Video Linux Voice is a New Magazine for Linux Users — On Paper (Video) 72
Video no longer available.
This is an interview with Graham Morrison, who is one of four people behind the shiny-new Linux Voice magazine, which is printed on (gasp) paper. Yes, paper, even though it's 2014 and a lot of people believe the idea of publishing a physical newspaper or magazine is dead. But, Graham says, when you have a tight community (like Linux users and developers) you have an opportunity to make a successful magazine for that community. This is a crowdfunded venture, through Indiegogo, where they hoped to raise £90,000 -- but ended up with £127,603, which is approximately $214,288 as of this video's publishing date. So they have a little capital to work with. Also note: these are not publishing neophytes. All four of the main people behind Linux Voice used to work on the well-regarded Linux Format magazine. Graham says they're getting subscribers and newsstand sales at a healthy rate, so they're happily optimistic about their magazine's future. (Here's an alternate video link)
Re:Marketing geniuses (Score:2, Insightful)
A paper magazine. How quaint! I guess it appeals to the hipsters who buy their music on vinyl?
Re:Marketing geniuses (Score:4, Insightful)
Honestly I miss the paper magazine thing.
Yes by all objective measures it's an inferior way to distribute and access data, but much like watching television vs streaming/on demand, it has it's charms and nuances that haven't been reproduced digitally.
Linux Voice specifically doesn't sound like my cup of tea based on reading the snippets on their site, but I can see where they might find an audience.
Re:Marketing geniuses (Score:4, Insightful)
I cancelled my subscription to another Linux magazine when they dropped paper. I figure I get fresher news from my RSS feeds and more up-to-date and more detailed technical info from blogs and project websites.
I truly do love my tablet for reading fiction and even the occasional reference manual, but the ability to randomly flip through a dead-tree magazine and idly learn about something that may someday become important is something I treasure and an e-reader just doesn't do it for me.