Forums | MacLife

I got my copy of Mac Life #1 today and so far my review of it is


PROS

-The thicker pages and larger size are nice.  Makes it a bit more robust and less likely to tear when I flip the pages.

-The Deep Tech section was awesome.  Please add more like it.

-The modding section was nice.

-I like the matte pages.  The reflections on those shiny ones always gave me a headache.


CONS

-The layout on most of the pages is terrible.  Some of the sections look like you cut up the text and pictures and threw them at the page.  I shouldn't have to go hunting for the rest of the paragraph that I am reading.  Case in point is the letters section in the front (Share).  The first letter is broken up into two columns and another letter is smashed in between in a totally different font, color, size, etc.  It may be cutsy, but it is terrible for the reader trying to read the fricking text.  Things need to flow well and be easy to comprehend at a glance.  Having big splashes of color all over the pages may look good to a designer, but it really takes away from the important stuff (i.e. the content).  I simply skipped over a few sections because I was sick of hunting for the content among the decorations.

-Keep to one design theme.  'nuff said.

-Keep the Ads out of my way.  I never read ads, so shoving them in my face only angers me.  Thank god for browsers that strip all the ads off the internet!  At times it seemed like every other page was an ad, and ads that try to look like a magazine article should be banned from existance.  I hate wasting time reading along, only to find it is some company trying to con you into buying their product.

-Stop being Adobe's bitch.  This has been happening for some time.  It seems like nearly every How-To that involves graphics of some sort has a requirement of "Adobe Photoshop (insert latest version here)"  or "Adobe Photoshop Elements", etc.  Why not try to introduce us to some of the alternatives?  I am not going to buy a grossly overpriced program just to make an icon.  There are free and inexpensive options out there, so give them some space in your mag.



As a suggestion, how about adding more tech stuff like that Deep Tech section?  Surely you can find some interesting technical developments/how to's to include to balance all the artsy stuff.  I don't have a problem with the artsy stuff, but you need to realize that there are many Mac users who don't get into graphics, sound, video, etc.  The modding section was great, but how about more general topics in that area as well.  Things like how to properly prep a computer for painting/mod work, how to choose paints, lights, etc for your computer, and how to plan out a mod so you don't end up with a pile of scrap metal/plastic when you are done, are all good to know.  Not everyone will have the computers you feature in your articles, so more generalized info can be a great help.

Overall, I must say that the mag is a bit better than the old, but it has some way to go before I would consider renewing again.  I'll probably keep my current subscription until it runs out, so hopefully things improve before then. 

I haven't posted here in about a year (meat life!), but as one of the early adopters of MacAddict (since issue 1), one of the first Forum Members, and former Moderator (who is still ashamed of creating MiniThink) I felt it necessary to chime in.

The layout of Mac Life is AWFUL! Too much white space is insulting to me as a reader. What, you think I can't read? That words offend me? I paged through half of the magazine and threw it down in disgust.

You make the content look too much like the advertising, a trend that has actually caused me to cancel many magazine subscriptions in the past, and I see no reason not to continue my objection to that stupid, stupid trend.

Boo and shame!

Change the name if you feel you must, but the layout has driven me completely away from what was my favorite magazine.

You're losing this loyal fan.

Last edited by Zapski (2007-01-04 9:53 am)

Zapski wrote:

You make the content look too much like the advertising, a trend that has actually caused me to cancel many magazine subscriptions in the past, and I see no reason not to continue my objection to that stupid, stupid trend.

That seems to be the number one complaint so far. It seems like there are a bunch of pages that have a small paragraph, a large picture, and a lotta white around everything. While the space might make the design look hip and cool, it doesn't contain any information. Many subscribers pay for the information.

But I don't know if the point of the new layout is to sate past subscribers' tastes or to attract the 'hip and cool,' 'form over function' crowd that might be getting their first Macs now. I would hope that Mac|Life doesn't abandon it's roots... at least the product reviews are still top-notch (and full of information!).

Zapski wrote:

...The layout of Mac Life is AWFUL! Too much white space is insulting to me as a reader. What, you think I can't read? That words offend me? I paged through half of the magazine and threw it down in disgust...

That just negated all the crowing I read about the magazine having more pages.


(I'm still waiting for my issue, it it doesn't bode well.)

I do like what I've seen of the magazine thus far. Although I didn't know what to think when I tried to open my copy and the cover was stuck to the first page with what looks like a grease spot. I'm hoping it is just stray ink but it was stuck pretty good and it was like a thick grease when I wiped it off with a napkin. It left some nice grease spots on my shiny new magazine too

Later, Frank

MadMan 459 wrote:

I'm anxious to get my hands on the new mag, I want to see what all the hubub is about.

As I flip through my issue and read the comments here I think back to MacUser vs Macworld.... I sure hope MacLife isn't headed that way.
I am not much of a forum person, but this got me going today. I have been a Mac person sice the day I convinced my dad to buy one of those new computers after seeing the ad that Sunday. I have had a Mac ever since. For many years I was even Apple Cert....... oh the good old days....

Anyway, I am sure they will listen to what the people who read and buy thier mag say.... they always have... and why would that suddenly change? Nobody can make everybody happy, so no matter what happens someone will not like it....
Maybe some of the changes will just take some getting used to.

I for one prefer having the Unix stuff in there, I feel its an important part of the OS now and should be explored and learned about. Not all of us are Unix savey (yet).

Alien wrote:

So, a California, nay, San Fransisco based magazine changes its name, format, staff, everything, and still some redneck in flyover country gets the premiere issue before the website moderator that lives a couple of blocks from the office, and even the freakin' editor in chief her damn self?

Maybe fido's got a point. Something's terribly amiss, here.

The magazines are probably printed and bulked mailed from some cheap ass place in Nebraska that's why.

I have every issue of MacAddict... bought #1, subscribed and bought newstand issues til my subscription kicked in.

I have always recommended MacAddict to the multitudes of new Mac users that I've brought to the fold.

Alas, it appears that with the switch to Maclife, the powers that be have fallen under the misconception (just as Apple has) that *everyone* has broadband-- without regard to the millions of folks that still have to suffer along with dialup.

"The Disc" has been an invaluable resource to me over the years... (Remember System Software updates on the first discs? ) providing me with backup copies of all the software I could possibly need.

Without "The Disc", I'm saddened that for the first time since it's inception, my renewal is no longer a "given".

*sigh*
Ah, well... it was fantastic while it lasted.

Last edited by ThrashNeon (2007-01-06 9:56 am)

frankly wrote:

I'm sorry but even dial-up is not too slow to download the things that you are interested in that would have been included on a disc in the past. Simply start the download while you are making dinner or something similar to that.

Yeah... like the Quake 4 Demo-- 530MB... I'll get right on that.

frankly wrote:

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would much rather see the time that was spent creating a disc instead spent creating a better website that has more of a tie-in with the magazine content. There are a limited number of resources in any business and I'm sure the magazine industry is tighter than many.

You speculate on using resources to better the web site, but the site may end up catering to broadband users as well. As a web developer, it would be easy for me to say "Why bother adhering to web standards for the sake of dialup users? EVERBODY has access to broadband. I'll just slap up some bloated IE only Flash site. It's 2007!"

frankly wrote:

If you like the disc for other reasons that is fine but to use the argument that there are millions of people that still use dial-up is getting old. It is 2007 and even most of those that don't have broadband either have a friend that does or a portable that they can take to a place with free wireless broadband. Heck, take a flash drive to your local library, your office, or your school and you can probably download everything you need and bring it home with you.

*shrug* I'm sorry you feel that my argument is "old".

Are there alternatives? Sure. I can jump through any number of hoops to get the content that has been delivered to me for the past 10 years. After all, the nearest town is only 15 miles away from me.

This doesn't change my views on the matter... and you're probly right that Mac|Life will not suffer much from catering only to broadband users. I'm sure they won't even miss my subscription.

My point is that the Disc was certainly a compelling reason for me (and I'm sure others) to continue subscribing. Without the disc, I can simply surf the Mac web and use VersionTracker/Macupdate.

btw, I really like the new look/layout of Mac|Life, and wish the publishers much success. I've always enjoyed and respected the personnel and staff of the magazine.

frankly wrote:

ThrashNeon wrote:

Alas, it appears that with the switch to Maclife, the powers that be have fallen under the misconception (just as Apple has) that *everyone* has broadband-- without regard to the millions of folks that still have to suffer along with dialup.

I'm sorry but even dial-up is not too slow to download the things that you are interested in that would have been included on a disc in the past. Simply start the download while you are making dinner or something similar to that. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would much rather see the time that was spent creating a disc instead spent creating a better website that has more of a tie-in with the magazine content. There are a limited number of resources in any business and I'm sure the magazine industry is tighter than many.

If you like the disc for other reasons that is fine but to use the argument that there are millions of people that still use dial-up is getting old. It is 2007 and even most of those that don't have broadband either have a friend that does or a portable that they can take to a place with free wireless broadband. Heck, take a flash drive to your local library, your office, or your school and you can probably download everything you need and bring it home with you.

Frank

I remember when OS updates were included on the the Disc. Now, that was handy!

CeeJer53 wrote:

And when Apple told MacAddict Magazine to cease and desist distributing Apple updates on the discs...

It was Apple no longer offering 3rd parties license to distribute their OS updates, not a cease and desist.

-droo