Assuming many of you are CE Pro readers, we're planning an editorial and design overhaul for May rollout. I'd appreciate any feedback on the mag. What do you read? What do you NOT read? What's strong? Weak? What would you like to see MORE of? LESS of?

Any and all suggestions are welcome, as long as you don't pan my editorials!

thanks,
julie (editor-at-large)

Or my articles.

I'd like to see more technical articles and less dealer profiles.

Babes in bikinis (what I would like to see more of). In fact, I seem to remember Julie volunteering to do some thing like that ;-).

qqq--we're trying to RAISE satisfaction.

Second the motion on less dealer profiles, unless there's a useful business story/lesson in there. For example, "I grew too fast, lost control of my company, nearly lost it, hauled it back from the brink. Here are the warning signs, and here is how to recover." Not "We're big, and getting bigger. I have mastered the art of getting my picture in trade mags, to the point where my mother has asked me to stop mailing copies."

More technical articles, for sure. Maybe an innovative example of how to use a manufacturer's product, a real-world app.

Maybe an article on how manufacturers can help dealers, and the delaer-vendor interface; how would that be for turning the tables? Discrete remote codes, RS-232 protocols, standardized RA procudures, the value of a tech support department that is something other than a staff engineer who is soldering while he talks, etc. I would volunteer to write one or two of those for you!

This message was edited by Theaterworks on 12/15/04 16:59 ET.

Amen

How about an article with all the unfriendly IR equipment listed? Probably won't happen because the manufacturers pay the bills, but needed anyway. If nothing else, that would show them where they need to concentrate.
I am sick of how much time and effort they spend on " making it pretty", but when it comes to making it work easily with other components- it's SH*t. Example: Polt XrT12 XM receiver.

|| Maybe an article on how manufacturers can help

OK, so write it. We have a slot for a "guest editorial". About 900 words.

I secondly second what Theaterworks said. I understand that there's a thin line regarding what you can or cannot print, but there should be an outlet to show both the good and the bad of the industry.

For example, when a certain industry leader went under and had their assets sold at auction, hardly anthing was printed. Yet, when the same company was riding high, they were the toast of the town, and there was no escaping hearing about how great they were doing.

The annual Top 100, in my opinion, has gotten out of hand. SO much time and print is devoted to this topic, and after it's over, we have months of sour grapes from people who wonder why they weren't included, why their competition WAS included, and people claiming that their competition was lying, etc.

None of that means anything to me.

How about a top 100 contest to see which manufacturers, reps and distributers best satisfy their customers, and rank THEM in order?

As far as technical articles go, I think you'd be surprised at what people would be interested in reading. I wouldn't mind reading guest editorials on subjects ranging anywhere from "how Dolby Pro Logic IIx works" to a feature story on how installers are manufacturing their own triple gang low voltage boxes.

Esthetics are important with high end products. But, if they are'nt easily integrated into a system(discrete codes) nobody in there right mind will push them! Much less sell them! Same goes with the audio side. We're trying to make there experience enjoyable! If it's hard to operate, everyone loses!
I may not be qualified to write an article, but I know what people want!!
If we could sway the manufactureuer to build things that "WE" need to make there product a high point in the consumers life, instead of a 'good buy' at Wallmart(or Best buy, Circuit City,etc.) with operational frustration being the end result, life would be good!

I understand there thinking, 10 million units,lots of profit!! No support! Unsatisfied customers,who cares, I just retired off of the profits! Never cared about those low life's, anyway!

Unfortuneatly, I'm a addicted to this profession I WANT people to be happy with there investment!!!

I guess I'll never be hired by Bestbuy now! Darn!!!

Actually, we did a story on the auction, which was a little cheeky. We've been after these guys--and there have been a lot of them--to write stories on "What went wrong" but they don't want to dredge it all up. I agree, we can all learn a lot from others' mistakes. At the very least, we can elaborate on the "worst business decisions" that we include with every dealer of the month.

Great idea. We will schedule that for late '05.

We've been after these guys--and

There is a very well known individual who has owned some of the largest installation firms in the world and has been in bankrupcy more than a few times. The last time he filed for bankrupcy he DID offer a course at CEDIA on the failure of a custom installation business. Facinating that someone thinks this is useful as opposed to that very human, albeit, morbid need to slow down to observe the car wreck. I gave him points for making a silk purse from a sow's ear but I thought it evidenced a lot of what we in NY call "chutzpa." But reading these responses proves that one man's ceiling really is an other man's floor.

Alan

I fully agree with running something along the lines of "Those companies that just don't seem to get it".

Something about the manufacturers that still maintain a BB, box moving, mentality, those that offer little in the way of tech support and those that never seem to listen to the things the guys in the trenches have to say.

AOf course, aong with the bad we should hear about the good.

So maybe something about those companies that do get it. Those that seem to listen. Those that actually have a person answer the phone.




And a "tricks of the trade" section?

Something on the installation companies that have creative solutions to issues. Tips about how to cope with issues on the low bucks jobs. That sort of thing.