Linux Format forums

Demise of PC Plus

Colin White — Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:03 pm

Author: Colin White

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:03 pm

So sorry to hear of it's demise. RIP!

Mind you I'm still reeling from the loss of Personal Computer World. Now there was a veritable doorstop! Great cover disks though

Re: Danger?

Nuke — Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:57 pm

Author: Nuke

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:57 pm

I bought PCPlus for some time until LxF came out. I thought it the best of available computer mags at the time. I believe it was originally called "Windows Magazine" or something like that.

Back then I recall it and all its rivals were about 15mm thick, 80% of which was multi-page (ie 10-30 pages long) advert/catalogues from the likes of Evesham Micros, Gateway and Watford Electronics, and the editorial content was mostly reviews of such hardware. But when I looked in one recently there were far fewer adverts - hence its demise? The PC market has seriously changed - people no longer constantly upgrade their PCs. LxF however looks like it is much more carried by its price than its adverts.

Re: Danger?

johnhudson — Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:15 pm

Author: johnhudson

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:15 pm

In a sense the demise of PCPlus is the other side of Windows 8; there is no growth in the desktop sector; Windows 8 is part of MS strategy to shift to smaller devices where there is a lot of growth.

My hunch is that LXF will need to focus more on Linux on smaller devices to avoid going the way of PCPlus in the (much) longer term.

Re: Danger?

GeordieJedi — Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:47 pm

Author: GeordieJedi

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:47 pm

Whaaaa ?

That sucks, hasn't PC Plus being going for 20 odd years now?
That's a real shame I've bought it from Smiths for the last 5 yrs or so.

Oh well, I think I saw the writing on the wall. The magazine seemed to get a bit thinner each month
and they moved to a much lower quality paper.

However (with a few exceptions) the content never really deteriorated.

Farewell PC Plus, we will miss thee !

However I'm very glad to hear what Graham has said about "Wor" LXF magazine
being in rude health.

And long may it continue.

All hail LXF !!

Re: Danger?

graham — Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:31 pm

Author: graham

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:31 pm

No. Linux Format is ok. Times are tough for all print magazines, but LXF has been able to hold its ground. If you take a look at Plus' last ABC circulation figures (www.abc.org.uk), for example, they sold 11,076 per month, on average, in 2011. Our sales were double that, so there's no need to worry.

Of course, there's no harm in spreading the word if you like LXF

Graham

Re: Danger?

reklan — Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:22 pm

Author: reklan

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:22 pm

bit of a shock there, actually bought PC plus for the first time in a while last month..

and snap.. i got the same issue with delphi on.. ahh the good times..

Re: Danger?

Paradigm Shifter — Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:20 pm

Author: Paradigm Shifter

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:20 pm

Hopefully not. Linux Format is one of the few magazines I consider worth even looking in.

PC Plus used to be very good, but I've not bought a copy of it for years... IIRC, my first full programming language came off a PC Plus cover CD - Borland Delphi 1!

Danger?

towy71 — Wed Sep 05, 2012 1:13 pm

Author: towy71

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 1:13 pm

With the demise of PCPlus is there any danger of the same happening with our illustrious mag??