Mailserver
Missing DVD content explained, can subscribers opt out of the DVD, and reusing old computing hardware for schools.
Because it takes some time for Linux Format to be available through our local newsagent I’m always a couple of issues behind. When accessing the DVD attached to issue 271 I was disappointed because I was unable to find the Linux Dictionary in the Bookshop folder.
Being a relative newbie to Linux, would you please advise how I might obtain a copy of the Linux Dictionary? Thanks!
Graham Olde, Australia
Neil says…
This is a good point Graham. All the titles in the “library” are freely available online, so we should curate a copy of this on www.linuxformat.com so when we don’t quite have space you can still find the titles and check for updated releases.
I was digging around to follow up on your letter. It looks like part of the Bookshelf has fallen off the edge of the DVD. It’s listed, just not actually on there. So I’ll get Jonni to wake up and try and pay attention to what’s actually on the DVD. As it is, the original can be found here: https://tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Dictionary.
Free DVD free
First off I wanted to say how much I enjoy reading the magazine every month – keep up the great work! I also wanted to ask if it’s possible to opt-out of receiving the Linux Format DVD with my paper subscription? I really value having a physical magazine so I can read something that’s not on a screen every once in a while; however, I don’t make use of the DVDs and feel a pang of guilt discarding something that I haven’t used and can’t recycle! Andy Cooke
Neil says…
We’re having this option being requested regularly and I fully support it. The good news is that it sounds like it might happen! I know! There’s no details or timeline from our subs department at the moment, but hopefully at some point there will be a DVD-free print subscription option that people will be able to choose. I doubt it’ll cost any less, but it’ll certainly help cut out plastic waste. You, of course, will always be able to download the ISO as usual from www.linuxformat.com.
Get wasted
I’m loving Linux and the challenges it provides (that’s a good thing). Linux Format has been an essential part of my education in all things Linux over the past five years. Ever since I got frustrated with a brand that rhymes with Zapple and started looking for alternative software and hardware.
A quick search online suggests that the average life-span of a PC is three to five years. This is crazy given the cost and resources that go into a device. Many forums I have read would suggest that Linux
users maintain their devices for considerably longer. Recently, I grabbed my wife’s nine-year-old (unused) Sony Vaio laptop with the intention of setting it up and using it as a portable music studio. It was never a joy when it was running Windows 8 (and 10) being continually slow and unreliable.
First, let it be said that Sony VAIO is not known for its ease of use when it comes to converting it to Linux. I found the best way to do it was to go to the Windows settings, click Reset the PC and under Reset the PC there’s an advanced setting to boot from a CD/USB. Once I clicked that I successfully installed Linux using a USB.
Although I keep my terminal use at a minimum, I’ve tried and successfully used many different distros and have even been able to record and produce a whole album using Linux in addition to creating music videos. We were even using Zoom for meetings during lockdown.
We’ve now been able to upgrade four PCs in our house using different distros. As more PC brands make it challenging for you to do your own upgrades, it’s such a joy to put new life into old devices that were potentially going to end up as e-waste.
Brendan
Neil says…
I wonder if that average life-span is dragged down by businesses writing off old kit prematurely? Or if it’s a consequence of increased laptop use where they’re not as upgradable? I’m sure my last PC lasted a good seven or eight years at least, while I swapped in new GPUs, memory and drives. The only real reason it went was that I needed a newer PSU that offered dual eight-pin PCIe power sockets. Though I did spot that the latest GPUs now demand a new 12-pin connector, such as on the Nvidia 3070 Ti.
But excellent work Brendan! I’ve installed Mint on a VAIO with its weird BIOS access, never mind the latest Windows XPS with its Windows-only hybrid SSD device that you have to deactivate first…