Sys Admin Magazine Ceases Publication 134
keithl writes "I received a postcard in the mail today informing me that Sys Admin magazine has ceased publication. 'We regret to inform you that the magazine has ceased publication effective with the August 2007 issue.' Only paid subscribers with remaining issues receive this mailing. If you do nothing, they will send you a copy of the Sys Admin archive CD (1992 – August 2007), or you can return the card for a full refund of all unsent issues. The deadline to return the postcard for a refund is October 1, 2007." The magazine's Web site has no word that I could find on the closing down of print publication.
End of publication was noted in last issue... (Score:5, Informative)
Kind of a bummer, I've been reading it for years -- since before I actually started my career as an SA and was only tinkering with BSD and this newfangled Linux thing...
The news was in the last issue too (Score:5, Informative)
While it's true that printed media has a hard time competing with online resources, SysAdmin was one of the few magazines I looked forward to reading cover to cover each month, so I'm sad to see them closing up shop.
It's nice to have information "pushed" to you sometimes; I learned several things over the years on topics I probably would never have gone looking for on my own.
Re:Why limit to one audience? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Wow.... (Score:4, Informative)
Here it is, from page 4:
The is often a large measure of regret and sadness when a long-term relations ends, and I feel these emotions now at the end of my relationship with Sys Admin. No other publication really does what Sys Admin does, but you probably already know that. You might not know, however, the challenges currently facing many print publications, particularly small niche ones like Sys Admin. These challenges, which have contributed to the decision to stop publishing the magazine, include circulation woes, online competition, and market shift. I take some small comfort in the fact that Sys Admin fought these battles and survived much longer than many others in similar circumstances.
I have worked for Sys Admin magazine for almost 12 years, and I've had a great time. So, in this note, I need to mention some of the many people who have made working for Sys Admin such a rewarding experience for me. In no particular order, I thank Hal Pomeranze, Joe Casad, Ralph Barker, and Robert Ward for making me seem smarter than I really am. I thank Rikki Endsley Kite for therapy shopping, making me do things that scare me, and being a fabulous friend. I thank Lori White and Twyla Watson Bogaard for always reminding me that life goes down better with humor. I thank the regular columnists and writers for their loyalty and consistently excellent articles, and I thank all the readers and contributors for making Sys Admin as successful as it was for as long as it was.
Good-bye and good luck.
Sincerely yours,
Amber Ankerholz
Editor in Chief
Re:unnecessary (Score:1, Informative)
It's not so much their lack of vision, it's economics and the reality of how their industry works.
Re:what's up? (Score:3, Informative)
You're to place the little postcard in an envelope and mail it back to the magazine if you want the refund. No banking information should be needed. I expect you'd get a check for the remainder of your subscription. Me? I'm opting for the CD. I've been a subscriber since the second year of publication and the CD will let me get my hands on the first year's issues. I expect there to be some useful stuff even in those issues. What's old is new again and all that.