Ziff Davis - shame on you

Even we tried to help that sad bunch at ExtremeTech, despite their stated aim to wipe the floor with us, and just about every successful enthusiast site out there. Now, the site is resorting to the ol' trick of "look-we-got-roadmaps" trying to outdo the leader of the pack, Mageek , and get some attention. The group has also stooped to the unedifying practice of tooting their own horn on /. in desperation.

Surely even the out of touch Ziff Davis Media folk appreciate that there is a grassroots technology base on the Web which rejected everything they threw out long ago. This attempt at muscling in on another venerable tradition on tech Web sites should be treated with derision.

I don't think ExtremeTech should try and take on Mageek, at any cost, but it seems that they haven't learned their lesson from fighting THG, AnandTech, HardOCP, and every other site that they trashed on their way to mediocrity. Even though tech publications on the Web don't always get along as nicely as they should, I would encourage, endorse, emphasize Ace's Hardware, AnandTech, HardOCP, The Inquirer, Overclockers, Tech-report, or any other site over the dinosaurs at Ziff Davis who want to run roughshod over the community.

With the PC industry in its present state, and plenty of change afoot, it has become a matter of urgency for the Web community to pursue a bigger role in helping to shape the future. The first thing we have to do is reject the old, and staid, the establishment that props up weak notions, and antiquated ideas. It's also fair to say that companies like Ziff Davis Media are quite happy to paint the community as garage freaks, the kind of people who tinker with their machines in dark places. This is a slap in the face to everyone who reads THG, or any of the other sites I mentioned.

Last I looked we had emails from CTOs, and VPs of Technology. AnandTech has a huge audience of college students who are destined to shape the future of the industry in a more personal way. Mageek is read by industry insiders more than any Ziff property. The Register is a better IT publication than eWeek can ever hope to be. OSDN, the parent for /., rocks. Need I go on.

How long do we have to put up with these self-appointed sentinels? Tech enthusiasts are the tech industry. A shrinking ad market, and tech journalist who choose to look down their nose at the Web have no idea of what is happening in the PC industry, and the ramifications for the future. Better to protect the old boys club than risk making things better?

It won't work. And if you want to know the motive for this, yes, I am tired of getting trashed, behind closed doors, by certain Ziff Davis Media types. We tried to be professional with them, but it seems that you really can't trust the old media guys. If this is part of a concerted campaign on the part of Ziff to try and salvage something from the enthusiast segment then, I have to speak out. Like I said, it doesn't matter that someone like Kyle Bennett at HardOCP has a personal grudge with Tom, from a site point of view, we are not out to get him, and certainly wouldn't want to see him go out of business. That may not be the case with these pampered old media types, and whether it is HardOCP, THG, or Mageek, the community has to be protected from their clandestine attacks.