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So after unsubscribing from Linux Journal about a year ago and getting a subscription to Linux User and Developer I am thinking about going back.
It seems that LU&D have a bit of a distribution problem, I have not had a magazine for a few months now, and I also have not been paid for a couple of articles I wrote. With Linux Journal, the magazine always arrived on time and although there was a slight American bias to the magazine it was a good read with great articles.
What about linux format?
Hi, I’m writing from Linux Journal Just wanted to tell you that we’d love to have you back. 
E-mail me directly if you decide you do want to subscribe again and I’ll make sure a free archive CD of all of our back issues is sent along complimentary with your subscription — that way you can catch up on anything you’ve missed.
Thanks for the LJ compliment here on your blog (and we have been making a more solid attempt to be more international in our coverage these days, hopefully it will show through)!
Thanks again,
Carlie Fairchild
publisher@linuxjournal.com
Yes, I do agree they have a distribution problem. After spotting a new issue,#72 it was at WH Smiths at Waverley station I called LU&D. Eventually I got the copy in the post.(about 4 weeks) and a few emails and calls.
I used to have a subscription for PC Plus, but when it ran out, the renewal didn’t seem that good a deal considering it was payment up front.
“What about linux format?”
I’m not sure if it’s me getting more advanced with Linux, but my impression has been that LXF has been dumbing down in the last couple of years.
As for LU&D, I’ve never had an issue with it, though I haven’t got a subscription or written any articles. Isn’t it published in Germany though? That might make sorting things out a bit more difficult.
I’ve thought about subscribing to LJ in the past, but the US bias has put me off (and the fact that it’s printed over there so I have to pay the International rates, plus be billed in US dollars on my credit card which I’d rather not do).
Aha, I’m glad that I’m not the only one to notice this.
I let my subs lapse last year with the idea of just buying off the shelf when the magazine had interesting content but for the past 9 months I’ve not been able to find any copies at all, not even in the local WH Smiths.. not too big a loss though, although the magazine started off really well I think it started to move more to covering political and philosophical issues rather than technical ones. (And I’m a techie.)
I think I’ll follow your lead and have a look at LJ too..
Yeah I know there is Linux format but I agree with Paul, it seems a little ‘dumbed down’. What I liked about LU&D was the Enterprise IT angle they also seemed to cover, sounds like I am not alone in my issues with LU&D though!
I think I will give LJ another go, though I am probably moving in the next few months and so rather than subscribing then messing about changing address I will wait till after the move.
1) I think Linux User takes a ‘break’ over Xmas - I’m fairly sure they only do 10 issues a year or something like that.
2) Linux Format is definitely a magazine aimed at 1000 tips to make your computer faster/quieter. I find it to be of minimal interest.
3) There’s also Linux Magazine which often seems to have some good sysadmin articles… it has a similar non-UK bias however.
I’m not sure I’ve read Linux Journal….
Hey!
Sorry to hear you find Linux Format a little dumbed down, although I’d certainly agree we’re on a different plane from Linux Journal in terms of coverage. We do try to keep a good mix of easier and harder content, but if I were to count up all the emails we receive from readers saying that LXF is either too easy or too hard I expect I would find “too hard” messages outnumbering “too easy” messages about 4:1 - so I hope you can understand why I’d rather not shift the difficulty balance any more towards “hard”!
Anyway, I was promoted to be editor Linux Format only recently, and am looking to identify - and hopefully correct! - areas where we fall down. Richard Hillesley, Jeremy Allison, Marcus Green and Daniel James all recently joined our writing team from LU&D, so perhaps together they will help introduce some more of the business articles you miss.
Take care,
Paul
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