#AmigaWorld Is Doing Fine
6 messages in this thread
Lou- I have a lot of respect for your technical expertise and loyalty
towards the Amiga. I am a little worried, however, that you are in danger
of injuring your back from patting yourself and AmigaWorld so hard.
First of all, this circulation fantasyyour latest postal statement puts you
at double INFO's latest postal statement. AmigaPlus has at least 20000
circ, Amazing has at least 30000, Resource has another 30000, and
AmigoTimes (who are not out of it yet) have about 45000 paid (these are all
minimum paid circulations- INFO's latest audited postal statement is
46000). Thus we have AmigaWorld at 92,000 verses 171,000 for the "US
competition combined".
I guess you must of meant to say "half" instead of "double"? Second: I'll
bet all your Amiga advertisers (many of whom are struggling to meet your
staggering ad prices) are going to be real happy to hear that they are
responsible for making AmigaWorld "the most profitable" of all IDG's
magazines. That's an effective brag for investors, but not likely to draw
standing ovations from advertisers. I like the sound of "most affordable"
better.
AmigaWorld -is- an impressive piece of work, but then there is so
much you can do when you have deep pockets, and while everyother Amiga
magazine has had to make it with shear sweat and guts and putting their
bankroll on the line, AmigaWorld was brought into this world with
Commodore's silver spoon gently inserted in IDG's chubby little mouth: you
know- the guaranteed purchase of enough unsold copies of AWorld to
guarantee your success (another advertiser disservice), the exclusive
access to the Amiga box for your subscription cards, the exclusive advance
access to new products, and the recent placement of ads (even the important
A1000 trade-in announcement) ONLY in AWorld.
Your knowledge re the Amiga is legend, Lou, but best leave AmigaWorld PR to
Mr. Robbins etc.
-Best Regards, Benn Dunnington
Ben,
I appreciate the kind words (and what else could I expect from a friend)
but the numbers you mentioned for the currently published magazines just
don't jive with those I hear at the office. Since I can't verify any of
them, I won't argue the point.
As for CBM helping AW, my understanding of the events was they would buy
some number of the first three issues, and then it was left to fend itself.
That was five years ago (approx.), and the magazine has continued to grow
and prosper. Although IDG has deep pockets, that doesn't reflect any real
investment in AW. The magazine has grown on its own merit, and not with
subsidies from IDG. In fact, knowing IDG if we didn't make real profits
every quarter we would have been history long ago.
And as for CBM (or others) placing ads, I can't speak for them on why
they select Amiga World. Advertising isn't my area, and I don't get
involved. But I suspect there is a profit motive involved for everyone and
they must feel their ads do them some real good. Otherwise they would place
them elsewhere.
At any rate good luck with your new venture. Like previous issues I
always look forward to reading them.
Yes, AmigaWorld IS doing fine! Just a happy subscriber dropping a note.
Although I am an engineer with a solid technical background, I still enjoy
the "broad based" coverage of AW (I will admit to reading other mags
though, especially Amazing). I have been getting AW for several years now
and almost dropped it in January after my subscription ran out, but the
changes I saw that month (Last Licks, Back Talk, etc) sold me. BTW, I
think Joel Hagens "Accent on Graphics" are gold; I am putting them
altogether for a selftutorial for myself!
Amiga Whirled uh World is a good overview mag. I too read Amazing for
more advanced coverage. But both have the problem of games emphisis (also
a problem for the developer). This is one reason the rest of the computer
world does not take the Amiga seriously, too much emphisis on games. THis
is not to say that I want no games. But some more balance with other
things please. I mourn the passing of Amiga Transactor which was by far my
favorite. But I hope more Amiga specific mags come out. It shows a
healthy and growing interest in the Amiga, and that converts to more
software (and more games, yea!!).
I hear this kinda thing all the time, and I have to scratch my
head. This was the battle-cry in the ol' days, when there was no s/w,
entertainment or productivity, for the machine, and it's equally valid
today. No one grumps about the IBM-specific game mags that are out there.
Heck, software support from game companies is the only way to gauge the
health of computers in the early stages. The only thing really missing
right now are the BIG name companies, with their BIG bug-ridden s/w! I
wouldn't mind seeing Borland come aboard (with Turbo Pascal and C), and I
know Lotus wouldn't hurt us (even though I like Maxi Plan Plus), as well as
Ashton-Tate (a non-buggy DBase IV… many IBM users I know actually prefer
DBase III+ over IV), but keep Microsoft AWAY! 8)
Amen on the comment re: MicroSloth
Victor A. Wagner, Jr.