a dozen readers of this bboard who could team up to
	produce a vastly superior journal."

	fluet@ee.ualberta.ca (Kevin Blaine Fluet) says:
	"I think part of the 'problem' may be that the various Usenet
	groups are much more informative than any magazine (any info in
	a magazine is generally two months old--it takes them that long
	to get an issue out), and that any time I see an article in a
	magazine, it's already very old news to me."


	I tend to agree with the statements I've quoted above, and an
	idea has been rattling around in the back of my head for a while
	now.  So, here goes.

	I propose the creation of an internet based magazine relating to
	i80x86 based personal computers.  Specifically, I am thinking of
	a primarily hardware and purchasing oriented magazine.  Some
	ideas I would like to see done are:

	- hardware reviews
		Not short term, "here's the machine, and here's what we
		thought of it in the hour or so we used it" reviews, but
		long term reviews from people who use the computer day
		in and day out.

	- company reviews
		In depth reviews of a particular PC manufacturer,
		preferably done by someone with extended experience with
		that particular manufacturer.  For instance, I have
		extensive experience working with Gateway 2000, I would
		intend to write a review dealing with them, probably in
		the first issue.

	- current information
		PC magazines suffer from a long lead time.  Three months
		is a commonly used figure, and I think it's not far off
		the mark.  In the world of computing, three months can
		be an eternity.  Either you guess at where things will
		be in three months, and hope you're right, or use todays
		information, and hope it hasn't changed.  With a
		relatively small electronic journal, these terrible
		delays can be pretty much eliminated.

	- honest writers
		What do I mean by this?  I mean writers who would
		rather say that they don't know the answer, than give
		possibly incorrect information in order to look
		omnicient.  I mean writers who will admit to their
		biases (and I firmly believe everyone has biases, and
		that nobody is truly objective) so that the readers can
		measure what's being said in the proper light.

	Related things:
		How about the concept of a database of internet PC
		reviews and comments?  Picture it this way, you're
		thinking about buying a machine from company X, but you
		don't know anything about them, or you want to know
		more, so you send mail to a server that responds with
		collected "net-wisdom" relating to that company.

	Now, having said that, I'm prepared to put my money (well, time,
	anyhow) where my mouth is.  I am willing and interested in
	acting as the editor and organizer of such a journal.

	Obviously, such a project wouldn't be meant to fill the same
	need as the commercial PC magazines, but there is, I think, a
	need, or at least some demand for such an effort.

	Let me know what you think!  Tell me if you're interested in
	helping out on such a project.  Tell me if you have ideas for
	content.  Tell me if you think I'm a complete fool.

--
Mark Holden
markh@ghost.mcs.stcloud.msus.edu   
I don't speak for St. Cloud State University, nor am I inclined to . . .
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware