Linux Format forums

[Phil_Friel]

Mike,

I'll take your advice and wait to see if the auction gets no bids. At £45 (£25 starting price and £20 p&p) it's a bit costly to go for as I only need the one issue. Another option is the ads pages at the back of Computer Music itself, where back issues are often on sale.

There was a specialised Linux music distro on the cover disks of one of the Linux mags a while back. Never got to trying it out (must rectify that mistake soon), but it sure looked interesting. Linux is rapidly coming of age in many areas in which it was lacking until quite recently, my main areas of interest being music, DTP and graphics, and web design, all areas in which there's now a lot of activity on Linux. I have a feeling that it won't be long before I can quit dual-booting and leave Windows behind altogether.

Phil

[Rhakios]

[Phil_Friel]

Rhakios,

Marcel is one of that very rare breed - a techie who is also great at explaining techie stuff to non techies without dumbing it down so much that most of the essential technical information is left out. The fact that he's also funny and entertaining is an added bonus. His column is the only reason I buy Linux Journal, and I've bought all of his Linux books. I wish he'd write a few more on various topics. He makes reading about Linux fun, rather than a necessary chore.

He would've made a fantastic schoolteacher (sez I, speaking as a former teacher). Being a brilliant techie is all so well and good, but if you can't communicate well enough to teach others effectively, a career as a technical writer probably isn't the best option, unless you're aiming solely at the geek market (which greatly limits the number of books you'll sell).

Phil
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Phil Friel