''Computer Shopper'' was a monthly consumer

computer magazine Computer magazines are about computers and related subjects, such as computer network, networking and the Internet. Most computer magazines offer (or offered) advice, some offer Programming language, programming Tutorial, tutorials, reviews of the ...

published by SX2 Media Labs. The magazine ceased print publication in April 2009. The website was closed and redirected to the PCMag website in late May 2018.

History

''Computer Shopper'' magazine was established in 1979 in

Titusville, Florida Titusville is a city in eastern Florida and the county seat of Brevard County, Florida, United States. The city's population was 43,761 as of the 2010 United States Census. Titusville is located along the Indian River (Florida), Indian River, west ...

. It began as a tabloid-size publication on yellow newsprint that primarily contained classified advertising and ads for

kit computer An electronic kit is a package of electrical components used to build an electronic device. Generally, kits are composed of electronic components, a circuit diagram (schematic), assembly instructions and often a printed circuit board (PCB) or ...

s, parts, and software. The magazine was created by Glenn Patch, publisher of the photo-equipment magazine ''Shutterbug Ads'', in the hopes of applying its formula to a PC-technology magazine. The magazine expanded into prebuilt home computers and white box

IBM PC compatible IBM PC compatible computers are similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT, all from computer giant IBM, that are able to use the same software and expansion cards. Such computers were referred to as PC clones, IBM clones or IBM PC clones. ...

s through the 1980s. The magazine grew to several hundred pages, mostly of advertisements. It was during this time that the magazine was sold to

Ziff Davis Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and internet company. First founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology-oriented media websites, online shopping-related services, an ...

Publishing, first as a

limited partnership A limited partnership (LP) is a form of partnership similar to a general partnership except that while a general partnership must have at least two general partners (GPs), a limited partnership must have at least one GP and at least one limited ...

, then solely owned. It was later sold, in 2000, along with Ziff-Davis'

ZDNet ZDNET is a business technology news website owned and operated by Red Ventures. The brand was founded on April 1, 1991, as a general interest technology portal from Ziff Davis and evolved into an enterprise IT-focused online publication. Hist ...

Web site, to

CNET ''CNET'' (short for "Computer Network") is an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos on technology and consumer electronics globally. ''CNET'' originally produced content for radio and televi ...

. CNET sold ''Computer Shopper'' to new owners, SX2 Media Labs, in 2006. In April 2009, SX2 Media Labs discontinued the print version of the magazine. The business continued on as a Web entity, ''ComputerShopper.com'', which was reacquired by Ziff-Davis in 2012.

Magazine

''Computer Shopper'', the print magazine, comprised the following sections at the end of its publication: * Boot Up. A commentary and product-news section written by the magazine's expert editors. A column written by Senior Editor Sarah E. Anderson examined tech-buying and related issues from a working mother's perspective. * Reviews. Each issue contained more than two dozen reviews. * Features. Typically two or three per issue, the feature stories were often product-centric, comprising product comparisons and buying guides. * Help and How-To. These articles provided assistance for technical problems and gave step-by-step directions on how to perform common tasks. * Shut Down. A retrospective look at technology through the archives of ''Computer Shopper''. * A user-submitted listing of

Bulletin Board System A bulletin board system (BBS), also called computer bulletin board service (CBBS), is a computer server running software that allows users to connect to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, the user can perform functions such as ...

s (BBS) throughout the US and Canada.

List of editors-in-chief

Stan Veit Stan Veit (25 December 1919 - 29 July 2010) was an entrepreneur and publisher. He ran "Computer Mart", the first computer store in New York City, was the personal computer editor of ''Popular Electronics'' magazine, and then Editor-in-Chief of '' ...

(1983–1989) # Bob Lindstrom (1989–1991) # John Dickinson (1991–1994) # John Blackford (1994–2000) # Janice Chen (2000–2006) # Rik Fairlie (2006–2007) # John A. Burek (2008–2017)

References

{{BBS Defunct computer magazines published in the United States Home computer magazines Monthly magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1979 Magazines disestablished in 2009 Magazines published in Florida 1979 establishments in Florida 2009 disestablishments in Florida