Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!rickb
From: rickb@bucket.UUCP (Rick Bensene)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: More BYTE discussion
Keywords: BYTE, magic, lost
Message-ID: <987@bucket.UUCP>
Date: 2 Aug 88 19:40:11 GMT
Organization: Rick's Home-Grown UNIX; Portland, OR.
Lines: 43


I think it interesting that folks are JUST NOW beginning to see that BYTE
has gone from a computer hobbyist magazine to a 'mass market, semi-business
oriented' rag.  I let my subscription to BYTE expire almost 2 years ago.
At that time, I thought that they had gone hopelessly IBM, and that all
the good articles about programming tricks, hardware hacks, and the
occasional article on computer history, interesting developments in the
computer field in other countries, and such, had essentially died off
to near nothing.  I think that BYTE really took its major dive when it
went from being a magazine published by computer hobbyists who happened
to be reasonably good journalists/publishers, to a magazine published by
a big monster publising house, whose main goal is MARKET SHARE.  It is
unfortunate...I really enjoy going back through old BYTE back issues and
reliving the excitement and enthusiasm that made the personal computer
revolution what is was.  There's still plenty of that energy around, but
BYTE seems to see fit to ignore it, and concentrate on the aspects of
the computer world involving making the most money!

In case some out there haven't noticed the discussions about Steve
Ciarcia in sci.electronics, Steve's contract with BYTE will terminate
at the end of the year, so you can expect that the limited hardware hobbyist
aspects of BYTE will disappear shortly thereafter.  However, if you
are a Ciarcia fan, he's gone off and is publishing his own magazine,
called Circuit Cellar Ink.  It is essentially a continuation with
more detail of the BYTE Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar column.  I've just
subscribed to it, and am looking forward to seeing if maybe, just maybe,
it ends up capturing some of the essence of the old and dearly missed
BYTE.

If you're interested in subscribing, or want more information about
Ciarcia's rag, you can get it by calling their BBS at (203) 871-1988
1200/2400 baud, 24 hours a day.

I am in no way connected with Ciarcia other than being a fan of his
articles in BYTE.
-- 
Rick Bensene        Tektronix, Inc.  PO Box 3500 C1-970    Vancouver, WA  98668 
..tektronix!tekigm2!rickb (work)         Voice: (206) 253-5489 (10A-5P Pacific)
..tektronix!teksce!bucket!rickb (home)   BBS:   (503) 254-0458 300/1200
-- 
Rick Bensene        Tektronix, Inc.  PO Box 3500 C1-970    Vancouver, WA  98668 
..tektronix!tekigm2!rickb (work)         Voice: (206) 253-5489 (10A-5P Pacific)
..tektronix!teksce!bucket!rickb (home)   BBS:   (503) 254-0458 300/1200