Mike Saunders of Linux Format magazine has said From this I presume that they are planning to cut Slackware from their distribution list, so if you are a Linux format reader drop him an email. The article is on column one, page 85 of the February 2009 magazine (issue 115).

samac

I don't get it, so this is a magazine, and they have a distribution list, and they want to evict Slackware from that list for some reason ?

They tend to concentrate on Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse and Mandriva, with the occasional addition of other distributions, however if they perceive a distribution to be less popular they do not cover it. I don't know if they have an actual list, but they do have their favourites.

samac

I haven't been using Mandriva and rarely Fedora, but sometimes Ubuntu and SUSE. The clumsy system organization of Ubuntu and the super-buggy yast2 of SUSE have taken me aback. Since the editor seems to be fairly fond of these two distributions, I doubt his taste. I don't think there is any good for Slackware to meddle in such affair.

The Internet is making these types of magazines pretty much irrelevant these days..............

I learned quite a bit from Linux Format in the early days but it is too damn expensive here in the US, about $15 USD. I can get the same info and the included distros anywhere on the 'net.

Got to agree with that - it's £6.50 in the UK - almost twice the price of typical PC press offerings. I find that a bit hard to justify and have never bought a copy. I get Linux Magazine dropped in my inbox for free. Then there's Linux journal, Linux World and the informative Linux Gazette amongst others all available online.

I don't think there's been a decent computer mag since the days of "Acorn User", when they actually used to include real articles about how to program and stuff like that.

I haven't bought a computer magazine in years, I get my information on the Intertubes.
$15 is too rich for me.

Oldies but goldies - Byte magazine, PCW (still going but not as good nowadays), Program Now. Now I'm goinf back a bit !

It was Linux Format that introduced me to Slackware. In September, '04, they gave away 10.0 on two CDs. I was keen to try dual booting, so I used them. In October, '07, they gave away 12.0 on a DVD. Those are the only two Slackware releases they've issued as far as I'm aware of. I don't subscribe to the magazine, only buy it now and then.

I used to be a regular reader from issue 1 of LXF. Then I realised that I didn't need all the CDs and DVDs they were offering, many of he articles (while informative and interesting) didn't apply to me in a real world setting and all the info was available online. And the price was just too much.

All the quote is saying is that they don't plan to offer Slack on the DVD any more which is no biggie. New users will come to Linux via mags like this and if all their friends and reading on the internet point to using a more gateway distro like the *buntus, offering Slack may be counterproductive.

My favourite was Beebug's "RISC User" magazine. Last year I finally gave my Acorn hardware and software and all my RU magazines and books away. They now "live" in a museum. I was glad not to have to dismantle the only computer that allowed me to work with for over 9 (nine!) years productively.

I really like Slackware and KDE. But the best desktop I know of is still RISC OS.

Back to the original topic. A magazine that costs so much must be damn good, and have more "depth" than the competition, such as Linux Magazine.

On the other hand, print media can be useful. You can read the articles in a train or bus, and the added DVDs or CDs are usually not just copies of what you get from the internet, but contain fixes and additional, sometimes commercial, software, that would cost as least as much bought seperately, without the magazine.

So I think, despite the ubibquitouos availability of the internet, print media won't vanish so soon. But they will have to offer added value. Those who do, such as c't magazine, iX, Linux Magazin, Linux User and Easy Linux prosper. Others will go away.

gargamel

Linux Format has a lot more depth to it that PC Format, but that isn't hard IMHO, Linux User and Linux Magazine are probably better magazines.

That being said, Linux Format did introduce me to to Slackware. They also seem to be one of the few magazines, perhaps the only, to include Slackware on their cover discs. It would be a pity if they did stop that.

I think that the major benefit of Linux Formats' greater price is the monthly DVD instead of CD, so you get a greater selection of distro's to try out. I imagine to someone without a broadband internet connection (i.e. most of the World), this can be a godsend.

What ever happened to just 'word-of-mouth?' Who cares if Linux Format is 'dropping' Slackware Linux or whatever. We Slackers know our distro. Its not whether or not this distro is listed in some magazine, just for the sake of it. If it makes the list by 'word-of-mouth' then thats all that matters; meaning if the editor decides to write an article saying something like: 'There is a very popular yet slightly unknown to the 'mainstream' Linux users called 'Slackware.' What is this Slackware, lets delve into it and find out more..'

Slackware is not widely known like Ubuntu or SuSe, but thats not really the point of Slackware. Those who know about Slackware found out through other channels, anyhow. Like me, I found out through word-of-mouth, and not by some magazine. I actually have yet to even read a Linux mag.

If it is really important for some to have Slackware listed in said magazine, go ahead, but I think Slackware has the best publicity already, and thats through it's user base.

A wide and varied response, but basically echoing what Mike Saunders of Linux Format said, and I paraphrase "Slackware users are content to set up their machines as they like them and then enjoy the power of Slackware, they are not a vocal bunch that shouts about their distro, so we just don't hear from them."

However you are, in my opinion, all missing the point!

Linux Format is aimed at new converts and they should be introduced to the name Slackware for one reason and one reason only. The more users that Slackware has, the more likely it is that PV will make an income and continue developing the distribution we all use.

Many times in the past the best technology has "gone to the wall" because the other technology shouted louder.

IT IS TIME TO SHOUT!

samac