Computer Shopper (US magazine)
 | |
| Editor | John A. Burek |
|---|---|
| Categories | Computer magazine |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Final issue | April 2009 |
| Company | SX2 Media Labs |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Titusville, Florida |
| Language | English |
| Website | computershopper.com |
| ISSN | 0886-0556 |
Computer Shopper was a monthly consumer computer magazine published by SX2 Media Labs. The magazine ceased print publication in April 2009.[1][2] The website was closed and redirected to the PCMag website in late May 2018.[3][4]
History
[edit]Computer Shopper magazine was established in 1979 in Titusville, Florida.[5] It began as a tabloid-size publication on yellow newsprint that primarily contained classified advertising and ads for kit computers, parts, and software. The magazine was created by Glenn Patch, publisher of the photo-equipment magazine Shutterbug Ads, in the hopes of applying its formula to a PC-technology magazine.[6] The magazine expanded into prebuilt home computers and white box IBM PC compatibles through the 1980s.[7]
The magazine grew to several hundred pages, mostly of advertisements.[7] It was during this time that the magazine was sold to Ziff Davis Publishing, first as a limited partnership,[8] then solely owned. It was sold in 2000, along with Ziff-Davis' ZDNet Web site, to CNET. CNET sold Computer Shopper to new owners, SX2 Media Labs, in 2006.[9] In April 2009, SX2 Media Labs discontinued the print version of the magazine.[10] The business continued on as a Web entity, ComputerShopper.com, which was reacquired by Ziff-Davis in 2012.[9]
Magazine
[edit]Computer Shopper, the print magazine, comprised the following sections at the end of its publication:
- Boot Up. A commentary and product-news section written by the magazine's expert editors. A column written by Senior Editor Sarah E. Anderson examined tech-buying and related issues from a working mother's perspective.
- Reviews. Each issue contained more than two dozen reviews.
- Features. Typically two or three per issue, the feature stories were often product-centric, comprising product comparisons and buying guides.
- Help and How-To. These articles provided assistance for technical problems and gave step-by-step directions on how to perform common tasks.
- Shut Down. A retrospective look at technology through the archives of Computer Shopper.
- A user-submitted listing of bulletin board systems (BBS) throughout the US and Canada.
List of editors-in-chief
[edit]- Stan Veit (1983–1989)
- Bob Lindstrom (1989–1991)
- John Dickinson (1991–1994)
- John Blackford (1994–2000)
- Janice Chen (2000–2006)
- Rik Fairlie (2006–2007)
- John A. Burek (2008–2017)[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Computer Shopper Is Going All Digital; April Is Last Print Issue".
- ^ "Subscriber Bulletin".
- ^ "Desktop Computers | Laptop Computers | Computer Deals - Computer Shopper". 2018-05-21. Archived from the original on 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
- ^ "403 Forbidden". Archived from the original on 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
- ^ Carey, Chris (1987-11-21). "Brevard Concerns Make Inc.'s List 3 Are Among the Fastest-Growing Companies in the Nation". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ Carey, Chris (1988-02-22). "Taking Time to Turn Loose Publisher Glenn Patch Rides Wave of Future to Top of His Wish List". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ a b Madrigal, Alexis S. (2013-07-11). "An Ode to Computer Shopper". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ Yasuda, Gene (1995-06-03). "Titusville Publisher Moving Magazines, Jobs to Missouri". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ a b "Ziff Davis acquires Computer Shopper". 14 May 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Callahan, Sean (2009-02-27). "'Computer Shopper' moves to online only". Ad Age. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ "John Burek Bio and Latest News, Articles and Reviews". PCMAG. Retrieved 2021-08-28.