Mailserver
Write to us at Linux Format, Future Publishing, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA or lxf.letters@futurenet.com.
Yoda writes in, a happy (really?–ed) reader writes in, a reader trying to find articles appears and someone doesn’t like Google.
Indexed
I am enjoying my second year of Linux Format magazine, and because you cater for all levels of expertise and areas of computing, I can’t help but learn something in each edition. However, is there an index, either on or offline, to find specific information, instead of searching through at least 20 magazines, and counting, that I have? A good index, not a word search, would show whether the subject required was covered or not, otherwise a lot of that information and experience in the magazines becomes inaccessible. I appreciate the front cover and contents page show what each edition contains, but an index helps the user to find specific information. Andrew Shelton
Neil says…
Go to https://linuxformat.com/archives. This is a PDF archive of all LXF issues back to issue 66. Everyone (even non-subscribers) can do basic word searches on the article title and description. Subscribers can use their surname and subs number to log in and download full issue PDFS and individual articles; the rest of you can cry silently into your tea.
The archive is based on the code set-up ten years or so ago, and it was intended to facilitate downloading full issues rather than being an out-and-out searchable index. Perhaps we could look at getting a search engine to spider the PDFS and offer something that way – Jonni! (Jonni said no…–ed)
It is ironic that your main feature in LXF256 was Escape from Google when if you, like myself, are a digital subscriber of this magazine you are forced to use an app called Google News in order to read the magazine. This app is easily the biggest pile of garbage that I have on my (Android) tablet. I am
subjected to a torrent of rubbish so called news, which Google thinks I want to read. I cannot turn this off if I want my subscription to Linux Format. I did complain to someone dealing with subscriptions at Future Publishing but to no avail. James Hartland Neil says…
Management tells me this is an optimised business decision to maximise our organic growth, help build our verticals and row the boat as damn hard as the shareholders would want us to.
You have my sympathies and a sensible potential solution! If you have a digital subscription via our www.myfavouritemagazine.co.uk store you can use your subs number and surname to log into https://linuxformat.com/archives and get a crazy Drm-free PDF file of the full issue. It’ll never catch on.
Confidence boost
I want you to know your magazine is my number one go-to. I have recently tossed MS to the curb without apprehension, mostly because of the tips and distros you have provided. I debated it for a while, but you gave me the confidence. Issue 246, The Ultimate Linux Toolkit allowed for a smooth transition. You consistently provide tutorials that everyone else nickel and dimes us for. Now here is issue 251 to cover security threats. Right on time.
I recently started Arduino and Raspberry Pi coding. When I read that I needed a USB keyboard to flash the Pi, I cringed. It’s been three years since I owned one, and Walmart had none on their shelves. After looking back over your issues regarding networking, I created a wpa-supplicant file on the SD card with my network info. VNC got me in as soon as the Pi came up.
No USB keyboard, no mouse, no HDMI, and no Ethernet. Just a Samsung Tab A 8 and Linux Format gave me everything I needed. Now I am keen on Issue 248 and going Retro with my 3 B+. After that, Probably buy a Pi 4 and tackle issue 249 Smart Home. Python here I come. I thank you and the rest of your staff. Hats off guys and gals. Richard Bowers, San Antonio
Neil says…
It’s so good to hear someone is enjoying the magazine! Anyone else out there? Do please let us know what you’d like to see more or less of, we do listen.