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It’s with nice disappointment that I discover myself penning the toughest information publish I’ve ever wanted to jot down right here at AnandTech. After over 27 years of masking the large – and wild – world of computing {hardware}, as we speak is AnandTech’s remaining day of publication.
For higher or worse, we’ve reached the top of an extended journey – one which began with a assessment of an AMD processor, and has ended with the assessment of an AMD processor. It’s fittingly poetic, however additionally it is a testomony to the truth that we’ve spent the final 27 years doing what we love, masking the chips which are the lifeblood of the computing business.
Loads of issues have modified within the final quarter-century – in 1997 NVIDIA had but to even coin the time period “GPU” – and we’ve been lucky to look at the world of {hardware} proceed to evolve over the time interval. We’ve gone from boxy desktop computer systems and laptops that as we speak we’d charitably classify as moveable desktops, to pocket computer systems the place even the most affordable finances machine places the quickest PC of 1997 to disgrace.
The years have additionally introduced some monumental modifications to the world of publishing. AnandTech was hardly the primary {hardware} fanatic web site, nor will we be the final. However we have been lucky to thrive prior to now couple of a long time, when so a lot of our friends didn’t, due to a mixture of laborious work, strategic investments in folks and merchandise, much more laborious work, and the help of our many pals, colleagues, and readers.
Nonetheless, few issues final ceaselessly, and the marketplace for written tech journalism isn’t what it as soon as was – nor will it ever be once more. So, the time has come for AnandTech to wrap up its work, and let the subsequent technology of tech journalists take their place throughout the zeitgeist.
It has been my immense privilege to jot down for AnandTech for the previous 19 years – and to handle it as its editor-in-chief for the previous decade. And whereas I carry greater than a little bit of regret in being AnandTech’s remaining boss, I can a minimum of take pleasure in every part we’ve achieved through the years, whether or not it’s lauding some legendary merchandise, writing know-how primers that also stay related as we speak, or watching new stars rise in anticipated locations. There’s nonetheless extra that I had needed AnandTech to do, however after 21,500 articles, this was an excellent begin.
And whereas the AnandTech workers is driving off into the sundown, I’m joyful to report that the positioning itself received’t be going wherever for some time. Our writer, Future PLC, will probably be conserving the AnandTech web site and its many articles stay indefinitely. In order that the entire content material we’ve created through the years stays accessible and citable. Even with out new articles so as to add to the gathering, I anticipate that most of the issues we’ve written over the previous couple of a long time will stay related for years to come back – and stay accessible simply as lengthy.
The AnandTech Boards may also proceed to be operated by Future’s neighborhood staff and our devoted troop of moderators. With discussion board threads going again to 1999 (and a few lively members simply as lengthy), the boards have a historical past virtually as lengthy and as storied as AnandTech itself (wounded monitor youngsters, anybody?). So even when AnandTech is now not publishing articles, we’ll nonetheless have a spot for everybody to speak in regards to the newest in know-how – and have these discussions last more than 48 hours.
Lastly, for everybody who nonetheless wants their technical writing repair, our formidable opposition of the final 27 years and fellow Future model, Tom’s {Hardware}, is continuous to cowl the world of know-how. There are a few acquainted AnandTech faces already over there offering their accrued experience, and the positioning will proceed doing its greatest to offer a written tackle know-how information.
So Many Thank Yous
As I look again on every part AnandTech has achieved over the previous 27 years, there are various folks, teams, and firms that I want to thank on behalf of each myself and AnandTech as an entire.
Before everything, I can’t thank sufficient all of the editors who’ve labored for AnandTech through the years. There are much more of you than I can ever identify, however AnandTech’s editors have been the lifeblood of the positioning, bringing over their experience and fervour to craft the sort of deep, investigative articles that AnandTech is greatest identified for. These are the best folks I’ve ever had the chance to work with, and it shouldn’t come as any shock that these folks have develop into even greater successes of their respective fields. Whether or not it’s {hardware} and software program improvement, consulting and enterprise evaluation, and even launching rockets into area, they’ve all been rock stars whom I’ve been lucky to work with over the previous couple of a long time.
Ian Cutress, Anton Shilov, and Gavin Bonshor at Computex 2019
And a particular shout out to the ultimate class of AnandTech editors, who’ve been with us till the top, offering the ultimate articles that grace this website. Gavin Bonshor, Ganesh TS, E. Fylladitakis, and Anton Shilov have all gone above and past to satisfy unimaginable deadlines and go half-way around the globe to report on the most recent in know-how.
After all, none of this is able to have been doable with out the person himself, Anand Lal Shimpi, who began this website out of his bed room 27 years in the past. Whereas Anand retired from the world of tech journalism a decade in the past, the usual he set for high quality and the teachings he taught all of us have continued to resonate inside AnandTech to this very day. And whereas it will be tautological to say that there could be no AnandTech with out Anand, it’s none the much less true – the mark on the tech publishing business that we’ve been in a position to make all began with him.
MWC 2014: Ian Cutress, Anand Lal Shimpi, Joshua Ho
I additionally need to thank the numerous, many {hardware} and software program corporations we’ve labored with through the years. Extra than simply offering us assessment samples and technical help, we’ve been given distinctive entry to a few of the biggest engineers within the business. Individuals who have constructed a few of the most complicated chips ever made, and casually forgotten extra in regards to the topic than we as tech journalists will ever know. So having the ability to ask these minds silly questions, and seeing the gears flip of their heads as they clarify their concepts, improvements, and thought processes has been nothing in need of an unbelievable studying expertise. We haven’t at all times (and even typically) seen eye-to-eye on issues with the entire corporations we have coated, however because the final 27 years have proven, sharing the superb developments behind the most recent applied sciences has benefited everybody, customers and firms alike.
Thank yous are additionally resulting from AnandTech’s publishers through the years – Future PLC, and Purch earlier than them. AnandTech’s publishers have given us an unbelievable diploma of latitude to do issues the AnandTech method, even when it meant taking large dangers or not following the most recent development. A extra cynical and controlling writer may have undoubtedly discovered methods to make more cash from the AnandTech web site, however the ensuing content material wouldn’t have been AnandTech. We’ve loved full editorial freedom as much as our remaining day, and that’s not one thing so many different web sites have had the posh to expertise. And for that I’m grateful.
CES 2016: Ian Cutress, Ganesh TS, Joshua Ho, Brett Howse, Brandon Chester, Billy Tallis
Lastly, I can’t thank our many readers sufficient. Whether or not you’ve been following AnandTech since 1997 otherwise you’ve only recently found us, every part we’ve printed right here we’ve performed for you. To point out you what superb issues have been occurring on this planet of know-how, the novel improvements driving the subsequent technology of merchandise, or a sober assessment that reminds us all that there’s (virtually) no such factor as unhealthy merchandise, simply unhealthy pricing. Our readers have saved us on our toes, pushing us to do higher, and holding us accountable once we’ve strayed from our tasks.
In the end, a web site is just as influential as its readers, in any other case we’d be screaming into the void that’s the Web. For all of the credit score we are able to declare as writers, all of that pales compared to our readers who’ve loved our content material, referenced it, and shared it with the world. So from the underside of my coronary heart, thanks for sticking with us for the previous 27 years.
Persevering with the Battle In opposition to the Cable TV-ification of the Internet
Lastly, I’d like to finish this piece with a touch upon the Cable TV-ification of the online. A core perception that Anand and I’ve held pricey for years, and continues to be on our About web page to today, is AnandTech’s rebuke of sensationalism, hyperlink baiting, and the trail to shallow 10-o’clock-news reporting. It has been our mission over the previous 27 years to tell and educate our readers by offering high-quality content material – and whereas we’re now not going to have the ability to fulfill that function, the necessity for high quality, in-depth reporting has not modified. If something, the necessity has elevated as social media and altering promoting landscapes have made shallow, sensationalistic reporting all of the extra profitable.
Talking of TV: Anand Internet hosting The AGN {Hardware} Present (June 1998)
For all of the tech journalists on the market proper now – or tech journalists to be – I implore you to stay true to your self, and to your readers’ wants. In-depth reporting isn’t at all times as attractive or as thrilling as different avenues, however now, greater than ever, it’s essential to counter sensationalism and cynicism with high-quality reporting and testing that’s used to help considerate conclusions. To cite Anand: “I do not imagine the online must be tutorial reporting or sensationalist rubbish – so long as there is a stability, I am joyful.”
Signing Off One Final Time
Wrapping issues up, it has been my privilege during the last 19 years to jot down for one of the crucial impactful tech information web sites that has ever existed. And whereas I’m heartbroken that we’re on the finish of AnandTech’s 27-year journey, I can take solace in every part we’ve been in a position to accomplish through the years. All of which has been made doable due to our business companions and our superior readers.
On a private be aware, this has been my dream job; to say I’ve been lucky could be an understatement. And whereas I’ll now not be the editor-in-chief of AnandTech, I’m removed from being performed with know-how as an entire. I’ll nonetheless be round on Twitter/X, and we’ll see the place my very own journey takes me subsequent.
To everybody who has adopted AnandTech through the years, followers, foes, readers, opponents, teachers, engineers, and simply the technologically curious who need to study a bit extra about their favourite {hardware}, thanks for your entire patronage through the years. We couldn’t have achieved this with out your help.
-Thanks,
Ryan Smith
