Tabloid electronics!!

[Bob Parker]

Just collected the November SC from the post office box. I've never
seen so many exclamation marks (one after every single sentence except
the magazine name) and so much glossy glitz on the front of a magazine
since I was waiting in line at the supermarket and looking at New Idea
and all the other women's tabloid mags.
This is serious electronics? W. Neville Williams must be turning
over in his grave.


Bob

 

[David L. Jones]

Just collected the November SC from the post office box. I've never
seen so many exclamation marks (one after every single sentence except
the magazine name) and so much glossy glitz on the front of a magazine
since I was waiting in line at the supermarket and looking at New Idea
and all the other women's tabloid mags.
This is serious electronics? W. Neville Williams must be turning
over in his grave.

You'll have to cut them some slack!, it's their 20th anniversary
issue!!, they are a tad excited!!!

Dave.

 

[Bob Parker]

You'll have to cut them some slack!, it's their 20th anniversary
issue!!, they are a tad excited!!!

Dave.

Thanks for telling me!
I haven't taken it out of its wrapper yet and didn't realise!!
They should have announced it on the front cover!!!
!!!!

Bob

 

[Phil Allison]

"Bob Parker"

Thanks for telling me!
I haven't taken it out of its wrapper yet and didn't realise!!
They should have announced it on the front cover!!!
!!!!

** You oughta know never to judge any book by its cover - Bob .





....... Phil

 

[Suzy]

Just collected the November SC from the post office box. I've never
seen so many exclamation marks (one after every single sentence except the
magazine name) and so much glossy glitz on the front of a magazine since I
was waiting in line at the supermarket and looking at New Idea and all the
other women's tabloid mags.
This is serious electronics? W. Neville Williams must be turning over
in his grave.

I think Silicon Chip is doing a pretty good job on the whole, but it's a
pity the inside cover starts us off with Jaycar's gimmicky rubbish like
farting ashtrays -- sort of detracts from electronics IMHO

 

[David L. Jones]

I think Silicon Chip is doing a pretty good job on the whole, but it's a
pity the inside cover starts us off with Jaycar's gimmicky rubbish like
farting ashtrays -- sort of detracts from electronics IMHO

Not this month, farting ashtrays and choke-a-chicken are out, remote
control toys are the in-thing now.

Gotta admit, I've got one of the RC helicopters, and they are kinda
fun. Farnell gave them away if you spent a certain amount.

Dave.

 

[David L. Jones]

BTW, congrats to SC for making it to 20 years and outliving all the
other mags, that's no mean feat.

Dave.

 

[David L. Jones]

"David L. Jerkoff"




** When a nuclear holocaust makes the whole earth radioactive and

the CO2 level rises to 5% of the atmosphere -

David L. Jones will congratulate the cockroaches.

....... Phil

Is there anybody or anything you don't hate Phil?
Your toasters are calling...

Dave.

 

[Mr.T]

BTW, congrats to SC for making it to 20 years and outliving all the
other mags, that's no mean feat.

Quite a way to go before they beat RTV/EA though.
I think even ETI made 20 years??

MrT.

 

[David L. Jones]

Quite a way to go before they beat RTV/EA though.
I think even ETI made 20 years??

Sure, but they were more prosperous times.
I think SC has done well to survive in recent times with the decline
in hobby electronics.

I think changes might need to be made to survive into the future
though...

Dave.

 

[David L. Jones]

indeed, but they also had competition, the lack of which is aiding SC's
survival.

For sure. No way more than one mag could survive in todays market.

see above

Yeah, but the lack of any competition does not automatically mean
there is a market they are guaranteed to survive in.

couldn't agree more. However, the problem is as much in the buyer - how many
out there are of the same mould as the EA/ETI/SC readers of 10 to 20 years ago
i.e. electronics enthusiasts? Precious few.

Yep, would be interesting to know what their readership breakdown
actually is.
A good lot of it I'm sure comes from the vintage radio crowd which
apparently is quite large, a reason why they won't ever drop the
vintage radio column.
The remaining service techs maybe, and the few remaining hobbyists of
old, I wouldn't even want to guess at numbers.
Numbers might be growing with the DIY subject specific electronics
tinkerers, like car enthusiasts, home lighting and solar eco
enthusiasts. For example, SC take out half page ads in Renew
magazine.

I don't know any professional who buys SC, which is a bit different to
the older days when I knew many professionals who bought EA and ETI.

I don't think they will change though, unless numbers start to drop
sharply. They'll play it safe and cross their fingers. Which is not a
bad option I guess, change is very risky and can put you out of
business quick smart.

Dave.

 

[Blacklisted email address]

Hi Bob,

Just collected the November SC from the post office box. I've never
seen so many exclamation marks (one after every single sentence except
the magazine name) and so much glossy glitz on the front of a magazine
since I was waiting in line at the supermarket and looking at New Idea
and all the other women's tabloid mags.
This is serious electronics? W. Neville Williams must be turning over
in his grave.

Like he was with EA's last issue....
I've bought it but its still on the pile as I'm about 4 months behind
reading.

Cheers
Ian Manners

 

[[email protected]]

Just collected the November SC from the post office box. I've never
seen so many exclamation marks (one after every single sentence except
the magazine name) and so much glossy glitz on the front of a magazine
since I was waiting in line at the supermarket and looking at New Idea
and all the other women's tabloid mags.
This is serious electronics? W. Neville Williams must be turning
over in his grave.

Bob

Hmm, Lotsa '!'s. It seems SC may have added the 'viagra' (scuse the
pun) extension to their desktop publishing program <g>.

Anyway, I was disappointed - as usual - with the mag and some fairly
lame projects, but I'll keep buying it regardless.

I must say the UV lightbox article was good, and it's a bit sad that
the Press'N'peel method was discounted. I've tried that method and can
indeed verify that ironing is only good for clothes.

Myself, I'd really like to see some more info on interfacing
microcontrollers and basic electronic howtos. Also some testing/info
on the new-gen design programs (ie. Eagle) but that's a narrow
perspective on my part.

Enough blathering. Hoping SC continues, and that they have some new
electronic geeks waiting to write good articles.

 

[Bob Parker]

I don't know any professional who buys SC, which is a bit different to
the older days when I knew many professionals who bought EA and ETI.

What about yourself?

 

[Bob Parker]

Like he was with EA's last issue....
I've bought it but its still on the pile as I'm about 4 months behind
reading.

Cheers
Ian Manners

Yeah - EAT was about as low as it's possible to go.

Bob

 

[Bob Parker]

Hmm, Lotsa '!'s. It seems SC may have added the 'viagra' (scuse the
pun) extension to their desktop publishing program <g>.

Anyway, I was disappointed - as usual - with the mag and some fairly
lame projects, but I'll keep buying it regardless.

I must say the UV lightbox article was good, and it's a bit sad that
the Press'N'peel method was discounted. I've tried that method and can
indeed verify that ironing is only good for clothes.

Myself, I'd really like to see some more info on interfacing
microcontrollers and basic electronic howtos. Also some testing/info
on the new-gen design programs (ie. Eagle) but that's a narrow
perspective on my part.

Enough blathering. Hoping SC continues, and that they have some new
electronic geeks waiting to write good articles.

I don't reckon your perspective's narrow. I'd like to see more
(some?) nuts and bolts level stuff along the lines you suggested,
including some practical info and hints on driving Eagle.

 

[David L. Jones]

What about yourself?

Well, I get SC because I'm a hobbyist as well as a professional, and
of course I'm a former and occasionally current contributor. As I've
said in the past, I hardly read it anymore, there is very little of
interest in there for me, but I still like to support the sole
remaining Australian electronics magazine. I'm sure I'll keep
contributing occasionally too. In fact I have a real super-duper
project up my sleeve right now...

If it is true that fewer professionals read it these days then it's
kinda obvious why I think. 20+ years ago, the level of technology in
professional electronics design wasn't really all that more advanced
from the stuff being done in hobbyist mags like SC and EA. But now the
technological divide is much greater, so there is potentially less
interest there for professionals. And throw the Internet into the
equation as well of course.

Dave.

 

[kreed]

Just collected the November SC from the post office box. I've never
seen so many exclamation marks (one after every single sentence except
the magazine name) and so much glossy glitz on the front of a magazine
since I was waiting in line at the supermarket and looking at New Idea
and all the other women's tabloid mags.
This is serious electronics? W. Neville Williams must be turning
over in his grave.

Bob

September and October (with the exception of the Agilent scope review)
was the exact same, it must be a new trend

 

[Poxy]

September and October (with the exception of the Agilent scope review)
was the exact same, it must be a new trend

I cancelled my sub a while back, but the other day noticed DS sell them for
half price, so I picked up the Sep and Oct editions. Definitly a lot of
micro-based projects, which I guess is where things are headed, however for
micro projects, the electronics side tends to be fairly straightforward,
with all the tricky stuff being in the code, which they don't print or
really discuss, and since it's assembly, is probably hard to explain to
anyone who isn't conversent with PIC code.

That said, it makes sense that they're following the micro trend, but as
someone else mentioned, perhaps they could do articles on interfacing micros
and handling common tasks such as A/D, PWM and interrupts.

 

[kreed]

I cancelled my sub a while back, but the other day noticed DS sell them for
half price, so I picked up the Sep and Oct editions. Definitly a lot of
micro-based projects, which I guess is where things are headed, however for
micro projects, the electronics side tends to be fairly straightforward,
with all the tricky stuff being in the code, which they don't print or
really discuss, and since it's assembly, is probably hard to explain to
anyone who isn't conversent with PIC code.

That said, it makes sense that they're following the micro trend, but as
someone else mentioned, perhaps they could do articles on interfacing micros
and handling common tasks such as A/D, PWM and interrupts.

The lack of documentation of the code for most of these projects is
the gripe I have with SC micro projects.

Circuit Cellar have provided code and full descriptions quite openly
for as long as I can remember and it hasn't hurt them (that I am aware
of)

I know very little of PIC code, and have been told by many to not use
PIC if you can help it. (My past experience has been with Zilog Z-80
and 180 assembly)