For a change, we're going through a transition in the book where the editor doesn't just disappear from the front of the magazine and has a chance to write one last commentary. Although the staffing at ISD and the internal structures are in a state of flux, Integrated System Design remains in very capable hands and will continue to be the core magazine for the high-end IC designers. Its basic philosophy of providing complex technical information on an engineering peer-to-peer basis will continue for the near future. The magazine will continue to report on and analyze the semiconductor industry and the design tools that push the industry to create the next-generation ICs.

Over the past five years, I've met a lot of very interesting people and heard how all of you create miracles of technology as a daily part of your jobs.

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the changes and trends in the industry, and trade comments on the state of tools and technologies with all of you.

I have learned a lot about technology at the many shows and conferences that I attended and derived a large measure of satisfaction in reporting those activities to the engineering community.

I want to thank all those engineers who struggled, but persevered, and contributed all the great articles to the magazine over the last five years. I really appreciate those efforts, because I know that you created many of those articles in your "spare" time, on weekends and evenings after work. In the writing process, engineers must go through a difficult transformation, changing from information consumers to technical content providers. Hopefully, the rewards for the writing were worth the effort and the new set of skills acquired in the process of writing an article for the magazine will continue to add value to your career in the future. Your peers - the engineers and managers who read this magazine - appreciate the information you provided and have applied your knowledge to their own designs.

I've also had the opportunity to learn and transform my personal skill base. Before working for this magazine, I worked as an engineer and as a marketing person, so I had to learn new functions and tasks in the publishing world. I also learned about this phenomenon called the Internet and how - especially through the World Wide Web - it's changing the way we conduct our lives and our businesses. I have developed an appreciation for the Internet as a vehicle for change, and not just another publishing medium for the electronic version of this magazine.

I am taking my perceptions of the capabilities of the web with me to my new position, as the Director of Content and Community Manager for the new CMP web site, EEdesign.com. This web site is a part of CMP's EDTN network, and will focus on the issues and concerns of electronics engineers, the EDA vendors, and the communities that these groups make up.

I will continue working with the design and vendor communities on EDA issues and the technologies that will affect the way people do their work. The new web site will have content from all the resources within CMP's electronics group, as well as a rich set of resources including a searchable vendor directory, discussion threads on various EDA topics, and connections to a broad range of services, service providers, and tool vendors. Although EEdesign.com will be a site dedicated to EDA, those of you who are looking for detailed discussions of advanced technical topics should continue to read Integrated System Design magazine and visit isdmag.com.

As I leave, I am happy and proud to pass the reins to the new editor, Peggy Aycinena, who has been working with the magazine for the past year and a half. You will start seeing changes in the magazine over the next few months - this will be more a reflection of the change in management and personality than a change in philosophy and direction. Next month you will see a new face gracing the top of this page.