Maximum Linux Exceeded: Shutdown

toaster13 writes: "Found an article on NewsForge this morning that stated that Maximum Linux (a magazine) has closed its doors. It's a shame, because even though it didn't go into extreme technical details, it was a good Linux-only copy of MaximumPC, a magazine I enjoyed for a long time until I saw the Light of Linux(C)." DizTorDed points to this posting by Maximum Linux Online Editor Kelli Sheppard on Prospero's forums. There's also coverage of this over at BinaryFreedom (as well as other interesting stories). Best of luck to the folks displaced by this.

Comments

Why not a Linux Mag?

[SlappinJoe]

I"m not sure it's as bad as that.

I don't think I'm unusual in that I devour electronic AND printed media about all of my favorite topics. I've subscribed to ML since the first issue, and I found lots of stuff in it to be useful, insightful, and more in-depth than even the piercing intellect of the world-renowned /. community.

Printed media gives a little commercial legitimacy to Linux in general (seeing Linux at the newstand has to be a positive), and ML was aimed down the middle in terms of OS tech, but right at people who like to think they are Power-users or gurus. Some days I'm more than that, some days less, but the mag worked for me.

Maybe I alone couldn't keep ML afloat, but I don't see why open-source supporters (or just Linux users if they're not the same) wouldn't buy a magazine. Sometimes my cable modem is down (GASP!) Or I find myself reading current lit in the, uh, er, private moments I rarely have.

Either way, Adieu, MaxLinux. Truly, we hardly knew ye.

SJ

A disturbing trend in Open Source businesses

[alexhmit01]

This isn't exactly an Open Source business, but a business catering to the "Open Source" community that is in trouble. Much like Tucows BSD section, the rest of the computing world really can't get in.

When I was an NT Administrator, I got Windows NT Magazine, and so did everybody I know. They had GREAT articles and tips that would help any NT Admin out in running a site.

However, the Linux group doesn't play by the same rules. I occaisionally buy a book (O'Reilly's SAMBA book comes to mind), but that's about it. The rest of the time I use online docs. For my BSD boxes, I find that the man pages are the most useful things. I never think to get a Linux magazine.

I think that it's a cultural thing. In the Linux world, I don't feel "mainstream" and don't feel like buying mainstream publications. I don't think to spend money.

For programmers, Open Source can work. I know that I've hired Open Source program writers to install applications, etc. (I mean, for corporate use, when my guys are worth $X/hr, and it will take Y hrs to learn and do it, if X*Y > Consultant fee... I hird consultants), but for people catering to hobbyiests, it may be the end.

The demographic that used to support all the PC hobbyist books/magazines are pretty much all using Linux. It was a group of tweakers, and you can't tweak Windows anymore (well, some, but it's not useful). That market is dead, replaced by websites and newsgroups.

I just wonder, why do Windows magazines/books sell and Linux ones don't? Is it just being abnormal?

Alex

Two good things about Maximum Linux

[eclectro]

This magazine had a couple of good qualities that other linux magazines didn't have;

1) It didn't "talk down" to new users (such as myself).

2) Each issue came with a CD that had current apps on it. Saves a lot of downloading.

3) The hardware/software reviews were in-depth, complete, and interesting to read.

There really is nothing comparable for the newbies among us.