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Flea wrote:I used to think I could learn 'everything' about computers but guess what, you can't.
Whoa, dude, chill out. Where do you get this idea that you need to know how mysql works or what use you have for Openlaszlo?
Edit: oh... wait a minute... am I biting here? Is this another one of those windows lover having a go at Linux post thingies?
I'll second that - I've been a programmer for over 25 years, and the sum total of what I now know about computers is dwarfed not only by the sum total of things I'll never (need to) know, but lately also by the sum total of things I've forgotten (and will never need again).
I'm really encouraged by Big John's rant. At last, I'm not the only reader who wants something that "just does my stuff", doesn't cost as much as a Mac and has a newsagent mag with dumb bunny food to go with it.
One thing Big John, have you seen the state of the other Linux mags?!
possibly they could make a small section for "absolute beginners" as if the cover is intresting enough to look at they want to find more, especially if they are windows users and if they do decide to get the magazine there should be a section that helps beginners on to the go.
I keep the mags to use as a fall back, but am aware that the info does go "stale" relatively quickly.I'm a complete Linux noob myself and sometimes feel the same as you, but as I keep (slowly) learning my way in Linux, I frequently take a look at my older LXF issues and find lots of information that I didn't understand the first time and are realy usefull now.
And that's where the problem lies when targeting the level of expertise of the readership. It doesn't stay the same. If it did, the magazine would be failing. The ideal target is slightly above your current level of understanding, but what is that?
bigjohn wrote:Why couldn't there be maybe something like a subscription based section of the LXF site aimed specifically for newbs, and those like me, who are just users, not technonerds and train spotters with keyboards
Nelz and JPGargoyle beat their keyboards within an inch of their lives and wrote:And that's where the problem lies when targeting the level of expertise of the readership. It doesn't stay the same. If it did, the magazine would be failing. The ideal target is slightly above your current level of understanding, but what is that?
JPGargoyle makes a good point, the articles you didn't understand when you first looked at them will make more sense to you a year later. Reviews may date, but most of the other information remains as valid as it was. I've never been a great GIMP users (drawing breath is about the limit of my artistic abilities) but when I needed to use the program, I found what I needed in some of the old tutorials.
andychannelle wrote:Just out of interest (as the author so please be gentle) how have you found the the First Steps/Beginners? This was started out as a way to introduce new users to the subject of Linux and, in the past we've covered everything from choosing and installing a distro to editing video. Do you think this bit is coming across as too advanced?
Andy
AudioMove wrote:I dont think you can please everyone - as a long time reader the magazine has been slated as a beginner magazine and the die hard linux fans have no interest in it - then it began to cover more advanced topics and now it has a great balance between everything. But it still wont suit everyone, it never will.
nordle wrote:EXACTLY! For me, LXF has some great stuff like news, reviews and interviews, but a lot of it can act as a reference, you build it up over time and 6 mths down the line you are at a level to want to try some of that stuff, then its a great to go back and see how much more sense it makes.
bigjohn wrote:Seriously, yes it does have SOME good stuff, just too much that is aimed at the intermediate level, I'd prefer to see a bit more of a balance.
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