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Computer Shopper (American magazine)

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Computer Shopper
EditorJohn A. Burek
CategoriesComputer magazine
FrequencyMonthly
Founded1979
Final issueApril 2009
CompanySX2 Media Labs
CountryUnited States
Based inTitusville, Florida
LanguageEnglish
Websitecomputershopper.com
ISSN0886-0556

Computer Shopper was a monthly consumer computer magazine that was published by SX2 Media Labs. The magazine ceased print publication in April 2009. The website was closed and redirected to the PCMag website in late May 2018.[1][2]

The magazine gained a reputation for its large size. During the 1990s, it ballooned to over 1,000 pages.[3][4][5] Companies such as Micron,[6] Insight Enterprises,[7] Dell, Gateway, MidWest Micro, Northgate, and USA Flex sold computers and parts through ads in Computer Shopper.[8]

Computer Shopper magazine page count from1979 to 2017
Computer Shopper magazine page count from1979 to 2017

History

[edit]

Computer Shopper magazine was established in 1979 by Glenn Patch of the Titusville, Florida-based Patch Communications.[9] Patch, the publisher of the photo-equipment magazine Shutterbug Ads, created Computer Shopper in the hopes of applying its formula to a PC-technology magazine.[10]

It began as a tabloid-size publication on yellow newsprint that primarily contained classified advertising and ads for kit computers, parts, and software.[10] This earned the magazine it's nickname as "The Yellow Rag."[8]

Initially, the magazine lacked in editorial content. Stan Veit sent a complaint to the company, ultimately leading to him becoming its first editor-in-chief in 1982.[8][11] Under Veit, Computer Shopper organized the magazine into sections based on computers (TRS-80, IBM-PC, Apple II, etc.). He also added new editorial content, including columns from Veit and Michael A. Banks.[11][12] A section in the back of the magazine maintained a list of bulletin board systems.[13]

The magazine expanded into pre-built home computers and white box IBM PC compatibles through the 1980s.[6] 1982 and 1986, Computer Shopper grew 1,723 percent, with sales rising from $328,000 to nearly $6 million.[9] Computer Shopper was first sold on newsstands in August 1984 with 350 tabloid-size pages. By 1988, it had reached 850.[8]

In 1988, Patch entered into a joint venture with Ziff Communications, which gave it a 50% the magazine, along with MacWeek and PC Clone.[8][14] Veit was named editor-in-chief emeritus.[11]

In 1993, the magazine was sold outright to Ziff Davis.[15] The UK version of Computer Shopper was not included in the deal.[16] In 1996, the magazine sold about 350,000 issues.[5]

It was sold in 2000, along with Ziff-Davis' ZDNet website, to CNET.[17] By 2004, newsstand sales had fallen to below 55,000.[5] CNET sold Computer Shopper to new owners, SX2 Media Labs, in 2006.[18][19] In April 2009, the print version was discontinued. The business continued as ComputerShopper.com.[20][21] The website was reacquired by Ziff-Davis in 2012.[15]

List of editors-in-chief

[edit]

John A. Burek (2008–2017)[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Desktop Computers | Laptop Computers | Computer Deals - Computer Shopper". May 21, 2018. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. ↑ "403 Forbidden". Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  3. ↑ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven (February 27, 2009). "Good-Bye Computer Shopper". Computerworld. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  4. ↑ McCracken, Harry (February 27, 2009). "Computer Shopper: A Magazine No More". Technologizer by Harry McCracken. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 McCracken, Harry (April 15, 2023). "The End of Computer Magazines in America". Technologizer by Harry McCracken. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Madrigal, Alexis S. (July 11, 2013). "An Ode to Computer Shopper". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ Crown, Eric (May 24, 2016). "When Taxpayers Carry All the Risk". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Veit, Stan. "Stan Veit And "The Yellow Rag": Computer Shopper, A Retrospective". www.computershopper.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Carey, Chris (November 21, 1987). "Brevard Concerns Make Inc.'s List 3 Are Among the Fastest-Growing Companies in the Nation". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  10. 1 2 Carey, Chris (February 22, 1988). "Taking Time to Turn Loose Publisher Glenn Patch Rides Wave of Future to Top of His Wish List". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 Banks, Michael A. "In Memoriam: Stan Veit, Computer Shopper's First Editor-in-Chief". www.computershopper.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Computer Shopper magazine, a Patch Communications..." Orlando Sentinel. August 23, 1987. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ Fulton, III, Scott M. (February 27, 2009). "A fond farewell to Computer Shopper in print | Companies News". Betanews. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  14. ↑ Yasuda, Gene (June 3, 1995). "Titusville Publisher Moving Magazines, Jobs to Missouri". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Ziff Davis acquires Computer Shopper". Adage. May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  16. ↑ Cullen, Drew (June 28, 2001). "PC Direct disappears from newsstands". theregister. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  17. ↑ Winter, Greg; Kuczynski, Alex (July 30, 2000). "CNet Is Buying What Remains of Ziff-Davis for $1.6 Billion". New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  18. ↑ "CNET Networks Announces Sale of Computer Shopper Magazine to SX2 Media Labs". www.sx2medialabs.com. February 6, 2006. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  19. ↑ "SX2 Media Labs Targets Passionate Technology Enthusiasts in Print and Online: Acquisition of Computer Shopper Magazine First Step Towards Goal". www.sx2medialabs.com. February 14, 2006. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  20. ↑ Kramer, Staci D. (February 26, 2009). "Computer Shopper Is Going All Digital; April Is Last Print Issue". CBS News. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  21. ↑ Kramer, Staci D. (February 26, 2009). "Computer Shopper Is Going All Digital; April Is Last Print Issue". paidcontent.org. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  22. ↑ "John Burek Bio and Latest News, Articles and Reviews". PCMAG. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
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