Geartest.com - About Us - Press - Geartest.com announces creation of new technology reviews service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 1999.

GEARTEST.COM ANNOUNCES CREATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS SERVICE

"First service of its kind" brings clarity to confusing field

Geartest.com announced today that it will launch its journalistic technology reviews Web site later this fall.

"We're the first technology reviews service to effectively combine technological savvy with journalistic principles," said Geartest.com editor S. Khan.

Geartest.com evaluates and reviews hardware, software, gadgets and gear over the long term, subjecting them to the same day-to-day conditions and stresses that they encounter in the real world.

Geartest.com was created as a response to the lack of a reliable source of objective, professionally written product reviews for a non-technical audience.

"We cut through the confusion caused by other media outlets and reviewers who write half-baked reviews based on press releases instead of on experience testing the products," said Mr. Khan.

Mr. Khan, who writes a technology column for journalists in Media magazine, often found reporting in this field was simplistic, inaccurate or incorrect. He frequently had to correct misconceptions and errors when confused colleagues sought his advice after reading other peoples' flawed articles and product reviews.

After talking to his peers in the technology industry, Mr. Khan learned they were fielding similar questions from their clients.

"As one consultant put it to me," said Mr. Khan, "'The people asking these questions are well-educated, exceptionally bright, and accomplished high technology professionals. If they're having trouble understanding a product review written for the average consumer, then how is the average person supposed to make any sense of it?'"

Mr. Khan and his group of journalists and technology consultants realized the only way to combat the misinformation was to publish their own reviews, so they founded Geartest.com.

"Geartest.com is the first service of its kind to field test and review products through their life cycles, rather than just taking a quick look at them and rendering opinions without further examination," said Mr. Khan.

"It's not just consumers who benefit from our approach to product reviews," he said. "Manufacturers appreciate seeing their products and services given a full and fair evaluation."

Geartest.com exclusively tests final release versions of products under real world conditions, on an ongoing basis.

"Our approach to our work is embodied in our motto," said Mr. Khan. "Real gear. Real world. Real reviews."

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To arrange an interview with S. Khan or for more information, please contact Geartest.com at <press@geartest.com>.

Geartest.com can be found on the Web at www.geartest.com.