[plug] poll, linmag

[Jon Miller]

Interesting you should mention the old Corporate IT Mag.  As you know
APC used to run it as a separate mag and I thought it was great as it
focused on the Corporate side of the IT industry, having the CD that had
all the latest patches for the 3 OS made it even a better mag, because
it didn't fill a CD with junk shareware apps that in a corporate
environment had no place.  M$ stopped them from putting their patches
and updates on the Cd why? I do not know. Then APC took it off the
market, but they did try to run it incorporated  into APC, but again
that failed because in all honesty it wasn't in the correct environment.
I personally preferred the Corporate IT mag and the fact that the CD was
filled with very useful stuff.  At the time a Novell patch for instance
was around 100+ megs, and no one could (with a 56k dialup account) or
would attempt to d/l the patches, so the only way of getting them was
through a subscription.

I suggest that if your mag is going to focus on Linux and Linux related
issues then you may have a better chance in succeeding if some of the
following issues are kept in mind:

1) cost - as we all know here in Aus that the cost for Linux mags are
above the $10 mark making them expensive or geared to a certain sector.
For the price paid, I do not feel there is enough content for me to
spend the money on it.  APC & PC World mag are priced right and it
covers a fair bit of the IT sector.  Although APC and PC World sections
on Linux could use some real input. I buy these mags (monthly-PC World;
and subscription - APC) only for the Linux section only so I'm really
wasting money on the other bits as they do not interest me (occasionally
the hardware section catches me). I especially look out for the latest
patches from M$ and Linux (but I've noticed that the Linux patches or
updates are alway too old to use e.g their kernel updates, etc.). 

2) content - make sure to cover the various distributions, cover
integration issues with other OS ( e.g Novell's eDirectory for Linux)
and what other OS are doing with Linux integration. Also, cover issues
for the both the beginner, intermediate and advance sectors.  This is
where a few IT mags fail, it's either geared to the beginner or to the
advance user.  I know it's not easy to gear the material to everyone,
but there has to be a happy meeting somewhere.  Maybe posting links to
other sources should help in this area.  An example is I've just started
using MySql and I'm working my way through the online tutorial and I
must admit this type of instruction is what is needed in a lot of the
major apps.

3) good samples and explanations in script writing, programming, etc.
I've noticed that a lot of places assumes that everyone is a programmer,
again a link to a source for better understanding should also accompany
the articles.

4) CD's - latest version of the distributions, patches, updates, code
samples, utilities and apps, few games if they really are worth a look
at.

Last but not least listen to your readers after all they are the ones
that are buying the mag.

Good luck, I'll be looking forward to it's success.

JLM

On Sun, 2002-12-29 at 04:05, Peter J. Nicol wrote:
> >  G'day all!
> >
> >  Could we get everyone (who's willing) to fill in the (extremely
> >  quick) poll
> >  at linmagau.org? We just need general opinion of the people,
> >  then for the
> >  other LUGs....
> >
> >  http://www.linmagau.org/poll/vote.php
> 
> 
> I have been thinking about this for a while. Mainly about the Linux section
> in APC magazine.  These guys used to put out a title, I think called
> "Corporate IT".  It was grouse.  Had all the latest patches.  I mean, for
> HPUX, Solaris, AIX, Netware, Linux, YouNameIt on the CD on the front cover.
> Loved it.  Disappeared.  Can only think it lost money.
> 
> So, back to the Linux section of APC.  I think these guys know where the
> money is.  At least, they can afford Market Research.  I am thinking, the
> minute that they get the report:  "Linux Mag Now A Goer - APC Internal
> Market Research", out it will come.  I am thinking that their MR says that
> the Linux market can afford a few pages in their current mag, and that
> advertisers will pay for that space.  Maybe cos a lot of non-linux people
> will read the ads anyway, cos they buy the mag and will flick thru the Linux
> (and Mac etc) sections out of (dis)interest.
> 
> So what does this mean for LinMagAU or whatever it is to be called?
> 
> 1.	It's going to be hard to get advertisers at this stage.  See 2.
> 2.	It's going to be hard to get readers at this stage.
> 3.	As soon as it looks like there is a market for it, entrenched players are
> going to come in and try to squash you.
> 
> So, this is the game as I see it.  I will write (or preferably edit) the odd
> article, but it is going to be a terribly hard slog.
> 
> This is a lot different to other Free/Open Source kind of doings.  It
> actually will cost Real Money, as opposed to time.
> 
> More than lots of articles, I would prefer to see a Business Plan worked
> out.  Release Early, Release Often, that was the mantra*.  Can't see a draft
> plan on the linmagau.org site.
> 
> So, is there a Business Plan?  Are there any Accountants, Lawyers, Managers,
> Company Directors, Angel Investors or Venture Capitalists on this list who
> can help out?  Anyone know anyone?
> 
> I am happy to put a bit o' effort into the Business Plan, as I think it is
> more likely to lead to a successful magazine than a bunch of randomish
> articles.
> 
> 
> *http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/ar01s
> 04.html
> 
-- 
Jon Miller <jlmiller at mmtnetworks.com.au>
MMT Networks Pty Ltd