Those of you that have been screaming that print is dead have another feather to put in your cap: venerable Computer Shopper Magazine will cease production of its printer version come April of this year. All future editions will be freely available online, supported by a variety of advertising and revenue streams.
Computer Shopper’s plans for a free online edition are contrary to many other publications making the shift from print to digital. Ziff-Davis, for example, still charges a subscription for the online version of PC Magazine.
It was three years ago this month that Computer Shopper was purchased from CNet by SX2 Media Labs, a privately held company formed by David Sills and Barry Schwimmer. In an email from Sills to Computer Shopper staff, it was revealed that the intent was always to go all-digital:
We purchased Computer Shopper from CNET in Feb 2006 with the goal of launching a revitalized ComputerShopper.com and ultimately transitioning fully to digital media. Today, we are able to realize that promise, through all of your hard work, ComputerShopper.com is a vibrant destination for passionate technology enthusiasts. Effective with the April 2009 issue, SX2 Media Labs will cease publishing Computer Shopper magazine and focus all of our efforts on our largest and fastest growing area – ComputerShopper.com.
The transition away from print will result in some job losses, but no details are yet available on how many.
Via Paid Content.