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Bit-Tech questions

Discussion in 'Feedback & Suggestions' started by brumgrunt, 6 Jan 2012.

  1. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    Hello!

    If you haven't heard by now, there are some changes at Bit-Tech, which mean that you get me from Monday. More details can be found here.

    I appreciate that there are lots of questions regarding what happens to Bit-Tech now, and where things go from here. I figured the easiest thing would be to open a post up, and I'll answer them here. Bear with me on it a bit - I can't promise instant responses due to a busy week in the offline world, but I'll give you answers in as straight and honest a way as possible.

    Many thanks

    Simon Brew
     
  2. Da_Rude_Baboon

    Da_Rude_Baboon What the?

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    Will you have over all control of the content or will Dennis publish rubbish such as those sponsored articles onto the front page with out your knowledge? Will skim links and in forum advertising be allowed?

    Good luck Simon.
     
  3. javaman

    javaman May irritate Eyes

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    How much overlap will occur between the site and the mag? Recently nearly all content was duplicated in both with the site often taking a week or two delay unless it was major news.

    Also I donno if you've had time to fully assess and draw up a plan but do you have a rough idea for what direction you plan to move in, such as a return and higher focus to modding etc or will you wait and see what the community wants?
     
  4. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    Good question. I've been in and asked the same question. I don't have a pathological aversion of advertising, but I've asked to be notified of any ad formats that are likely to be of concern. I'll make sure I'm talking to the sales team regularly to find out more about them, too.

    Skim links and in-forum advertising: not keen on either, personally. Any suggestions for good ad formats that work are much appreciated.

    I can't make a promise here, but I'm well aware of the issue.
     
  5. Toka

    Toka Minimodder

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    Why is the advertising so intrusive and blunt (Im looking at you Intel Bar and Sponsored Links)

    Do you not have any control over the advertising, or did you think that this was a good idea?
     
  6. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    There's going to be a parting of the ways between the magazine and website over the coming weeks. It won't be instant, and we'll still inevitably be reviewing the same products. But the same article won't be appearing in both places, once the settling down period is over.

    I'd like more modding content, and not necessarily 100% around the desktop PC (although that will remain the mainstay of the site). But I'd like Bit-Tech to be responsive to the community, and all ideas and thoughts are gratefully received.

    Simon
     
  7. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    It's intrusive and blunt because, bluntly, those are the adverts that, for better or worse, get the most hits. I don't think all of the ad formats on the site are a good idea, no, and I've raised this already.

    Simon
     
  8. javaman

    javaman May irritate Eyes

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    Understandable there will be overlap but I support the parting of ways. While it was CPC that brought me here I have since abandoned CPC due to the overlap.
    While I don't frequent the modding section often if something catches my eye I'll have a look at it. I do tend toward mods like a pc in a ps3 or watercooling rather than OTT flashy cases. Another example would be m-atx water cooled builds. Personally tho I prefer reading about difficulties with such builds and solutions to those problems. I've also been a big fan of tom's system builder marathons, experiments with PC's built for a specific budget or for a specific demographic ie. gamer, media centre, server builds, road warrior.
    The other thing I enjoyed was the articles aimed at looking at industry, broadband in Britain or GPGPU computing for example.

    I will be looking forward to the new direction and into renewing my subscription over the coming months.
     
  9. Kris

    Kris Lord Lolwut

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    What will change with the gaming articles? (if at all) Mainly asking, because for me Joe writes the best game reviews out there that I've read. :)
    And since i'm an international reader, I have no access to the magazine out here.
     
  10. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    Joe's still writing for Bit-Tech/Gamer, was chatting to him about it earlier in the week. I agree: his writing his brilliant, and I'm thrilled he's continuing to contribute. One or two other gaming pieces planned, too, but again, I'm open to suggestions.

    Simon
     
  11. WaaWaamp

    WaaWaamp What's a Dremel?

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    Hi.

    I know advertising has been covered but i'm not sure all aspects have, i refer to the articles list where a few moments ago i found this:

    http://autos.aol.com/article/loopho...ut-a-license-plate/?ncid=dynaldusaolp00000024

    It's about Steve Jobs' licence plate situation which was reported across the web as news in october 2011, after clicking in and backspacing out it had vanished completely, a reload of the page revealed another article again sponsored by AOL Autos.

    I understand the need for advertising and the revenue streams they provide but do they have to be buried in with the regular articles with no visible difference between the two? It strikes me as a bit underhanded to be honest.
     
  12. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    Hi Simon,

    If CPC and Bit are parting ways, are we likely to occasionally see competing (rather than verbatim) reviews on the same kit then? I'm guessing there will be some crossover there, with staff writing for both, albeit on a freelance basis?

    It's obvious that many of us are a little concerned but I wish you good luck and success.
     
  13. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    Waiting for answers on this very topic. Sorry I can't tell you more at the moment, just waiting for a couple of responses.

    Simon
     
  14. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    It makes sense, I think, to do the extensive labs test just the once for the most part, especially as we have access to the facilities within Dennis. There will be exceptions to this, but Harry is going to continue testing kit within an inch of its life. The actual reviews that appear on Bit-Tech and in Custom PC will be different, though. It's not a case of running through the thesaurus and changing words, either. The angle of Custom PC and the angle of Bit-Tech will be slightly different, which will inevitably affect the review.

    It'll take a month or two before this comes to fruition, and will be interested in your thoughts on it then. Competing reviews are certainly a possibility, though, to answer your question. But they won't be competing for the sake of it, if that makes sense.

    Simon
     
  15. Tattysnuc

    Tattysnuc Thinking about which mod to do 1st.

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    Welcome aboard Simon - Good luck with your new project. Any chance of a schematic/tomboscope to illustrate who the staff are responsible for each of the components now - I'm finding it difficult to visualise the structure.

    I look forward to seeing how Bit-tech and CustomPC pan out.
     
  16. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    Having just being looking at a link detailing Ikea-esque instructions for the Hadron Collider, the idea of a schematic sounds positively straightforward! It isn't, of course. There's no disguising, and nor am I trying to, that this is a change in publishing model (I worked for Trinity back in the 90s when the same system was employed, oddly enough). That means there's no nice and easy flow chart. What I hope, instead, is that Bit-Tech is a place where talented writers can write engaging articles, reviews and features on interesting topics, that you all want to read.

    It's a mild cop out answer, granted, but it might all become clearer in the weeks ahead!

    Simon
     
  17. samkiller42

    samkiller42 For i AM Cheesecake!!

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    Hi Simon,

    Thank you for taking the time to 'get to know us' as it were.

    All the best.

    Sam
     
  18. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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    No trouble at all, and appreciate the post.

    Simon
     
  19. greypilgers

    greypilgers What's a Dremel?

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    I notice from your earlier post that you say that CustomPC and Bit reviews will have slightly different angles - given that historically both were publications designed around specialist PC interests and modding PC components and software, which one is going to be giving that up and dumbing down (I want to make sure I skip that one)...

    Or perhaps a more reasonable way of asking the question is: Do you have a mission statement for what Bit is trying to achieve, and a mission statement for what CustomPC will be trying to achieve, so your readers can gauge whether each publication is going to be right for them, moving forward?

    P.S - PLEASE do some water modding articles, especially for graphics cards!

    :D
     
  20. NethLyn

    NethLyn Minimodder

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    Will both sides of CPC/Bit Tech continue podcasts, will one leave it to the other or are they just going to get dropped?
     

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