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From: dsims@uceng.UC.EDU (david l sims)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: PCMagazine recriminations
Message-ID: <8256@uceng.UC.EDU>
Date: 1 May 91 14:18:00 GMT
References: <1.281BA894@zswamp.uucp> <1991Apr30.161359.18741@Octopus.COM>
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati, College of Engg.
Lines: 18

pete@Octopus.COM (Pete Holzmann) writes:

>As one who has been involved in a few 'glowing' magazine reviews (as 
>reviewee, not reviewer), I'd suggest that you even discount the ease-of-
>whatever ratings.

>Why? Because guess who the reviewers depend on to learn about the products:
>the *vendors*. They don't obtain products through normal channels: they get
>review copies direct from the vendor.

This reminds me of Consumers Union and their main publication Consumers
Reports. When they test products, they purchase them through normal retail
outlets. They don't go directly to the manufacturer for anything. Of course,
this practice costs them more money.... Also, Consumer Reports has a
"Best Buy" category when a product is not only good, but cheap. That may
not translate well to computer hardware and software, however. People
seem to want latest and greatest computer equipment, regardless of cost
(within reason).