Well, it continues. Everywhere you look it seems like Ubuntu (and it’s mutant offspring Kubuntu and Edubuntu) are cropping up. I know we have been ranting on about PC magazines lately but today I had the pleasure of getting my (last) subscription copy of Personal Computer World magazine.

Now PCW used to be a great magazine, full of useful tutorials and advice along with a great cover disk with useful software on. We have ranted enough about the cover disks so I dont feel that needs anything at this stage.

The current “complaint” is (as the title alludes) based on Linux. In the UK you have three choices for getting news / advice / tips on the daddy of all OS:

1. Read it on the internet
2. Buy a specialist Linux magazine (Linux Format et al.)
3. Buy a generalist PC magazine which has a *nix section (PCW et al).

The first option is a no-go as you cant sit on the toilet reading articles. The second option is OK, and I do (sometimes) get magazines like LXF but generally find they are MUCH too geeky for normal use. If I was setting up an enterprise level beowulf cluster or the like then they would be my first port of call – but as it is, the network I manage only has a few PCs and doesnt really need the ins and outs of some arcane program to serve my needs.

Obviously, common sense screams out the third option is the best. Get a generalist magazine so you can read about multiple topics (have to keep up with windows etc) and still get some good quality advice on the old *nix platforms.

This was my thinking and until recently (four or five months ago) it was sound.

However, along came the borg I mean Ubuntu and ever since the Unix column has talked about nothing else!

It really does annoy me that pages (OK, only 2) which could be used to discuss general unix/linux issues and advice is set aside for what is basically an idiots guide for Ubuntu! Madness. Almost a third of the first page is spent explaining Ubuntu’s mad implementation of root (i.e. there isn’t one – you just sudo everything). I wouldn’t mind as much but this is repeated EACH time they do an article on the crazy OS.

The strength and fun part of linux is the different flavours it comes in. I dont have a problem with that, I even run multiple versions on the network here and am often trying to convince people to install cut down distros. However, this means that if you want to write tutorials about it then you cant assume a common platform (unlike Windows / Mac columns for example). Spending effectively 1/3rd of the year talking about things unique to a SINGLE distro is (IMHO of course) sheer madness.

(side note: even the two Linux questions in the Q&A were for Ubuntu and had answers of NO use to users of any other distro……)

I honestly hope that Ubuntu is paying hand over fist for the advertising they get every month.

All I can say to this is BAH.

Well, I thought it would be worthwhile keeping people updated on my progress with AJAX………

Sadly, so far, my progress has been non-existant.

Hopefully more insight and inspiration will follow. It may just be time to branch into new areas….