First Issue Review – Computeractive

The external appearance of Computeractive, VNU Business Communications’ ‘big’ computer launch, gives the impression of a down-market trader type rag which you would expect to contain reams of small print classified ads. Both the thin, half-glossy pages and the gaudy Exchange & Mart-esque cover design lend the magazine a throwaway feel. However, as the old maxim goes, appearances can be deceptive and it turns out that Computeractive is actually a very clear and useful computer and technology guide. Furthermore, it only costs 99p – a far cry from most other computer titles on the market.

Playing heavily on the down-to-earth approach to technology, Computeractive‘s appeal is in the layman’s terms explanations it uses to review the technology and provide consumer news. The use of Jargon Buster panels on each page, which have definitions for any potentially confusing terms, demonstrates that the title is targeted primarily at those who have either just bought a PC and haven’t really got the foggiest how to work it, or those who need to bump up their techno-knowledge.

The mag has a number review sections for hardware which clearly recommend the best deals, as well as workshops to brush up on techniques in Windows ’95 and that all-consuming activity – searching the web. There’s also a great feature on the very real danger of contracting Computer Rage, the worst instance of which took place in Seattle recently when a frustrated user took out a gun and began shooting his monitor. Fair enough, really.

There’s also loads of stuff in Computeractive about the Net and plenty of games are reviewed so it’s not all dry system specs. Still, I think the VNU guys were pushing the glitz element a bit offering up Denise Van Outen at the launch party, particularly as she openly admitted she knows absolutely nothing about computers and probably isn’t that interested either. So, it’s not glossy or chic like our Denise, but it is a fairly interesting read if you need to know what’s happening in the world of PCs, and it won’t techno-babble you out of the picture if you’re a novice.

Computeractive is a saddlestitch title with 116 pages in the first edition. It has an ad:ed ratio of 32:68 featuring ads from Elonex, Epson and 3Com.

Reviewer: Scott Billings