New look PCA
pca_ (not verified) - 22 September 2008 - 12:21am
As a subscriber from issue one, (and still have every issue & disc) I feel I have to pass comment as to the "new look" which I have percevered with since it's inception.
What used to be a good read, which I could make last for a week, I find I can get through the mag in a good hour. In fact I can now make Comptuter Active, (which I only subscribe to for their excellent news pages), last much longer.
I am an experienced computer user, building & repairing since the days when we didn't just pull out & replace a card, we actually repaired the card, I always found PCA to be of a much higher standard than other PC mags, giving help & instruction to "newbies" and also good technical info for the more savvy.
The new look has dumbed to such an extentent that I sadly find it of little use or good value and has gone for the Computer Active market totally aimed at less technical readers, shown also by the Video CD which, in my opinion, is of low quality in both content & teaching skill.
As for the dropping of the CD/DVD software & libraries I am sure to many readers, and probably now former readers, it will be a great loss. In the early days of the free & trial software I found a package which led me down the route of creating a new programme which has susequently become a commercial venture. I thank you earlier disk editors for that.
My future with this once great magazine will come to an end when my subscription runs out in November.
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I agree with the above
pca_xray - 16 October 2008 - 6:38pmI agree with the above comments.
I cancelled my subcription after 3 issues, they killed a great magazine.
New look PCA
Wendy_Michelle - 20 October 2008 - 1:37pmI live in New Zealand and strongly disagree with all the negative comments about the PC Answers new look.
In fact I pay $28.00 NZ Dollars for PC Answers. I had decided to give up, buying the very expensive and always at least 1 month late magazine! But, when I went into my local book store (who I must add, imports PC Answers epeacially for me.) to cancel my subscription. Mainly because, I no longer could justify buying a computer magazine that had the same old stuff that was in almost every other computer mags out there. Like the disc, full of the same free software in countless mags and available on the net. Also the 30-40 pages of reviews and advertisements. However ,I loved the rest of the mag. Anyway, back to about to cancel my subscription until the lady puts down the latest magazine. It was the New & Improved PC Answers. After a quick once over, I saw the disc with the tutorials. It was like PC Answers had read my mind. It was exactly what I wanted. It was then that I decided instead of canceling, I was willing to pay every last dollar and put up with being a month behind. I was so impressed that they had done such a bold and gutsey overhaul ! Yes, I agree that there a few minor tweaks here and there. But to me, who in still learning I am happy to pay the huge $ price to get my monthly fix of PC Answers. Thank you, Nick, Christian, Tanya and the team for having " Big Round ones" to make the change.
Wendy C New Zealand
Who deleted my post?
Delboy - 22 October 2008 - 3:25pmStrange, but I posted on this thread, a few weeks back, and now it has been removed. Is it because it was one of many complaints about the new, awful format of the magazine?
Anyway, I have now cancelled my subscription, after waiting to see if any of the complaints were taken on board with positive action to improve what has become a very poor value publication. Alas, no. Still the same old repeated articles, now presented in what feels like a kids' comic.
I wonder how soon this post will be deleted.
AMD Athlon 64, Ubuntu Linux 8.04.1/Win XP Pro
Hello all - Delboy: We have
Scott Ewart - 23 October 2008 - 8:17amHello all -
Delboy: We have not and do not intend to delete any posts unless they are spam, posted by a bot or filled with profanities. I moderate the forums and I've not touched or seen your reply, please don't worry about that, we're still the same old PCAnswers team, we're not some evil clones out to censor your views.
Wendy: That's great news, indeed that's a hefty cost, but I guess it's worth it as you're supporting your local retailer after all. But indeed it was a huge overhaul and it's been taken both ways, lots of negative feedback on the forums here, but positive from other avenues (a little negative also, a few emails etc). We are looking through all the comments however on what people think, so we're not just turning our head and whistling.
What we're doing with PCAnswer is indeed rather extreme compared to the old style, but it does set the title appart from the other magazines out there, both in terms of look and content.
Hmmm.....
inkdrop - 23 October 2008 - 5:32pmInteresting points at the end of your reply there scott.
I've heard the arguments on other magazines and Im still flummoxed by the fact that a larger sister mag with more content costs less the one im currently reading, however im willing to concede you are doing some stirling work in your 'Explained' Guides, and this in itself is worth the purchase price (Though it would be better if prices were the same as some of your sister mags)
Can i make a valid suggestion - can the first few pages be something on technology other than ads ? - i dont mind ads per se but you have an excellent avenue for them in the section at the back of the mag - the shopping centre!
New Look!
Wendy_Michelle - 29 October 2008 - 11:37amHello Scott and all you happy PC Answers supporter's
It's me again, the "kiwi girl". I just wanted to add that I have been so happy with the new look PC Answers that I have managed to recruit some new PC Answers subscribers. Who, like me are starving for at least one magazine to cater for people who want to learn all they can from the experts. The tutorials are excellent! You know, I can and have read plently of "how to book's" and magazines. But there is nothing quite like being actually shown, either by tutorials or at least diagram's. Isn't there anyone out there, that is willing to admit that the tutorials are a good idea? I am sure, just like alot of new thing's, changes are a bit hard to get use to at first but if people were to stop gripeing and maybe put forward some positive input and idea's, it would be far more constructive! Well that just my opinion, for what it's worth. Scott, thanks again and I look forward to my next issue of PC Answers. Regards Wendy C. NZ.