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Still a great magazine
My favorite magazine is probably still Wired magazine.

I have been a subscriber almost continuously from around 1994 or so.

Despite a history of excessive advertising and embarrassing flag waving about the glory of the internet economy Wired has consistently informed and entertained me with quality articles about the things that I enjoy: internet, software, business, technology, politics, travel, etc.

It has also been a major innovator in terms of the visual style of magazines. Their style was as new and different at its introduction as was MTV when it first appeared in the 80s.

The articles are largely targeted to 20 - 40 year old upper-middle-class, liberal technology industry oriented people, although I doubt there is anything in its content that conservatives or non-tech people would find offensive.

My issue goes straight into the toiletside magazine rack every month when it arrives.

tech background not necessary to enjoy
You don't have to have a Ph.D. in computers, math, or engineering in order to enjoy this magazine: I don't possess such credentials, and I think Wired is outrageously good. The appeal of Wired is information on cutting-edge technology, delivered in a highly visual, understandable, and often entertaining format. A subtle sense of humor pervades the magazine with features such as "Return to Sender" - a contest in which Wired readers attempt to send the weirdest possible item in the mail to the magazine's San Francisco headquarters; or "Japanese Schoolgirl Watch" - which tracks the latest trendy gadgets favored by one of the world's most trend-obsessed demographic groups. Wired endlessly scrutinizes and ponders on the intersection of technology, humans, and society in its terrific articles. The articles are always interesting, and well-written, with topics such as artificial sight research, or the shenanigans of MIT's Blackjack Team in Las Vegas (9/02 issue); parents of extremely ill children, united via the Internet in their challenges to the medical industry (9/01); or a profile of the Ibot Transporter "inventrepreneur," Dean Kamen (9/00). Wired is a beautifully presented, outstanding magazine. Try one issue - you might get hooked!

Beware of subscription lapses
Subscribers of Wired, beware.

I had a subscription to Wired for a few years and recently decided to let the subscription lapse because I don't have the time to read it now. After the usual "your subscription is expiring" notices were ignored and the magazine stopped being sent, I received a charming little notice from a collections agency. WIRED hired this agency "to write you as to why payment has not been made as of this letter date." The letter ends in a bold, italicized threat: "This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose." After phoning the number at the top of the asinine letter (not a toll-free number, mind you) and wading through several phone prompts, I was given an option to let Wired know I am just not interested in subscribing anymore.

Since when is letting a magazine subscription expire a debt? This guerilla marketing technique is unethical in my book and a low way to intimidate others into re-subscribing. It infuriates me to imagine someone being bullied into sending money to this company.

Wired customer service wasn't any help, either. The gal stopped typing after I told her that I wanted to place a complaint--I'm sure they aren't concerned about ex-subscribers. If you do get Wired magazine and then decide you don't want it anymore, be prepared to receive a charming little letter like mine from them. I will never read their magazine again and I urge others to think twice before sending their hard-earned money to a company that stoops this low to regain a subscription.

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Reliable
You can rely on PC World magazine to bring you the information on the products you are curious about. Whether you are buying or building, PC World can help you make the right decisions. The writers are always conscious of the best quality for your money. In addition, several privacy issues are addressed and step by step recommendations solidify a quick and easy resolution for protecting your PC. This periodical is also easy to read. The information is put in language that is pleasing and understandable for any reader. It is mandatory reading for the serious buyer. PC World also offers a very useful website including an easy to use product finder with user reviews, sometimes lab test reviews, best prices on the web, and a comparison tool so that visitors can compare specifications for all kinds of computer hardware and software.

Most importantly, PC World is not like a lot of those boring computer magazines out there. It's a magazine with many different personalities. Many writers' columns can be helpful and funny at the same time. It's a people's magazine written for the folks out there with the same issues that everyone in the PC community share.

Go with the best, this is it!
I love this magazine, I personally think it is the most informative and entertaining PC magazine out there right now. It covers many different aspects of computing from the more advanced stuff like parts for building your own machine to the normal stuff like reviews of the latest computers by the leading brands.

The articles are very helpful and one of the nicest features about this magazine is it is web-ready. For example, if you have just read the article about the new IPaq pocket pc (Page 27 Jan. 2003 edition) there is a link at the bottom of the article for a URL on PC World's website (find.pcworld.com/32144) which will take you directly to the page about the item.

PC World includes the latest in tech trends and also has some great articles about software and I love to read Stephen Manes article, titled "Full Disclosure," at the end of each edition.

I am so happy with my subscription that the only reason I wrote this review here today was because I was on teh PC World product page re-subscribing. If you subscribe to this magazine today for Amazon.com's very low price you will deffinetely not regret it!

Take a look -- a nice resource
PC World is targeted towards the day-to-day Windows user, most likely someone using multiple machines or someone encountering different systems. This is not the best choice to help educate a first-time computer user.

However, PC World is a great resource. I've found numerous tips that have saved me time and money, and I find that they offer a nice blend of covering cool gadgets vs. noting the freeware or shareware that you may not hear of elsewhere.

Features

• Discontinued by manufacturer, replaced by model #M9460LL/A
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Optional docking station makes charging and synching easy
• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Features redesigned and backlit navigation and remodeled headphones; headphones with wired remote are optional

Reviews (214)

Elegant and Simple
Although I'm a PC person, I have to appreciate Apple's commitment to quality. For a piece of equipment this advanced, it is amazingly simple to operate. The face has no moving parts; instead, the heat from your fingers activates the different buttons.
In this updated model there is room for a couple hundred CDs and (supposedly) the issue regarding battery life has been resolved.
Possible issues: You must own an Apple or PC computer as this is the only way to upload your music onto the iPod. This model only comes with a Firewire cable; a USB adaptor is extra. Also, any songs that you keep on your iPod must be stored on your computer. This last issue is only a problem if you are running a computer with limited harddrive space (e.g. <10gb).
Besides these small problems, my iPod has given me hours of pleasure. One recommendation is the Griffin iTrip FM transmitter. This allows you to play music from your iPod over any FM radio. This item runs about $35 and can be purchased on Amazon.com or on Apple's website.

looks pretty but this is a Mac only product
First. The buttons on the front are touchy...I keep on turning it on accidently and draining the battery (and a fully charged battery barely lasts 2 hours of listening time...)
There is no setting to disable the front panel controls...hint to Apple...you need this feature!
Second. ACC format...what's that all about? Nothing on the PC side of the world (hey folks, 98% of the computing public are PC oriented.) uses ACC format (except for some obscure apps like the horrendous Music Match and the equally bad iTunes)
If iPod users want to make their music that they download from iTunes available to their home stereo using a wireless network connection, what device would they use? Linksys, Creative Labs and the HP DMR-EW5000 digital media players all do not support ACC formats...MP3s folks...there's a reason it's called "a standard" The whole world uses it!!!
I have an 85GB MP3 Music library. I carry snapshops around on my Archos device (yeah, it sucks, but it works and is reliable) 20gbs at a time. but my main library is on my server at home. I use Winamp to stream my music to my computer at work, I use a wireless connection to send fresh music automatically to my Windows CE onboard player device in my car (custom software assures that I always have fresh music based off of what I already listened to) and I have a wireless media player for my home stereo that interfaces a menuing system through my TV set (Viewing my digital photos on my 53 inch plasma is awsome) These are things you cannot do with Acc format music folks!
Third iTunes for Windows. Man...can any single application suck as bad as this? First, it's nothing more than a thinly veiled medium for pushing Apple's other products (Jobs has even admitted that he is using the iPod the iTunes to "suck" windows users into the Mac world. The first problem with iTunes is that you don't have consistant menues for your second mouse button and the third mouse button doesn't exist...Hey Apple...you're targetting the enlightened Windows users...we know how to use more than one finger to click a mouse! Second problem is that this interface is nothing more than a re-badged browser! And it doesn't use any of your existing internet settings like your favorites menu, nor your automatic form fillers, or any of the browser help objects you may have installed (like Google toolbar with an auto fill form app) And let me tell you...you have to fill in a lot of fields to download a song!
And where's the security icon that Windows users are accustomed to see in the lower right hand corner of their browser? Apple "says" that the connection that you're sending your credit card information is secure...but how do I know that? I don't see an "https" in the browser, nor do I see the padlock. And call me paranoid, but I surely don't want an application saving my credit card information on my computer locally either...and I certainly don't want someone else to store my credit card information! So, having to fill out that form information for EVERY song is nuts!
And whats with spending a buck for a song? And a low resolution song at that? Sure, ACC format recorded at 128 is like MP3 at 132 or something like that...sure...but it's still compressed audio. And it's compresed audio at 10 times compression...Folks, look up the term "lossy compression" you will find out that music that is compressed is done by REMOVING sound! Yes, that's right! the sound you want to hear is removed from the music to make the file smaller. The smaller the file, the more sound is taken out of the music! CDs have (get this) CD quality sound...makes sense, right? The music you download from iTunes has one tenth of the music that CDs have. And since you're not getting the liner notes, or the video that is sometimes included on the CD, you should pay less than one tenth of what a CD costs! Plus, when you consider that there is the distribution, bricks and morter (physical stores) and employees that need to be paid, you can see that at the costs that a CD is, (about $17 now) a downloaded MP3 should be less than 17 cents! Come on people...it's your money...vote with your wallets!
In all, I gave this device 2 stars becuase it does look cool...but unfortunatly, it's not the device for windows users!

It's No Mini-Disc Player!
My Sony mini-disc player died after a short life (moment of silence). So when I got a new job, the toy of choice was an iPod. What a difference!

The bad as compared to the mini-disc player is that the iPod doesn't have an LCD display remote control. So with so many songs, it's hard to blindly navigate if your iPod is stashed away. Hopefully Apple will create such a remote. Otherwise, it wins over the mini-disc player hands down!

The new mini-discs hold 5 hours of music. 2 years ago that was a big deal. My 20 Gig iPod has 17 hours of music already and I am using merely 390 MB. That's less than a fraction of its capacity. The iPod's looking at me like, "When are you gonna REALLY add some music?"

The 3 lines of music data display the song title, artist, and even album! And the sound...oh boy. I feel like I'm at a concert! Excellent sound! You can also tweak the sound with the equalizer.

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We know what will happen
Well, I can say that I have been a proud buyer of PC Gamer for four years now. I really love their reviews, previews, and opinion articles. They are excellently written, extraordinarily detailed, and most of them are as funny as hell!

Let's go through the very pages of PC Gamer!

You open the pages, and you turn a couple, and you get to the letters section. This is where fans right letters to the editors of the magazine, and quite frankly they are hillarious. Next, we turn a few pages and we end up at the previews section. The last PC Gamer mag I recieved last month talked about the new Metal Gear Solid 2 for the PC. I learned a lot through this preview, and like every single one, it was funny! I then turn and I get a few other things. Lately, they have been writing things relating to Console haters, like yours truly, Game Censoring, and other controversial issues. We then have another cover story, which, last week, was a strategy guide for the newest and best PC games. Then, we get to the reviews. This edition reviewed the new MOHAA Spearhead game. Their review was fair and to the point. I also agreed to what they said. I bought this game and I agreed with them. I would rate it an 80 perecent also! Once we get through the reviews, the hardware reviews come in. These are my favorite reviews because they are the funniest, and I LOVE hardware. You see, I can try out most games through demos, but hardware I can't "try out". Greg Vederman, or his nickname, TheVede, writes the best hardware reviews around, and he knows what he is talking about!

My conclusion is that anyone who likes PC Games, and wants to be up to the minute with them, should get a subscription. They right fair and just reviews, along with some of the most entertaining stories ever. This gets two thumbs up! If you hate consoles then this is even more of a reason to get this mag! Great work guys!

This is THE PC Gamer magazine
If you're into PC gaming, not consoles, this is the magazine for you. It has reviews, previews and walk throughs of the latest PC games as well as hardware reviews and recommendations. You don't have to wade through endless pages about PS2 or X-Box games to find what you really want (like with other gaming magazines). This is PC gaming goodness at it's best.

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Some helpful bits amid the sass
The ranks of Macintosh magazines have always been thin. After the demise of MacUser (the best magazine) and MacWeek (the best trade), MacAddict came out of nowhere to fill some of that void.

As an alternative to MacWorld, the venerable option for Mac users, MacAddict brings some life to the party. Offering the content of MacWorld, but written like Maxim, the enthusiasm for the platform definitely comes through.

MacAddict is not unique in content. You get product reviews, how-to's, tips, interviews, and such. (Depending on your subscription, it may also include a helpful CD loaded with freeware, shareware, video clips, and other goodies - it's the CD that gives the mag its raison d'etre.) All things considered, it's your typical computer magazine. What sets it apart is its insider, wink-wink, Gen X attitude.

And that's where the strength and weakness of the magazine lies. How much you'll enjoy MacAddict depends how much you like the attitude.

Personally, I find it a bit grating and in-your-face simply for in-your-face's sake. MacWorld may be a better choice in this regard. MacAddict tends to be a bit thin page-wise, too. It's about half the length of comparable computer magazines. Part of that lies in the fact that the Mac universe isn't as loaded with as much debris as the PC's, but still, MacWorld has more content. And that content does have some bigger names writing it, too.

One area in which MacAddict does beat MacWorld is that it seems to be on a tighter publishing schedule - getting reviews of new products ahead of its stodgier cousin. But when you consider what is available in this regard on the Internet, this advantage doesn't seem so helpful.

If you are a Mac fanatic - and can afford it - get MacAddict with MacWorld. But if you are a normal user, I'd tip the scales toward MacWorld.

Best Mac Magazine Bar None
If you're looking for a macintosh magazine and can't afford subscribing to Macworld, MacDesign, and MacAddict, get MacAddict. Not only has it been redesigned from the ground up, but they got rid of their insipidly stupid mascot Max in the review section. No longer are we faced with the blech, freakin' awesome, etc... of this tiresome cartoon character.

But more than that are its features, reviews (that everyone can understand), games sections, get info, and more. It's irreverant, fun, sometimes a little too juvenile, but you get the impression that the people who run this magazine LOVE using macs. I never got that impression from the other mac magazines (except maybe MacDesign) or from any PC magazine on the market. With that said, it also comes with a monthly CD (which I believe is about $1 extra) just brimming with demos, freeware, shareware, movie clips, and more. It's a great magazine and you won't be disappointed. You'll look forward to each and every issue and read it from cover to cover (too bad it's not twice a month!).

Features

• Packed for business and priced for value
• Create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint-compatible files on the run
• Listen to MP3s, watch video clips and view photos wherever you go
• Easy-to-read, high resolution, 320x320 transflective color screen
• What's in the box: Handheld device; Palm Desktop software, including Documents To Go; all basic utilities such as Calendar, Contacts, Tasks., etc.

Reviews (175)

Thanks Palm!
T|E is an excellent device with minor problems. For the price its a bargain and will ensure Palm's market share stays high.

Pro's,
1. Its a Palm, with the latest version of Palm OS.
2. Looks good and feels solid in hand.
3. Superb screen and extremely clear.
4. mp3 playback is very good.
5. Uses standard mini USB jack, not propreitary Palm connector.
6. Fast performance. Don't compare raw MHz between PDA's, this one's faster than 400MHz PPC's.
7. About 28MB is available memory, which is a lot for a Palm.
8. Good software bundle and stable OS.
9. Speaker is - suprisingly - good at playing mp3's (64kpbs sounds great).
10. Flip lid and a screen protector are in the box. (I don't buy a PDA without flip)
11. Stylus is superb, thick/heavy/shinning metal.

Con's,
1. Down button is hard to press, ironically that's the most used button on T|E. The 5 way navigator is poorly designed and cheap plastic.
2. Size is bigger than some other handhelds like Clie SJ20.
3. Case is slippery and tough to keep clean.
4. Thread on included flip cover scratches T|E at the top easily.
5. Battery life is just like Pocket PC's, needs charging frequently.
6. Included charger is not a world charger and is bulky.
7. No bluetooth or Wifi but atleast it has SDIO slot (poor Clie fans have to put up with propreitary memory stink slot).
8. Weak alarm sounds (think this can be fixed?) and no vibrate only mode.
9. Packaging in plastic box is tough to open and not eco friendly.
10. Battery is not user replaceable. (dead Palm after 2 years?)

Most of the minor issues with T|E will go away if you spend double and get a T|T3. Overall this is a great Palm at affordable price. Thanks Palm!

WHAT A GREAT VALUE!! but......
I could not believe the brightness and sharpness of the screen! Stunning! Battery life -- 1 to 2 weeks, great. Vast amounts of memory for pictures, sound, and an expansion slot for more. Plays MP3s. Extremely fast processor for very snappy response, improved version 5 OS functions now use MS Outlook compliant names: Datebook (now called "Calendar") Phone book -- "Contacts",etc.

I had a problem with corruption of one of my data files and received prompt and helpful support from Palm. Free for 1st 90 days, not toll free.

No wireless, but you can connect to a cell phone! No "Blue Tooth" (how's that for an idiotic name?) but you can beam!

Complaints?

If you liked Graffiti you'll HATE Graffiti 2! Very different, you get yo re-learn most of what you KNEW!

Cradle?? NO Cradle! and none available to buy! Surprise! Now you've got a teensy power cable separate from a USB type B cable.
That sucks! but I guess they had to hold back something.

All in all, get this Palm!!

What is your problem
Just get it from Best Buy or a or a local electronics store, you'll get a 1 year warrenty, and if it crashes, refund or get a new one.

If you are stupid enough to think for ONE second that the used pda that PalmOne sends you will not have problems, the PDA they send you is "USED", by fact, its exactly like your old one! Take my advice, and buy one from your local electronics store.