The most remarkable thing about this article is that it isn't spread over 15 pages. They can't quite bring themselves to get it down to one, but limiting any of these "X greatest Y things" articles to two clicks is major progress.
And, indeed, where's OMNI? Page three, no doubt...
I remember when I was about 11 or 12 discovering Byte at my local public library. I checked out every back issue, going back to maybe 89/90. What a wonderfully exciting time in computing. At the time '93/'94 PC magazine would make vague references to other platforms (unix, vax, alpha), Byte talked about them all the time. I really loved it because it was a serious magazine (unlike pc magazine which just had reviews), but it wasn't academic or inaccessible.
Byte was a great magazine, especially the early '80s issues which had themed articles and a matching Tinney cover. I can still picture the SmallTalk hot air balloon and the C toolbox. But the mag I really miss is Micro Cornucopia. The depth and quality were exceptional.
It seems to me so many of the magazines fell into the same trap. They turned into "review rags" to attract advertisers, but in the process lost the hearts of their readers.
I have fond memories of PC/Computing. In one of their 1,001 best downloads issues, they included my first piece of freeware. I think I have the issue somewhere still.
Before it got disposed of, Upside.com hosted every issue of Upside. Sadly, I only got a few articles about Louis Rossetto before the website was scrubbed clean.
i read almost all of these at one time or another. it was a much different world back then, when computers were mostly for hobbyists, and the scene hadn't gotten so deadly serious yet.
Although it wasn't a computer magazine, I do see your point. I often wish RU Sirius would start a new post-cyberpunk publication of some kind. Mondo 3000? Mondo 2100?
Not exactly a computer magazine, but I was so in love with Omni that I have actually stockpiled two or three years' worth of issues from the late '70s (via ebay). God I wish Omni could return; the world could use it.
And, indeed, where's OMNI? Page three, no doubt...