Read Active (WebActive - Magazine)

Member Name: ScottyBoy.

Product:	WebActive - Magazine
Date:	14/04/04 (133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Content, Very Few Adverts

Disadvantages: Price has just Increased

As a recent change from my regular Internet Magazine reading (Web User), I purchased Web Active, a spin-off from the highly acclaimed computer publication, Computer Active. The increase in price form 99p to £1.20, a rather steep 21% rise, made me rather dissatisfied resulting in my decision to purchase the competition, the magazine positioned beside Web User, Web Active. The price of £1.20 also applies to Web Active but issues are released monthly, not fortnightly and so in my opinion that saved me £1.20 for that particular month.

The selling techniques of both publications are rather clever. Both use the same frontpage layout in advertising features on a banner positioned to the left, both highlight quite clearly the number of websites linked and both claim to be ?Best-Selling?. Yes BOTH claim this. How can they BOTH be best-selling?. Well further examination revealed the claims are correct. Web User averages sales of 56,688 copies per issue this compared to 36,509 copies per month of Web Active. Web User claims to be ?the UKs Best-Selling Magazine? and granted they are. Web Active claim to be ?the UKs Best-Selling Internet Monthly? and so granted they are, as Web User (although having almost double the readership per issue) is released fortnightly not monthly. Well, that?s that cleared up.

I have been a regular reader of Web User for almost half a year and was considering purchasing an annual subscription until Computer Active caught my attention. So what is it that makes Web Active so great?


-RELEVANCE-
The Internet is a rapidly changing environment and therefore regular issues of such accompanying magazines are called for. This is where Web User has the advantage. It is more up-to-date, having the very latest news, but not necessarily reporting more news. This is where Web Active fights back. In a typical issue of Web User there are 10 news stories, 4 of which are ?In Brief? this compared to 20, 3 of which are ?News Bytes? i
n Web Active.


-REGULARS and FEATURES-
Both magazines have a variety of different regulars and features and so it would be more beneficial to cover each publication separately.


WEB USER:
-INBOX: All the latest news on the web over the past fortnight. A variety of news is given from sport (such as The Grand National), downloads, E-mail, viruses and prevention development. Each news story has a subject heading. Almost every news story has a related website enabling the user to get more information or use the service described. Inbox also features ?PressRed? which is a rather interesting guide to interactive television available on Digital channels such as Sky One and BBC Three. Each issue also delivers a comment about one particular subject delivered by a member of the publication team. The latest issue?s comment was written by the Editor on the subject of Online Shopping. Web User also prints some ?Net Bargains? such as a ?Cannon digital camera down to £229.99 from Amazon?. ?My Bookmarks? gives the reader the opportunity to view a Web User writer?s favourite Internet places.

NEWS SPECIAL: Each fortnight brings a new report on a news story. Issue 80 News Feature was on computer viruses and included a fascinating report into the workings of ?Virus Busters?, Symantec, whose base is in a former nuclear bunker with the most intense security. Although interesting News Specials, like much of the magazine, is not in-depth. This is unfortunate.

LETTERS: Like most magazines the letters page features a variety of issues surrounding the subject (of Internet). The star letter receives unlimited Internet access for 6 months with Onetel, which is nice. On occasions letters will be printed accompanied with replies from the editor or relevant team member.

BROADBAND USER: This feature has expanded over recent months. It used to be only half a page but now offers the reader a valuable whole page of material. The page fe
atures essential news, views and reviews from the world of broadband delivering some important, interactive sites.

BEST NEW WEBSITES: 3 pages of websites new and updated. Typically 12 websites are reviewed including one Blog site. Each site reviewed is given a rating out of 5, with a Gold, Silver and Bronze award given too the best three sites respectively. Websites that feature Broadband material are indicated. Screenshots of every reviewed site is presented to support the review text.

DOWNLOADED: Here, Web User directs the reader to the very best in new music, games, televisions and film downloads. Accompanied information includes prices, available from dates and the all important website address. This section is best read by broadband users as downloads are much more effective on such access.

TOP TEN SITES: A different subject is applied to each issue. April 1 issue featured top Ten Gardening websites (www.rhs.org.uk was number one). Descriptions and site URLs are given for all ten and screenshots presented for the top 5.

CAHSPOINTS: A page about cash- the making, spending and saving of it. The regular page includes a shopping challenge of a subject item (such as a television) of which the best price is obtained from visiting a variety of sites. ?Bright Spark? details an online business explaining how it was set up, who owns it and where the business is heading. ?Money News? gives the essentials of the online financial world, offering some vital websites.

MOST WANTED: The most desirable of the latest hot technology. A description, picture and all important price is given of each item, of which could be a video jukebox, a wireless headset, digital camera, personal stereo? Unfortunately Web User does not give a star rating which would be useful in making buying decisions.

PRACTICAL WEBUSER: Each issue offers a different Internet workshop (such as effective e-mail use), ?DIY Pages?, where hints and tips are
given to web developers including a feature on a reader?s website, ?Problem Solver? where experts answer questions concerning the Internet and e-mail and ?Reader helps Reader? where questions are asked by a reader and answered by a reader commonly through using Web User?s online forums. A ?Hints and Tips? page offers reader?s the chance to become a more confident user by applying the hints and tips given by other fellow readers.

CLASSIFIED: A selection of online websites offering products and services. A large number of classified advertisements are for domain names and web space.

OUTBOX: A rather fitting end, when considering ?Inbox? as a beginning. Featured here is the fortnightly ?googlewhack? challenge, a fantastic online challenge (more details available at www.googlewhacking.com), ?Beat WebUser? where the reader is invited to beat the score achieved by Webuser at a particular game, ?Around the World in 80 WebCams? delivering 1 of 80 proposed webcams (Issue 80 was the Falkland Islands). This page also outlines the features of next issues publication. This is subject to change, of which is sometimes the case.


- WEB USER FEATURES-

Scattered amongst the regulars are features. These range from site reviews to product reviews and subject reviews. Issue 80 contained features on WAP technology, Online DVD Rentals, Internet Securtity and an A-Z of moving house. Features are set out in a variety of ways but typically contain the relevant information, although not so in depth than would be preferred and expected of computer magazines, such as Computer Shopper.

WebUser always has a competition running. Issue 80 gave the reader the opportunity to win Free BT Broadband for a year. Entry is typically via post, phone or e-mail.


WEB ACTIVE:

E-GREETINGS: Its actually rather surprisingly that Web User does not feature a foreword from the Editor- most magazines, despite their subject area, do. Web Active?
s Editor, Johnathan Parkyn offers a brief introduction to the magazine contents for the particular issue.

NEWS FILE: Much like ?Inbox? of Web-user, this section is dedicated to providing the latest news and Internet development. In parallel with Web-User, Web Active prints main news stories and ?News Bytes?, each with a subject heading and relevant website address, where more information can be obtained. A rather useful inclusion within, and which sets Web Active apart from its rival is the ?Jargon Buster?. This actually features throughout the magazine explaining highlighted words within the text.

COMPETITON: No magazine would be complete without a relevant competition. Rather surprisingly the latest competition within Web Active is NOT relevant, but does accompany the Gardening websites review adeptly. Issue 37 gave readers the chance to win ?A massive makeover for your garden worth £1000?. Much like Web-User entry is via post or e-mail/website.

TOP 10: In parallel with Web-users ?Top Ten Sites?, sites are recommended on a particular subject. Politicians was this month?s subject. A boring subject but rather interesting related sites for politicians past and present, such as Margaret Thatcher and Robin Cook. Unlike Web-User, Web Active provides screenshots for all 10 websites, but the accompanying review text is (unusually) not as detailed.

CYBER CELEB: In issue 37 Web Active decided, very wisely, to give the brilliant, dedicated sites to the glorious Sarah Michelle Gellar. Seven sites were reviewed, with screenshots accompanying each. The official site was also given. Websites specialising in different aspects of the Buffy star were featured, such as career and personal information, merchandisers, Buffy and Gellar games, forums and Chat sites.

ONLINE GAMING: This is a sad exclusion from Web-User, but a worthy inclusion within Web-Active. The best of online games (including networked games) are reviewed, as well as ne
w released/forthcoming computer (PC/MAC) games, such as the long-awaited Championship Manager 5. Again, relevant screenshots and web addresses are provided, with ratings applied where applicable. Game details are also given, such as price, platform, age restrictions and possible alternatives.

WEB TOYS: In a much similar format to Web User?s ?Most Wanted?. Both magazines are evenly matched here I would say, with Web Active having the slight upper hand with the inclusion of ?Jargon Buster?, making the reviews more relevant to less-knowledgeable readers.

SITE-SEEING: The alternative to Web User?s ?New Sites?. Web Active has decided to categorise the new sites, into: music, DIY, Adventure, Cars, Wildlife, Days Out, Language, Retro and theatre. These categories are not static and can differ from month-to-month. Reviews are written in far more depth than Web User- each category takes up one page, each featuring 3-4 site reviews, this opposed to Web User?s three pages for all 12, uncategorised reviews. Ratings are given (1-5), with ?Web Active Click It!? awards given to the very best sites. Relevant screenshots and web addresses are given.

WORKSHOPS: Much like Web User?s ?Practical Webuser? the reader is given step-by-step instructions to complete web and e-mail tasks. Both magazines are perfectly matched in this field, providing clear, concise instructions to complete some very relevant tasks, such as creating automated e-mail replies.

POSTBAG: Here, readers are invited to send letters, via post or e-mail, on any Internet-related issue. The star letter receives a CD/DVD Labelling kit. Responses from the Editorial team are given on every letter printed.

Q&A: As the title suggests, Answers are given to Reader?s queries and Internet problems. Very concise answers are given, enabling reader?s with a similar diagnosis to apply the same cure. The ?Jargon Buster? supports the answers, and indeed questions.

NEXT MONTH: App
ropriately printed on the last page, giving the reader an anticipation as to what to expect in the next issue, subject to change of course.



-FEATURES-
I found the features within Web Active much more interesting and enjoyable to read than those in Web User. Issue 37 featured a Holiday websites review, History of the Web and a month-by-month gardening review. The cover story was a very bizarre ?World Weird Web? review, detailing a mass of weird websites- a rather interesting review, although I haven?t yet visited the featured websites. Features are in much more detail than Web User chooses to apply. For instance the ?World Weird Web? review covered 6 full pages, opposed to two pages of Web User?s ?Virus Busters? feature.


-ADVERTISEMENTS-
Web User is heavy with advertisements when compared to Web Active. This is a bit of a cheek considering its price and frequency of release. Web User (Issue 80) features 2 double-page adverts, 11 full page and 19 advertisements within the classified section. Web Active (Issue 37) features 8 Full page advertisements, 4 half page advertisements and 8 banner advertisements. Web User contains 59 pages, 19 of which are advertising pages. Web Active contains 82 pages, 12 of which are advertising. Overall 32% of Web User is advertisements, opposed to only 15% of Web Active. I rest my case




-THE VERDICT-
Web User or Web Active? Personally, I favour Web Active. Both acquire the same price (£1.20), both have relevant website and Internet subject reviews, but based upon attention to detail and regulars and features content I would choose Web Active. Also, as discussed above Web User features over double the amount of adverts than Web Active. If you like adverts then choose Web User, but I feel an Internet Magazines intended use is to provide Internet reviews and news, of which Web Active applies much more effectively.

For me, Web User is to brief, contains too many
adverts and is released too often. Monthly is sufficient enough and maybe if Web User were to be released this way (and cut down on adverts) then detail would be greater.


-MORE INFORMATION-
Web User, released fortnightly is published by IPC Country and Leisure Media and is priced at £1.20. Subscriptions are available (£6 every 3 months).
www.web-user.co.uk
www.ipcmedia.com

Web Active, released monthly, is published by VNU Business Publications and is priced at £1.20. Subscriptions are available at £12 per year.
www.webactivemagazine.co.uk

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