Purch Acquires AnandTech, Dominates Tech Expert and Enthusiast Market

[jpishgar]

Has subscription based sites actually taken off? I know a few very large, for-help-business type sites do it.

Ahh, I meant print - like newspapers and magazines. Though a lot of them use the paywall method, which is also pretty rough. Our setup is pretty solid, and sites are able to continue doing what they do and paying reporters to dig deep into the guts of tech that normally wouldn't get done. Plus, there's a pretty gigantic wall kept between editorial and ad sales that keeps the journalistic integrity intact for the long haul.

I also understand the need for advertising to pay staff/hosting, but this acquisition comes an odd time, Anand leaving, few weeks later boom buyout without any warning/welcoming.

Anand is quoting in the press release, and it's got full buy-in from the staff and everyone. I can't speculate as to the reasoning, but if it were me, I'd want to know the site I built was left in good hands. With Ryan and the team, and the resources that Purch has, I think it is - but I'm biased in that regard.

 

[Capt Caveman]

yeah.. now I need to find a new home

been a blast while it lasted.

hm..maybe i'll check out what's behind this door.
hey look, the sky! and it's blue like they've shown on TV.


btw- how much did Anand sell his soul for?

Well, this place just improved.

 

[Elixer]

Oh well, there goes competition.

Now, the same purse controls two heavy hitters, and they basically hold a stranglehold on OEMs now. These sites can now dictate terms for "reviewing" things.

 

[rudeguy]

Wow, I thought some like Red left on their own. Did not know they got booted.

Its one of the main things that has made me rebel so hard against the mods: They ban people without reason and won't note why. Just can't log in. A couple of times I got vacationed and they even went through and modified/deleted posts to make it so no one could tell what happened. They make it look like people just left but in reality they were banned.

Another fun one is how sharing anything sent in a PM is a bannable offense for us but mods PMd me as members, shared my replies with the other mods, then used that to ban me.

Mention any of the in mod discussion and you will have 42 mods jumping in saying that never happens and to leave if you don't like it. Then a day later 10 of those mods will PM you saying they don't agree with it. Mention it in public and you get banned. But I've been vacationed and banned enough that I don't value this form at all. I like coming here but I couldn't give 2 shits if I get banned. Its worth getting banned just to expose the corruption, bias and bullying the mods and admins do.




It never stops with you does it?

I guess you thought this was a good time to complain to the new owners.

Take some needed time off.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[jpishgar]

yeah.. now I need to find a new home

This place feels dirty now. It's stained. Oh well, life goes on.

Before you pack your bags, consider giving us a few minutes to demonstrate that we are not in fact the Borg. Anandtech and the community here will be treated with the respect it rightfully deserves as peers and colleagues and fellow tech enthusiasts. The namesake may have moved on, but the essence remains. Proof is in the continuation of the work started. I challenge you to remain, and watch.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Oh well, there goes competition.

Now, the same purse controls two heavy hitters, and they basically hold a stranglehold on OEMs now. These sites can now dictate terms for "reviewing" things.

Curious, are they known for pushing a bias?

 

[ControlD]

What a deal. Purch has paid a good sized sum to acquire anandtech. But they're doing it solely to invest greater resources into it and to ensure I'm informed with the latest in award winning content that includes, but is not limited to, simplified consumer reviews and ads that better tailor themselves to my needs for the sake of better enriching my fast paced technology lifestyle. Thank you Purch!!

A+.

 

[CZroe]

Never thought I'd see the day that Anandtech and Tom's Hardware were essentially merged. Guess it wasn't quite the matter-antimatter reaction I would have imagined.

 

[cabri]

We won't be running anything into the ground. Purch acquired Anandtech because we believe in it as a site. Like I mention in the FAQ I posted, messing with the secret sauce for a site that works would be goofy/dumb. Nothing will change, except your editorial dudes will have more resources and access to stuff than previously.

and the moderators of the forums will be even more brutally beaten and abused?

Only those that do not toe the unofficial line

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Our new forum overlord?

All your Perknose are belong to jpishgar!

 

[Elixer]

Curious, are they known for pushing a bias?

That has been tom's record in the past. Dunno now, that is one of the reasons I left that site...

 

[dmcowen674]

Will there still be a hotties thread in L&R?

You really think that would survive being bought out by a Media Company?

 

[stlc8tr]

Or Reddit, if you like. Our preference would be that you hang out, and scope things out for a bit before bailing. Very little (if anything) will change.

Actually change wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. I like AT but I often wish that the forums were less "Stormfronty".

 

[ViviTheMage]

That has been tom's record in the past. Dunno now, that is one of the reasons I left that site...

Was it reviewer specific though, or because those above said to?

 

[jpishgar]

Now, the same purse controls two heavy hitters, and they basically hold a stranglehold on OEMs now. These sites can now dictate terms for "reviewing" things.

Geez, if only. That is so not the way it works. I have little over half a decade's worth of Skype chat logs of editorial/news guys ranting to me about how tough it is to get some of the OEMs to even send enough product to review. You really have to hound those guys sometimes. This gives the ad guys more leverage with the OEMs, sure, but not much for the editorial or community teams.

Plus, as a side note, the two editorial teams will still be separate, so there's no change there.

 

[andylawcc]

jpishgar: looks like you didn't sign up for this
there will be dicks, don't have to appease everyone.
if ppl want to go out of preconceived fear, let them go, there is nothing you could do.
but if ppl are leaving because of things Purch actually did, blood is on your hands.

 

[sandorski]

Don't let panic become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Don't leave until there really is a valid reason to and the community will be fine. If everyone bails because they think everyone will bail, they'll be ruining the site for nothing.

Let's just hang on and see how it turns out. If they run it into the ground in a few months, then fine, leave.

This. I'm not going anywhere until I see how it plays out. I suspect not much will change, at least beyond some cosmetics. I could be wrong though.

 

[jpishgar]

Curious, are they known for pushing a bias?

We are in the tank for Apple. And Microsoft. And Samsung. And _insert-company-positive thing-is-said-about-in-article here_. I keep waiting for my big honkin' sellout check to arrive in the mail, but nothing ever comes.

There's no bias by the editorial team. And I've seen the items posted by the AT guys, and the same level of journalistic integrity goes into their work that has gone into Tom's. Fortunately, as community dude, I don't have to espouse the same level of objectivity. Which I totally enjoy doing when defending the guys from baseless accusations of bias (after which I proceed to trash Apple. Note: It's usually Apple.).

Never thought I'd see the day that Anandtech and Tom's Hardware were essentially merged.

Not merging. Parent company owns both. Like how Yum! Foods owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut. Though... a taco chicken pizza sounds great. Eating it might be interpreted as a cry for help, however.

All your Perknose are belong to jpishgar!

Ask the mods on Tom's - they tell me what to do 9/10ths of the time. 'sides, your guys are already plugged in to the heart of Anandtech. It would be dumb as all get out to barge in and start barking orders. What you have, works.

Actually change wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. I like AT but I often wish that the forums were less "Stormfronty".

*is taking notes*

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Plus, as a side note, the two editorial teams will still be separate, so there's no change there.

For now....

FWIW I like both review sites but agree that the Toms's forums are not a good place to hang out or contribute.

I hope that Anandtech site and forums remain recognizable. I've not found a place that offers such a unique mix of very knowledgeable people.

Something like Dumbledore and Frank Underwood had a baby

I'm sorry for your deformity. Maybe some plastic surgery can help. Welcome!

 

[jpishgar]

jpishgar: looks like you didn't sign up for this

This is totally my job and what I signed up for. This is the stuff I live for!

 

[ctbaars]

Well, that's a great question. I'm Senior Community Manager for Purch. I was hoping to have my title all situated ahead of time here on the forums, but I can't seem to get in touch with Ryan at the moment.

Can confirm my identity in other ways though, if one of the forum admins or mods wants to reach out. My email is jpishgar@purch.com.

-JP

He's from "Tom's"
We'll see GRAPES soon ...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2258513/policy-grapes.html

 

[zokudu]

This page on your website is broken: http://purch.com/advertise/#brands

 

[Platypus]

I doubt this is going to change much on the forum side realistically, most of the quality people around here that I cared about have already left long ago.

Be honest with yourself and deal with the fact that these forums have been filled with shitty, unfunny trolls and gimmick accounts for years and all the creativity and fun has mostly diminished away.

It's a bit silly to just install another moderator that no one has ever heard of, but that's certainly not the first time that's happened here so I can't even feign surprise. I hope you have better luck than the last 'sound and fury' PR mouthpiece we had who just disappeared on us.

 

[rudeguy]

This is totally my job and what I signed up for. This is the stuff I live for!

need a secretary?

I'm already wearing a wig and a skirt

 

[Hugo Drax]

Wow well that's good for the moderators that got in early. Now they can cash in and collect profits. Congrats on all the anandtech moderators.