Linux Magazine is dead, long live Linux Magazine!

By Davey Winder
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 15:32

Networking

Just a couple of weeks ago Linux New Media acquired the subscriber base of Linux Magazine in the USA. With the paper magazine no more, and just an online presence left, does this mean that print is dead?

The last paper edition of the US Linux Magazine, a different publication to Linux Magazine the rest of the world over, will be the current June 2008 one. Its old owners decided to abandon the costly print production process in favour of a more profitable online publication model.

Many publishers still maintain a print presence while trying to establish an online one as well, and you might think that Linux New Media is opting for a fully focussed online approach. But appearances can be deceiving.

The situation is somewhat complex and takes a bit of getting your head around, but let's try anyway. The Linux Magazine in question was published in print, in North America, by a company called InfoStrada. As a result, the Linux Magazine as sold in other countries was known as Linux Pro magazine in the US and Canada.

According to the June 11th Linux New Media press release it purchased the assets related to InfoStrada's Linux Magazine. "Linux Magazine's readership will be merged into Linux New Media's North American flagship magazine, Linux Pro" it said.

Are you still with me? Good. Because Linux Magazine (US) continues to exist as an online publication, no name change was required nor applied to Linux Pro magazine.

So we end up in a position where Linux Magazine subscribers get a print copy of Linux Pro magazine from now on, and a web version, while InfoStrada continues to provide a web only version of Linux Magazine.