Linux Format forums

Re: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

gunny — Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:43 am

Author: gunny

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:43 am

Quote:

Given that a lot of the readers have broadband connections and can download most of the content on the cd/dvd would LXF ever consider releasing a copy at a reduced price without the dvd/cd for those of us more interested in the magazine itself?

Exactly. Practically the only thing I use the coverdisc for is the PDF's for tutorials (PHP, Gimp etc) or if you bung a Live CD on there, I might boot it up. When I install a distro, I want the latest-and-greatest, so I normally download from the distro vender. The only distro I've used from a coverdisc was SLED, but I could have lived without that. tI get most of my software from my distro's repositories: if they don't have a program I compile from source. Source downloads are pretty small, so it's no hassle for my broadband connection.

Give me a magazine that costs $10-12 AUS with no disk over one that costs $17-25 with a disc anyday. I don't see why you can't put the old tutorials on the web: hell, add a 'confirm code' so you have to buy a mag before you can get the PDFs. The chance of them being distrubuted will be exactly the same as if they where on the disks.

I really love LXF, but I just can't afford to keep buying it. A subscripton would only save me about $20-40 dollars. If I could subscribe for 25%+ discount with no disk, I would certainly consider subscribing. But for now I must be content with the occasional LXF, which is a real PITA for following tutorials and the like for examples, and praying Larry and Sergi's plane filled with cash to land in my backyard.

RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

bonzerwood — Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:37 am

Author: bonzerwood

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:37 am

What would be wrong with a pre-paid subscription to a down-load club such as one of the Internet information services where you cannot down-load anything unless you have paid your quids and signed up to the secrecy conditions. This way Future Publishing would get their money paid up front like a snail-mail delivered subscription and the free loaders would be excluded by not having member IDs.

How about that for an idea

Re: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

MachuMan — Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:03 pm

Author: MachuMan

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:03 pm

Good point, i'd definately consider subscribing to a LXF without a cd/dvd

Re: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

mota — Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:10 am

Author: mota

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:10 am

I think the price is pretty high. However, you do get what you pay for. I haven't seen too many other computer related magizines that have as good of a varity of content as linux format.

I purchased the magizine since summer 2003, my initial subscription kicked in in X-mas 2003. Over the nearly 2 years I have bought the magizine my tastes have changed. I hardly use the cover disks and would love to save some money on my subscription by getting rid of them. However, from a practical point of view the cover disks are a major selling point at the news stands. The first LXF I bought was because it had the Mandrake 9.1 distro in its cover disk. The blender tutorials looked attractive too, but the main selling point was the cover disk.

What would be ideal would be a DVD version for the news stands and subscribers who don't mind paying for it, and a diskless version for the subscribers. I see no point in the CD version. Nearly all computers have them now days, and they are a very cheap upgrade if for some reason someone dosen't. I got an new OEM dual layer DVD burner for $79. A DVD reader should be even less.

As long as my finances stay the way they are I will renew my subscription again.

Re: RE: Try $22.00 before tax in Canada

A-Wing — Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:39 pm

Author: A-Wing

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:39 pm

MachuMan wrote:

I already asked the same thing about a month ago I think. Don't think LXF / Future will really budge over this though. Just think, you get a free DVD case for your CDR/DVDRs and a coaster/frizbee.

RE: Try $22.00 before tax in Canada

MachuMan — Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:53 pm

Author: MachuMan

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:53 pm

Sorry if i'm breaking some Taboo here, but for all you 'Johnny foreigners' LXF is chuffing expensive in th UK too. I'm not saying that its not value for money but there have been occasions i have not purchased it before because i havent had enough cash on me.

Given that a lot of the readers have broadband connections and can download most of the content on the cd/dvd would LXF ever consider releasing a copy at a reduced price without the dvd/cd for those of us more interested in the magazine itself?

Try $22.00 before tax in Canada

beast2k — Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:30 pm

Author: beast2k

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:30 pm

I could pay you to swim to Canada with a copy in your teeth and still save money. Actually I would pay double that, the Mag is that good my only complaint is articles should be reprinted after a time here on the website for easy use.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

A-Wing — Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:05 pm

Author: A-Wing

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:05 pm

LXF sounds like something for constipation to me:
"LXF, predictable morning relief from Microsoft"

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

M-Saunders — Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:29 pm

Author: M-Saunders

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:29 pm

"It needn't be hell, with... er... LXF"

Doesn't work the same, does it?

M

Re: RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

Nigel — Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:25 pm

Author: Nigel

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:25 pm

LXFRulz wrote:

I agree the magazine is a bit expensive! I had to quit smoking just so I could buy the magazine every month!

See... LXF is good for your health, too

RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.S.?

LXFRulz — Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:58 pm

Author: LXFRulz

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:58 pm

I agree the magazine is a bit expensive! I had to quit smoking just so I could buy the magazine every month! javascript:emoticon('')
Mr. Green
And the teasing you guys do! I finally get the Retro games mag, all excited, then I see flying pigs on the web site! With Debian and Fedora Core 4, on a double sided DVD! I've got 34 more days until I get to peruse that mag! so I just drool and check out the site until then, and download some old skool games!
If you want a PDF magazine, there is a free Tux Magazine, that is sent out in PDF format. It is strictly for newbies though. but there is some good information in there. you can find it at
world wide web dot tuxmagazine dot com. (No I'm not affiliated with them. Just thought it could be useful for some of your readers)
________
Philip Caldwell
________
buy vapir vaporizer

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat i

jer1ch0 — Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:58 pm

Author: jer1ch0

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:58 pm

I don't really have a gripe about the price. I'm happy to pay for the quality content.
It's the government tax that puts up the price over here.

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.

Nigel — Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:18 am

Author: Nigel

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:18 am

jer1ch0 wrote:

As I said earlier, I pay �12 for lxf.
Scan it and I'll give you �2

Please bear in mind that whilst LXF is a magazine about FLOSS software, it is not published under any sort of open source or creative commons license. That means that scanning the whole mag & selling it on is a copyright infringement, and I think the publishers might not be very happy with that.

Remember, the open source community respects copyright - it's what makes the GPL possible and stops the big corporations from stealing opensource code.

If you're really that unhappy about the price of LXF, why not try the FLOSS solution, ie create a better and cheaper magazine yourself ? See if you can get people to donate articles. Put it online with whatever content charging system you feel happy with at the price you feel is right. And if you do go this route, let us know...

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat in U.

M-Saunders — Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:46 am

Author: M-Saunders

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:46 am

jer1ch0 wrote:

As I said earlier, I pay �12 for lxf.
Scan it and I'll give you �2

No deals like that here, please

Mike

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Too high price for LinuxFormat i

jer1ch0 — Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:17 am

Author: jer1ch0

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:17 am

Call it open source and it costs nothing. In fact if it doesn't work give me your code and I will rewrite it.