Re: GS+ Magazine Ceases Publication!!!

[zaleski@zeus.franklin.edu (Paul Zaleski)]

In article <RlLBkED.shinyan@delphi.com> Shinya Nagashima <shinyan@delphi.com> writes:
>Boy, this is the worst news I've heard in the 8 years I've been a GS user.
>Believe it or not, it was so devastating for me that it actually made me
>physically sick...

Likewise, this news hit me like a MACK Truck.  I really couldn't/can't 
believe that something this drastic could happen so soon.

>The death of GS+ is perhaps the biggest loss for the GS community since the
>official plug was pulled on the GS. No longer will we be able to read all
>those informative and interesting letters, news, feature articles, and
>product reviews. My favorite part of the mag were the reviews. Unlike the
>other remaining publications, GS+ put their precious funds into products to
>review. Each issue had a review of the latest GS goodies which directly
>influenced my purchasing decisions. The most recent issue I got was a prime
>example. Right when I was curious about the cool Zip drive and the Second
>Sight (I was actually curious of this one for a good 6 months :), GS+ had a
>review of them. Not only that, the reviews were always well written with the
>end-user in mind. It actually felt like I had a Zip drive hooked up to my GS
>or I was cranking up the SS to view high-quality graphics (I have yet to do
>any of these in real life, unfortunately). So many times I've bought a GS
>product (e.g. Kangaroo, Pointless, Spectrum, Prism, etc. etc.) because a GS+
>review recommended it or it was advertised there.
> 
>The loss of GS+ will also be devastating for the remaining GS
>developers/vendors. Almost all of the developers/vendors worth dealing with
>(Seven Hills, Westcode, Sequential, etc. And no, I don't mean QC) have had
>ads in the mag in recent years. Where are they gonna advertise now?
>Advertising online and doing direct mailings can only go so far... I
>seriously feel that the loss of this crucial adve's rtising outlet will
>discourage the remaining developers/venders to keep supporting the GS.
> 
>Shinya
>GS+ subscriber '92-'95

I think that all hope is not, CAN NOT, be lost.  SSII is a very good 
publication in regards of doing reviews and on keeping the ][ world up to 
date.  I hope that GS+ offers to donate some of it's remaining resources 
to SSII.  (I know that Diz and Joe Kohn did have a somewhat close bond.)
Things like mailing and subscriber lists could be very beneficial.

I also believe that Joe Kohn is considering adding advertisements to 
SSII.  I dont think that there is any threat in this millenium that his 
publication will become like a "computer shopper" so content and quality 
wont be lost.  However, ][ companies will benefit, end users will 
benefit, and SSII will recieve some extra revenue.

REMEMBER**  EGO Systems is not gone!  They have only ceased publication 
of GS+.  All of their recources, (as far I a know) are still very 
available.  Their intentions are very good, they are just cutting back 
and restructuring.  I am SURE that we will continue seeing new, 
innovative, cutting edge software for the GS being released once they 
move back into their "basement" offices.

I have already subscribed to SSII.  I hope that any remaining GS+ 
subscribers do so likewise.  SSII is our remaining (non electronic) 
connection to our small and very unique world.

    Paul Zaleski