Macworld Launches Strategic Alliance with Active Installed Base

San Francisco, CA (August 7, 1996) - Macworld Communications, Inc., the San Francisco-based Macintosh publishing leader, today announced the worldwide debut of Macworld Club , which targets Apple Computer's active, loyal installed base of Macintosh users. Recognizing that the US Macintosh market alone has over 2,400 Macintosh User Groups - MUG's- compared to only 1,600 on the Wintel platform, Macworld Club has signed an exclusive partnership arrangement with the User Group Connection (UGC) of Soquel, California, the nations largest Macintosh computer user group management organization.

Macworld Club is a membership organization that combines the resources from both Macworld Communications, Inc. and the Macintosh market so that members can easily access comprehensive Macintosh information and the most valuable benefits available on a national level. In addition to providing benefits to individual members, Macworld Club will also provide user groups with a host of programs aimed at increasing the benefits they provide within their individual user group and aimed at increasing user group membership at the local level. Macworld Club demonstrates Macworld Communications, Inc. belief that the Mac markets strength lies in its installed base and the continued success of the platform depends on working together to support the fundamental core of the market.

"Over the past 13 years, Macworld has served the Macintosh community by bringing objective product reviews and in-depth analysis of breaking news. But our product line and vendor relationships allow us to give more to the market, " remarks Colin Crawford, President/CEO of Macworld Communications, Inc. "We believe Macworld Club will combine Macworld's broad product line - including the magazine, the Web site, the Expo and Macworld books - into a comprehensive new Macintosh resource like no other." Ray Kaupp, President of User Group Connection, agrees: "Macworld and UGC make a perfect partnership. As the most widely read publication in the Macintosh market, Macworld has already earned the great respect of User Group members nationwide. We're looking forward to the success of Macworld Club."

Dr. Gil Amelio, Apple CEO notes, "Apple Computer values the loyalty and enthusiasm of its installed base. An organization like Macworld , with the debut of Macworld Club, only serves to reinforce this loyalty."

Macworld Club officially debuts today August 7 at Macworld Expo in Boston to an estimated crowd of 60,000 Macintosh enthusiasts.

Macworld magazine is published by Macworld Communications, Inc. (MCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG). Macworld, the essential product resource for Active Buyers, is read by an estimated 2.4 million readers every month, according to Simmons Market Research. MCI's diverse product line of integrated media includes 27 local-language Macworld editions around the world, domestic and international Macworld Expos, Macworld Online (www.macworld.com), reference books, CD-ROMs and international market research. IDG, headquartered in Boston, MA, has annual revenues of more than $1.4 billion and is ranked by Advertising Age as the world's largest media company in the computer category and 25th largest overall. IDG's publishing subsidiary, IDG Communications, publishes over 270 newspapers and magazines in 75 countries and its research subsidiary, International Data Corporation (IDC), is the leading market research and analysis firm covering the computer field.