53 votes

End of the road: An AnandTech farewell

10 comments

  1. creesch
    Link
    Well, this is depressing. Anandtech over the years was always one of the tech outlets with high quality output. I have heard some argue that the end was in sight when Dr. Ian Cutress left. Which...

    Well, this is depressing. Anandtech over the years was always one of the tech outlets with high quality output. I have heard some argue that the end was in sight when Dr. Ian Cutress left. Which might have been foresight, I don't know.

    I am just a bit sad that one of the older and reliable tech outlets is sunsetting.

    27 votes
  2. [8]
    Rocket_Man
    Link
    This is very sad but also not unexpected. Their output slowed a couple years ago. The normal publishing industry just doesn't work anymore. They'd need a presence on YouTube like gamers nexus to...

    This is very sad but also not unexpected. Their output slowed a couple years ago. The normal publishing industry just doesn't work anymore. They'd need a presence on YouTube like gamers nexus to be successful I think.

    14 votes
    1. the_funky_buddha
      Link Parent
      Such is the times. I've slowly watched my bookmarks over the decade transform from traditional text-based websites to a lot of youtube. I'm still biased towards text as my primary information...

      Such is the times. I've slowly watched my bookmarks over the decade transform from traditional text-based websites to a lot of youtube. I'm still biased towards text as my primary information source since I can parse it much faster than video but of course video does have its advantages.

      10 votes
    2. [3]
      creesch
      Link Parent
      True, it isn't entirely unexpected. I do think it is a shame that outlets “need” a YouTube presence and be successful in that area as well. Text is still a much better format for a lot of things....

      True, it isn't entirely unexpected. I do think it is a shame that outlets “need” a YouTube presence and be successful in that area as well. Text is still a much better format for a lot of things. Luckily there are still a few outlets that do both, Gamers Nexus is an example and the biggest tech news website in the Netherlands also publishes their reviews in both text and video format. Although the latter never managed to attain the quality of Anandtech and in recent years also has shown clear signs of greedy corporate fingers meddling.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        CptBluebear
        Link Parent
        Tweakers is increasingly being forced by the DPG group to monetize their users. It's super apparent in every change.

        Tweakers is increasingly being forced by the DPG group to monetize their users. It's super apparent in every change.

        1. creesch
          Link Parent
          Yup, those are the greedy corporate fingers I mentioned. There are also some other corporate shenanigans going. A/B testing in ways that seem to defeat the purpose of a/b testing but can easily be...

          Yup, those are the greedy corporate fingers I mentioned.

          There are also some other corporate shenanigans going. A/B testing in ways that seem to defeat the purpose of a/b testing but can easily be used to justify other things.

    3. [3]
      EsteeBestee
      Link Parent
      Yeah, I personally used to consume a ton of tech news via written articles, but over the last few years it’s just been way easier for me to consume my news via watching longer videos a few times a...

      Yeah, I personally used to consume a ton of tech news via written articles, but over the last few years it’s just been way easier for me to consume my news via watching longer videos a few times a week, like John Oliver for news, Skill Up for gaming, Gamers Nexus and LTT for tech, etc. It’s just so easy to have videos just appear on YouTube for me instead of seeking out written articles and I suspect it’s the same for most people, which is why “print” is starting to die a bit.

      I do try to seek out actual written articles and do still read some written sources on a weekly basis, but video is just so much easier to consume at least for me.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Interesting
        Link Parent
        I think part of it is also the difference between "sponsorability" of video content vs print content. Print media tends to be more to the point and have less "silly stuff", and most people would...

        I think part of it is also the difference between "sponsorability" of video content vs print content. Print media tends to be more to the point and have less "silly stuff", and most people would (rightfully) dismiss any power supply article sponsored by Seasonic, or a "showcase" of Samsung's latest QD OLED TVs.

        Meanwhile, LTT can put out an entertainment video on them repairing a power supply with bootleg parts, sponsored by Seasonic and make plenty of money. People will still watch that Samsung product showcase too, since it shows up alongside the real content, and if they're not familiar with the special meaning to the word "showcase" to LTT, they've already started the video before they realize it's ad content.

        Side note: You mentioned John Oliver for news, I would recommend you out in some effort to balance that, since his material is very much opinion (echo chamber) content.

        2 votes
        1. EsteeBestee
          Link Parent
          Oh, I 100% read and watch multiple news sources, I was just using an example showing that my consumption has changed from smaller consumption every day to usually getting all my news, tech, and...

          Oh, I 100% read and watch multiple news sources, I was just using an example showing that my consumption has changed from smaller consumption every day to usually getting all my news, tech, and gaming updates in longer form videos once or twice a week.

          Funny story, when I was doing jury duty last year, the 30 or so of us were being interviewed for a case. One of the questions was around how we consume news (how often, from what sources, etc.). In the room of 30 people, 25 said some variation of reddit, facebook, twitter, or other social media. Then a couple people mentioned actual news sources (though one of those two went on a multi minute rant about how much he loves fox news), and then the last three of us actually had a real answer of using multiple varied sources. It was a bit terrifying to be one of the three people in the room that actually take care when consuming news.

          2 votes
  3. exces6
    Link
    Wow. Anandtech is one of those places it seemed impossible to not have around. I haven’t been a frequent visitor, but they really set the standard for in-depth, highly technical analyses that I...

    Wow. Anandtech is one of those places it seemed impossible to not have around. I haven’t been a frequent visitor, but they really set the standard for in-depth, highly technical analyses that I have yet to see replicated anywhere else. They were a wonderful resource of info for hardware questions and could always be trusted when looking to make a new computer build.

    They really do leave a void that probably just won’t be filled. As they discussed, so much of tech journalism these days is sensationalist and video-based. I’ll miss their detailed, written articles that I find easier and faster to parse compared to video. Not to mention that no other site gives the technical details that this elder millennial grew up expecting from a quality site. They make a reference to Tom’s Hardware picking up their metaphorical torch, but it will be a far second to Anandtech. It already seems too sponsored or fake or something I can’t put my finger on, like those listicles that give the “best” choice for a ton of irrelevant categories and don’t actually give details to back up any decisions.

    I’m sad to see such a staple of the tech journalism community bite the dust. I’ll start to sound like an old fogey (which I’m not), but without sites like Anandtech I wonder how I’ll teach my children to love technology, be knowledgeable about how it actually works, and recognize the sensationalist trend so it can be avoided.

    A sad day. If anyone has suggestions for replacements/alternatives, please do share!

    2 votes