Hello dealmac Readers,

Well, folks, we won.

When dealmac was born (as "deal-mac") on March 31, 1997, there was no iPhone. No iPad. No MacBook. No Steve Jobs — he'd been fired years ago. We lived in a different universe ... a universe of 14.4 modems, Power Computing clones ... a universe where Compaq was the #1 seller of personal computers on the planet.

Over the last 18 years, Apple has gone from a fledgling company with a small cadre of fanatics to the most valuable company on Earth. Look around you today and you'll see shining apples on the back of most gadgets in every Starbucks, boardroom, and lecture hall.

We won.

The cost of winning is that dealmac's visits are at its lowest level since the '90s — but that's still a good thing. It's the way it should be. Every consumer has become a dealmac consumer. Apple's sphere of influence has expanded. It now makes products that moms and dads, sons and daughters want and crave. Eighteen years ago, only we cared. Now, everyone does.

There's no longer a need for a niche deal curator to cater to Apple lovers, because Apple lovers are everyone. That means that the deals we're posting on DealNews have become so much like dealmac that there's no longer a need for a Mac-specific site. (And, in fact, DealNews is read by more people than ever before.)

WE WON.

Have no fear, though, because all the deals you love are not going away. On September 23, the same dealmac content you love will still be available on a special page on DealNews. The only thing that's changing is the banner.

I'm so very proud that "dealmac" will hang from the rafters, its number retired like a Jordan or a Jeter, except we played alongside all-stars named MacUser and TUAW. And I'm so very thankful that you've been reading us all these years … and hopefully for the next 18.

So, here's to all of you. Thank you for believing. Here's to the crazy ones.



Cheers,



Dan de Grandpre CEO, dealmac DealNews Inc

P.S. I'd be remiss if I didn't pass along a couple of extra-special thank-yous, too. Firstly, thanks to our two original advertisers, Small Dog Electronics and Other World Computing. (Thanks, Don! Thanks, Larry!) Thanks to MegaMacs, an advertiser since 1999. (Thanks, Doug!) Last but not least, a special thanks to long-time dealmac reader Monty Solomon, for sending in all of those deal tips for so many years. (You're the best! Can I buy you a beer?)