Boardwatch
Encyclopedia
Boardwatch, published and edited by Jack Rickard, began as an important publication for the online Bulletin Board System
s of the 1980s and 1990s and ultimately evolved into the primary trade magazine of the ISP industry in the late 1990s. Late in the magazine's run, it was renamed to ISPWatch when the BBS-themed name was no longer relevant. It was jokingly suggested that the name be changed to "Boredwatch" to underscore the sharp drop in popularity of BBSes.
The magazine included advertisements for BBSes, BBS software and hardware and editorials about the BBS scene
. Either alone or in conjunction with Computer Shopper
magazine, in the late 1980s and early 90s before the Internet became a commercially available entity, Boardwatch would conduct an annual on-line poll of the most popular BBSes in the United States and publish the results in the magazine.
The founder and original editor of Boardwatch was Jack Rickard. Rickard was famed for his fiery editorials and "love/hate" relationship with many of the ISP industry's major players (including a controversial 1997 magazine cover about peering disputes which depicted John Sidgmore of UUNet
attempting to blow up MAE-East
in a scene reminiscent of the Oklahoma City bombing
). Boardwatch spawned an important ISP industry tradeshow, ISPcon and published a yearly directory of Internet Service Providers. The magazine was later purchased by Penton Media
and spun off an online content site, ISPworld.com. The magazine ceased publication in 2002 and its assets were later purchased by online telecom publication Light Reading.
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
s of the 1980s and 1990s and ultimately evolved into the primary trade magazine of the ISP industry in the late 1990s. Late in the magazine's run, it was renamed to ISPWatch when the BBS-themed name was no longer relevant. It was jokingly suggested that the name be changed to "Boredwatch" to underscore the sharp drop in popularity of BBSes.
The magazine included advertisements for BBSes, BBS software and hardware and editorials about the BBS scene
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
. Either alone or in conjunction with Computer Shopper
Computer Shopper
Computer Shopper could refer to the following publications:* Computer Shopper - a home computer magazine published in the United Kingdom* Computer Shopper - a home computer magazine published in the United States...
magazine, in the late 1980s and early 90s before the Internet became a commercially available entity, Boardwatch would conduct an annual on-line poll of the most popular BBSes in the United States and publish the results in the magazine.
The founder and original editor of Boardwatch was Jack Rickard. Rickard was famed for his fiery editorials and "love/hate" relationship with many of the ISP industry's major players (including a controversial 1997 magazine cover about peering disputes which depicted John Sidgmore of UUNet
UUNET
UUNET founded in 1987, was one of the largest Internet service providers and one of the nine Tier 1 networks. It was based in Northern Virginia and was the first commercial Internet service provider...
attempting to blow up MAE-East
MAE-East
MAE-East is an Internet Exchange Point spread across the east coast of the United States, with locations in Vienna, Virginia; Reston, Virginia; Ashburn, Virginia; New York, New York; and Miami, Florida. It is the eastern branch of the MCI Internet Exchange. Its name officially stands for...
in a scene reminiscent of the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
). Boardwatch spawned an important ISP industry tradeshow, ISPcon and published a yearly directory of Internet Service Providers. The magazine was later purchased by Penton Media
Penton Media
Penton Media, Inc., founded in 1892 by John Penton, is a diversified business-to-business media company. Penton Media is a mass media corporation that publishes and produces 113 magazines, 96 trade shows, 145 websites and has over six million subscribers across 17 different market segments.Numerous...
and spun off an online content site, ISPworld.com. The magazine ceased publication in 2002 and its assets were later purchased by online telecom publication Light Reading.
Writers and staff
- Jack Rickard, Publisher
- David Hakala, Editor (or, as the masthead put it: "Editor at Fault")
- John C. DvorakJohn C. DvorakJohn C. Dvorak is an American columnist and broadcaster in the areas of technology and computing. His writing extends back to the 1980s, when he was a mainstay of a variety of magazines. Dvorak is also the Vice-President of Mevio and well known for his work for Tech TV...
- Jeffrey CarlJeffrey CarlJeffrey Carl, born 1973, is best known as an Internet Service Provider and Open Source Software journalist and commentator, and was one of the first general technology publication writers to provide extensive coverage of free/open source software...
- Christopher M. KnightChristopher Knight (author)Christopher Knight is an author who has written several pseudoarcaeological and pseudohistorical books dealing with theories such as 366-degree geometry and the origins of Freemasonry...