Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!rpi!leah!derek
From: derek@leah.Albany.Edu (Derek L. / MacLover)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Diatribe #11a:  MacUser
Keywords: MacUser, annoying, pedantic, smug
Message-ID: <3337@leah.Albany.Edu>
Date: 13 Jul 90 04:27:02 GMT
Reply-To: derek@leah.albany.edu.UUCP (Derek L. / MacLover)
Organization: State U. of New York at Albany Computing Svces.
Lines: 59


	Well, I've just been reading the August issue of MacUser.  I've had
problems reading MacUser in the past, most of which exhibit themselves in
the urge to throw it against the far wall of the room.  These problems are
usually brought on by editorials in which the authors so shamelessly
back-pat and Mac-pat (sorry about the pun), that any _content_ is quite
overwhelmed in the process.  This month's issue is sadly no different.

Case in point:
	"Window Watchers," by Paul Somerson.  In his column, the author
writes, "Several months ago, Apple unveils its Macintosh IIfx, a 40-megahertz
screamer so powerful that it eats dedicated graphics workstations for
breakfast.  Like all other Macs, it sports an attractive, truly intuitive
interface and a high degree of smarts.
	"Like all other Macs, it can handle multitasking and memory-
gluttonous software without a hitch, and it can run the nearly 5,000
applications that are on the market."

This is by far not the worst example of the breed.  Heck, it didn't even
make me close the magazine and take a deep breath.  If I went back and
looked, I could probably find examples of self-congratulation so striking
they would make Reagan blush.  But even this example stings: "all Macs...
handle multitasking and memory-gluttonous software without a hitch" --right.
I can only assume Mr. Somerson was presented with a Mac IIci his very first
day on the job, because that's the FIRST Mac I've used in which multitasking
and memory management worked as advertised -- and I've used 'em all.  I
hate this type of space-wasting writing, for two reasons:  first, it again
glamourizes the "new!" "better!" machine over the older ones, leaving the
vast majority, who mostly own SEs, out in the cold; and second, it has the
effect of obscuring the very useful material which MacUser can present (for
example, their look at accelerator boards in the same issue).

	Don't misunderstand me -- I'm well aware that it's part of the
computer magazine biz to evangelize the computer you're writing about.
But I'm of the strong opinion that it can be done by straightforward
representation of the facts, rather than glossy meaningless catchphrases.
Even the inclusion of a column devoted to comparing PC/Windows to the Mac
is questionable in my opinion.

	The most annoying part of the MacUser problem is that they have
classified themselves as the magazine for the "power user."  Uh-huh.  Okay,
I'm a MacPowerUser.  Do I really need to have the magazine I go to for
information try to sell me on the concept of the Mac?  It's unprofessional,
annoying and it sure doesn't make me want to get a subscription.

	I've had this gripe for a while, I just felt like writing about it
now (when, of course, I should be studying calc).  Oh, by the way, I hate
the MacUser color scheme and typeface selections.  And those damned
subscription cards that always fall out when you're reading it on public
transportation.

		Aaahh, that felt good...

						Derek L.

-- 
+ +   One Mac is worth exactly 2.317 PCs (based on current price indices)   + +
	Disclaimer:  I was asleep.	---}=-------------------------`
++    All the busy little creatures / Chasing out their destinies --Peart    ++