Mac Magazines
I subscribe to MacWorld and have done so on and off over the years. I find it weak on content and even the adds aren't what I remember them as being. The adds used to go on for miles - and I loved it. That was half the fun of the magazine.
Here's my question - what are the best Mac magazines? Why? And which ones can I get in English in the States?
p.s. I suppose this topic has come up before, but I gave up on the AI search feature some time ago.
p.p.s has anyone written a history of mac magazines? I'd be curious to read one.
Here's my question - what are the best Mac magazines? Why? And which ones can I get in English in the States?
p.s. I suppose this topic has come up before, but I gave up on the AI search feature some time ago.
p.p.s has anyone written a history of mac magazines? I'd be curious to read one.
Comments
Mac Design is another one that I like. It gives tips and reviews on programs and hardware relating to Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, and other design programs (hence the name). If you're already really knowledgeable in these programs, it may not do much for you. It is more designed for the low to mid-end user, but is VERY useful for those people.
My $0.02.
But seriously, I just got my new Macworld (May 2003) in the mail yesterday and I read it COMPLETELY in about 45 minutes. It's just weak. More ads than content, about 200 of those subscription cards falling out, lame attempts at humor ("What's Hot" and Ihnatko's increasingly idiotic column, etc.).
My subscription was a gift (in case someone says "well, asshead...stop getting it and demand a refund!").
MacAddict is completely useless in every way, shape and form.
I like MacDesign, but it's gone real heavy on Dreamweaver, digital video, etc.
Actually, believe it or not, one of the better Mac magazines out there is MacHome. It's written for consumers/newbie type of people (no in-depth dual G4 articles/reviews), but its tone, layout, photography, overall vibe and lack of smarminess makes it a nice magazine to read, especially since I am a bit of an "iGuy" and don't really give two damns about the "power/pro" portion of Apple's product line. MacHome is all eMac, iMac, iPod, iBook, iLife, digital hub, peripherals, surfing, e-mail, etc. related.
Right up my alley.
(UK) MacFormat is probably the best out there though. Wow, too bad it costs more than even some architecture magazines on this side of the pond!
Those British ones (MacFormat and others) are large, have GREAT photography (actual posed, informative shots...not just the canned Apple PR photos we've all seen a thousand times before) and infographics and page after page of cool tips/tricks for iTunes, iMovie, OS X in general, etc.
I just don't dig the idea of paying $15 for these imports.
Macworld has been in a steady slide for the last 5 years or so, I went digging for an old Macworld a few weeks ago looking for an old article on the Power Mac 9600 and it was easily three times thicker than the most recent issue.
That being said, it is still somewhat worth reading.
"Hey, look MacMall has new PowerMacs for sale. When did these come out?"
Wait, what am I saying?
Smarmy, geekboy "ain't I cool" humor really isn't. Every month, that idiot tries to find some stupid way to do some obscure task with the most heavy-lifting, "up 'til 4am coding" methods possible.
"I really wanted to synchronize my shower radio with my Bluetooth cel phone. Why Apple doesn't allow this in the OS is beyond me. Steve, are ya listening? So anyway, I pop open a case of Mountain Dew, crack my knuckles, fire up BBEdit and...".
Shut up.
ha ha ha
Originally posted by pscates
But in the mid/late 90's (when I first started using Macs and buying the magazines), they were HUGE and thick and would take me all weekend to read, cover to cover.
I think I still have a number of those old "thick" MacWorlds from the 80's, in my basement. Yes those were the days when the front cover touted the blazing speed of the new Mac SE.
Publishing costs are getting too prohibitive. With the advent of the internet, information is instant. Printed magazines on the other hand is "old news" when they hit the magazine stands.
But yes it was nice curling up in bed with a good issue deciding which Daystar accelerator I wanted!
Luckily the Barnes & Noble near me carries most of the British Mac magazines, and usually by the time I get to them the plastic wrapping has been ripped off already so I can read them without guilt.
rip
Thanks. I think I'll give MacHome a shot.
Pscates, sorry if I duplicated your previous thread on this - but everytime I try search, it just craps out on me. Possibly something to do with my slow connection over here.
I also used to 'subscribe' to all of the vendor catalogs too, e.g., MacMall, ClubMac, MacWarehouse, etc., But then they got smart and dropped you after so many catalogs if you didn't buy something.
GG
In any case, it's really cool. A couple of years ago, during the indigo/ruby/sage iMac period, they had consecutive issues with each model displayed with a cutie-pie model on the cover and GREAT photography inside, as well as the usual bundle of tips, tutorials, how-to, Q&A, infographics, etc.
The current issues deal with pretty much all things "i" and digital hub-related.
http://www.macformat.co.uk/imac.asp
Check it out.