Re: USB input devices-- Second Sight ... and the new IIgs market

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

>Jeff Blakeney writes ...
>> 
> ....
>> 
>> I just finished reading through the GS+ magazines I just added to my
>> Apple II collection and it seems to me that the first sign of the
>> beginning of the end of GS+ magazine was when they moved production of
>> the magazine from a basement to an office.  This just meant that their
>> expenses skyrocketed which probably didn't help them hang on for as
>> long as they could.  :(
> ....
>
>     Perhaps. However, the above seems to say that everything pretty
>much came down to money. I tend to doubt this.
>
>     Publications like GS+ depend heavily upon investments of time and
>energy by a small number of workers. These workers draw upon the
>enthusiasm of readers and other users.
>
>     A rise in expenses due to moving into an office would not normally
>sink a small magazine. It is not that difficult to move the operation
>back to a garage or basement. Often, too, some staffers will continue to
>help with the publication at reduced or zero pay.
>
>     In fact, a GS+ or any other small A2 mag can overcome many
>difficulties, so long as the editor-owner maintains the energy and
>desire which drives the publication. Unfortunately, the early-mid 1990's
>was not a time to inspire enthusiasm for II computing. My guess is that
>GS+ ended chiefly because publishing it had ceased to be fun.

That may have played a role in it, however, after reading Jeff's
comments I went back a looked at the editorial page (Writer's
Block) from the "garage to office" issue to the end.  It does seem
more about the money than anything else.

The magazine was doing very well, apparently, which was what
prompted the owner to move into an office.  After that, however,
every once in a while the editorial page would be used to plead
for more subscribers.  Sadly, subscriptions did not increase and,
at the very end, the editorial that marked the end of the magazine
was sort of a tearful goodbye with the a tell-tale note at the end
saying that EGO Systems was moving back to the garage.

Several weeks later, the owner of GS+ started writing for
Shareware Solutions II, so he seemed to still have interest in
the IIGS.