| Author |
Message |
Kryten
Guest
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 Posted:
Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:10 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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"HomeLab" <homelab@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2e807ffc.0502160306.261f6863@posting.google.com...
| Quote: | No Ivor Catt, pages of old f%$rt letters or Dickensian-style writers
in Elektor. Have a look at the QuizzAway pages in EE for some up to
date thought stimulation.
|
I spoke to the editor of EW today, about the possibility of writing some
articles.
I ventured my opinions about how the content had declined from stuff people
could actually apply (radio and audio amplifier circuits) to tenuous
abstract blather. The death of J.L. Hood probably killed off a lot of the
audio engineer readership. Last time I looked there was some lengthy article
about magnetoaetheric tunnels and I just thought "what on earth is this
mumbo jumbo about, and who the heck would pay to read this?"
If asked "Are you going to take out a subscription?"
I'd say "No, I'll read it at the library for what little relevant stuff it
has"
The editor (Svetlana Josifovska) asked me if I'd read it recently, because
it has changed since she took over around Christmas. She is from an
engineering background, so she prefers to read about practical engineering
too.
I get the feeling she doesn't think much of the scribblings of Catt et al,
so hopefully we'll be seeing a lot less of them. I'd prefer none at all! ;-)
I think we'll have to check it out on the news stands,
to see if it has become a bit meatier...
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John Woodgate
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:10 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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I read in sci.electronics.design that Kryten <kryten_droid_obfusticator@
ntlworld.com> wrote (in <XCSQd.1659$8n6.1246@newsfe3-win.ntli.net>)
about 'Elektor Electronics new website', on Thu, 17 Feb 2005:
| Quote: | The editor (Svetlana Josifovska)
|
[of British 'Electronics World']
| Quote: | asked me if I'd read it recently,
because it has changed since she took over around Christmas. She is from
an engineering background, so she prefers to read about practical
engineering too.
|
Engineering background and a trained journalist, I believe. She is using
articles from other journalists rather than relying entirely on
practising or retired EEs. Nut content has been reduced to zero or
nearly so.
This will be OK IF the journalists don't take over entirely. So it's
important to keep up a supply of copy from EEs.
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only.
The good news is that nothing is compulsory.
The bad news is that everything is prohibited.
http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk |
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Rick Fox
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:43 pm Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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On 11 Feb 2005 01:52:59 -0800, homelab@hotmail.co.uk (HomeLab) wrote:
| Quote: | I just noticed that Elektor Electronics magazine have silently
uploaded a new website. I've not seeen all of it yet but it looks as
if they've finally managed to put their (occasionally brilliant)
articles online just as EPE have been doing over the past years. Not
sure how far back in time, though. Articles are available individally,
however, not the entire isuue as opposed to EPE. There's also a forum
and a bring & buy section. Still very few postings over there, I guess
that'll change when they properly announce the new site in the next
issue (I have the Feb 2005 edition).
There's also what looks like a rudimentary online shop.
url: www.elektor-electronics.co.uk (automatically links to a numbered
url)
ta
Richard
|
Elektor has stopped providing their PCB layouts as free .pdf
downloads. That means we have to go back to photocopying the layouts
from the magazine, like we did years ago, or buy the full .pdf article
(which Elektor says is the answer - even though we have already paid
for the magazine)
As a long term subscriber (1983) I am disgusted, and have told Elektor
so.
I will be canceling my subscription and stop buying the magazine if
they don't change their minds on this. That's how strongly I feel. I
will *not* take this huge backwards step in amateur PCB making.
Please, anyone else who feels the same about this, email them and
visit the 'non technical' forum on their new website.
Rick.
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Joel Kolstad
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Feb 17, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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"Kryten" <kryten_droid_obfusticator@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:isVQd.1$FA5.0@newsfe3-win.ntli.net...
| Quote: | I'd maybe write an article for the kudos or pocket money but I do know few
people can write a good technical article if a few hours. This concurs
with a post I read saying places pay very little for good technical copy.
I guess the writers are thus supporting the magazines in effect.
|
I think its devolved to the point where -- even with advertising --
technical magazines have small enough circulation that they can't afford to
pay writers for the actual time required to create a good article. Although
perhaps 'devolved' is the wrong term here -- what sort of rates did the
likes of Radio Electronics pay say, 20 years ago?
Although it's not quite the same thing, keep in mind that for 'professional'
journals (e.g., IEEE), it's still considered an honor to have a paper
accepted and the _author_ pays if they get too wordy (or want color photos)!
Linux is a great example of people doing things for free that one would
typically expect to be well paid for. Hopefully the same will continue to
apply to authors for electronics magazines.
---Joel Kolstad |
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HomeLab
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:47 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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Rick Fox <NewsGroups@softhome.net> wrote in message news:<4i09119mjg512r0pknuapc18epjennbtqi@4ax.com>...
| Quote: | On 11 Feb 2005 01:52:59 -0800, homelab@hotmail.co.uk (HomeLab) wrote:
I just noticed that Elektor Electronics magazine have silently
uploaded a new website. I've not seeen all of it yet but it looks as
if they've finally managed to put their (occasionally brilliant)
articles online just as EPE have been doing over the past years. Not
sure how far back in time, though. Articles are available individally,
however, not the entire isuue as opposed to EPE. There's also a forum
and a bring & buy section. Still very few postings over there, I guess
that'll change when they properly announce the new site in the next
issue (I have the Feb 2005 edition).
There's also what looks like a rudimentary online shop.
url: www.elektor-electronics.co.uk (automatically links to a numbered
url)
ta
Richard
Elektor has stopped providing their PCB layouts as free .pdf
downloads. That means we have to go back to photocopying the layouts
from the magazine, like we did years ago, or buy the full .pdf article
(which Elektor says is the answer - even though we have already paid
for the magazine)
As a long term subscriber (1983) I am disgusted, and have told Elektor
so.
I will be canceling my subscription and stop buying the magazine if
they don't change their minds on this. That's how strongly I feel. I
will *not* take this huge backwards step in amateur PCB making.
Please, anyone else who feels the same about this, email them and
visit the 'non technical' forum on their new website.
Rick.
|
well in the same forum the mag editor advises that they are working to
solve the problem so some patience may be in order. I've seen this
sort of swing before, usually the staff that do the actual work are
not to blame. I'll check again in a week's time.
Richard |
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Kryten
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:14 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
|
|
"Joel Kolstad" <JKolstad71HatesSpam@Yahoo.Com> wrote in message
news:-d2dnYo8Le5YUonfRVn-gw@comcast.com...
| Quote: | I think its devolved to the point where -- even with advertising --
technical magazines have small enough circulation that they can't afford
to pay writers for the actual time required to create a good article.
Although perhaps 'devolved' is the wrong term here -- what sort of rates
did the likes of Radio Electronics pay say, 20 years ago?
|
If your market has collapsed so far you have to rely on charity, it's time
to find another market.
Electronics is so wide a field that any article will only appeal to a narrow
slice.
It's like the field of medicine. You have specialists in many different
fields, like neuroscience and proctology.
| Quote: | Although it's not quite the same thing, keep in mind that for
'professional' journals (e.g., IEEE), it's still considered an honour to
have a paper accepted and the _author_ pays if they get too wordy (or want
colour photos)!
|
I agree that getting an article into some journals (like Nature), there are
rewards that are non-cash.
| Quote: | Linux is a great example of people doing things for free that one would
typically expect to be well paid for.
|
I think people support Linux because they're fed up of making the obscenely
wealthy Bill Gates richer every time they pay for software that is buggy and
insecure and that they cannot examine and modify.
It's not like Torvalds is asking people to write software for his company
because he won't pay a market rate.
| Quote: | Hopefully the same will continue to apply to authors for electronics
magazines.
|
Commercial electronics is not the same environment as academia.
Employers want to see what you have worked on, not articles you have
written.
There is no significant non-cash reward, so writers are just contributing to
the salaries of the magazine staff. |
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Rich The Newsgropup Wacko
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:10 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
|
|
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 23:14:24 +0000, Kryten wrote:
| Quote: | It's like the field of medicine. You have specialists in many different
fields, like neuroscience and proctology.
|
Well, be careful you don't confuse your optic nerve with your anal
sphincter, or you might get a shitty outlook on life.
Sorry,
Rich |
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john jardine
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:10 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
|
|
"Kryten" <kryten_droid_obfusticator@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:XCSQd.1659$8n6.1246@newsfe3-win.ntli.net...
| Quote: |
"HomeLab" <homelab@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2e807ffc.0502160306.261f6863@posting.google.com...
No Ivor Catt, pages of old f%$rt letters or Dickensian-style writers
in Elektor. Have a look at the QuizzAway pages in EE for some up to
date thought stimulation.
I spoke to the editor of EW today, about the possibility of writing some
articles.
I ventured my opinions about how the content had declined from stuff
people
could actually apply (radio and audio amplifier circuits) to tenuous
abstract blather. The death of J.L. Hood probably killed off a lot of the
audio engineer readership. Last time I looked there was some lengthy
article
about magnetoaetheric tunnels and I just thought "what on earth is this
mumbo jumbo about, and who the heck would pay to read this?"
If asked "Are you going to take out a subscription?"
I'd say "No, I'll read it at the library for what little relevant stuff it
has"
The editor (Svetlana Josifovska) asked me if I'd read it recently, because
it has changed since she took over around Christmas. She is from an
engineering background, so she prefers to read about practical engineering
too.
I get the feeling she doesn't think much of the scribblings of Catt et al,
so hopefully we'll be seeing a lot less of them. I'd prefer none at all!
;-)
I think we'll have to check it out on the news stands,
to see if it has become a bit meatier...
|
I've never done it before but threw Februarys issue in the bin . Had hoped
the exotically named Svetlana would be offering a similar vision for the
mag'.
Not so, (fishing mag out of rubbish) ...
Potentia. "Digital tool warns against sytem power failure"
Multiband OFDM Alliance. PHY 1.0 spec.
Medea+. MPUs fall foul of Moores Law.
Medea+. "European R+D.
Medea+. EU R+D cooperation.
Altium. Easy 32 bit processor for FPGA.
DiBcom. DVB-H mobile TV Silicon ***
Peregrine Semicon. Silcon on Sapphire.
PICMG (PCI) group. Advanced TCA compliant products.
ARC International. New 'platforms'.
Biotech wetware.
Future Electronics. ADCs (trivia).
Lattice semicon. FPGA digital screens.
LPRA. Patient care.
*** Most TLAs ever gathered in one place.
These and other paid for advertising 'puffs', made up most of what's now
become a trade mag'. The 'articles' were the usual, moronic, unreadable BS
written by marketing people. Svetlana's taken the advertising shilling yet
has the cheek to try and charge me £3.25.
I'll give her a couple more issues before I cancel the magazine.
regards
john |
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Kryten
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:10 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
|
|
"john jardine" <john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:cv3mml$tbm$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
| Quote: | I've never done it before but threw February's issue in the bin . Had
hoped
the exotically named Svetlana would be offering a similar vision for the
mag'.
Not so, (fishing mag out of rubbish) ...
Potentia. "Digital tool warns against system power failure"
Multiband OFDM Alliance. PHY 1.0 spec.
Medea+. MPUs fall foul of Moores Law.
Medea+. "European R+D.
Medea+. EU R+D cooperation.
Altium. Easy 32 bit processor for FPGA.
DiBcom. DVB-H mobile TV Silicon ***
Peregrine Semicon. Silicon on Sapphire.
PICMG (PCI) group. Advanced TCA compliant products.
ARC International. New 'platforms'.
Biotech wetware.
Future Electronics. ADCs (trivia).
Lattice semicon. FPGA digital screens.
LPRA. Patient care.
*** Most TLAs ever gathered in one place.
These and other paid for advertising 'puffs', made up most of what's now
become a trade mag'. The 'articles' were the usual, moronic, unreadable BS
written by marketing people. Svetlana's taken the advertising shilling yet
has the cheek to try and charge me £3.25.
I'll give her a couple more issues before I cancel the magazine.
|
Yes, these titles do sound like industrial press releases (which can be read
for free in the trade mags).
Mind you, I don't envy her position.
The readers are dwindling because there are fewer people interested in stuff
like amateur radio or making hi-fi. Professional outfits have got the
resources to develop sophisticated products.
The writers are dwindling because fewer of them have the time or inclination
to write for a pittance. After Hood died, there was only the lunatic fringe
left.
In the days when a radio was something you could make yourself, you could
fit an interesting article into a couple of pages and a circuit diagram.
These days you need reams of source code and a very long explanation!
On top of that, if anyone has a project they think others might be
interested in, they can publish it on the web themselves.
I think we need to write a list of what we want to read, then wonder who is
going to write it.
K. |
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Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Feb 18, 2005 7:16 pm Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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"Rich The Newsgropup Wacko" <wacko@example.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.02.18.02.21.32.389741@example.com...
| Quote: | On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 23:14:24 +0000, Kryten wrote:
It's like the field of medicine. You have specialists in many
different
fields, like neuroscience and proctology.
Well, be careful you don't confuse your optic nerve with your anal
sphincter, or you might get a shitty outlook on life.
Sorry,
Rich
|
Heh-heh! Touche'! |
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Fred Abse
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Feb 19, 2005 5:16 pm Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 09:09:18 -0800, Joel Kolstad wrote:
| Quote: | Linux is a great example of people doing things for free that one would
typically expect to be well paid for.
|
These days, a lot of open-source developers are sponsored by the various
distributions. probably not "well paid", but paid nevertheless.
--
Then there's duct tape ...
(Garrison Keillor) |
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Winfield Hill
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Feb 19, 2005 9:59 pm Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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Fred Abse wrote...
| Quote: |
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 09:09:18 -0800, Joel Kolstad wrote:
Linux is a great example of people doing things for free that
one would typically expect to be well paid for.
These days, a lot of open-source developers are sponsored by the various
distributions. probably not "well paid", but paid nevertheless.
|
It's a myth that Linux comes primarily from unpaid programmers.
At LinuxWorld Thursday I met many Linux programmers who earn
good salaries to make their contributions to free software.
Companies like IBM, Sun, Novell, Red Hat, HP, Intel, and CA, to
mention a few, have large staffs of free-software programmers.
There are many other places with small, but important software
engineering contributors. We even have one at the Institute.
--
Thanks,
- Win |
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Winfield Hill
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:21 pm Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
|
|
Winfield Hill wrote...
| Quote: |
Fred Abse wrote...
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 09:09:18 -0800, Joel Kolstad wrote:
Linux is a great example of people doing things for free that
one would typically expect to be well paid for.
These days, a lot of open-source developers are sponsored by the
various distributions. probably not "well paid", but paid
nevertheless.
It's a myth that Linux comes primarily from unpaid programmers.
At LinuxWorld Thursday I met many Linux programmers who earn
good salaries to make their contributions to free software.
Companies like IBM, Sun, Novell, Red Hat, HP, Intel, and CA, to
mention a few, have large staffs of free-software programmers.
There are many other places with small, but important software
engineering contributors. We even have one at the Institute.
|
We can add Cisco to the list above, given that they have already
converted more than 2,000 of their engineers to Linux desktops,
and have plans to move many more laptop users to the platform over
the next few years. They say the driver for Linux on the desktop
for them is not cost savings, but easier support.
http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;1394751021;fp;4;fpid;3
One thing that happens when a company has many Linux users is that
the company becomes motivated to work on areas in Linux that can
use improvement, or they add features they need, which often end
up back in the community. While we can think of many features or
changes Windows needs, there's no effective way to bring them about.
--
Thanks,
- Win |
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Fred Abse
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 20, 2005 12:38 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 07:59:04 -0800, Winfield Hill wrote:
| Quote: | It's a myth that Linux comes primarily from unpaid programmers.
|
What I said.
--
Then there's duct tape ...
(Garrison Keillor) |
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Winfield Hill
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:10 am Post subject:
Re: Elektor Electronics new website |
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|
Fred Abse wrote...
| Quote: |
On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 07:59:04 -0800, Winfield Hill wrote:
It's a myth that Linux comes primarily from unpaid programmers.
What I said.
|
That's right. I guess it was your 'probably not "well paid"'
comment that set me off. Software engineers at IBM, Sun, Novell,
Red Hat, HP, Intel, CA, and Cisco, to mention a few places where
massive Linux programming is done, are probably quite well paid.
Linux development is serious business now.
--
Thanks,
- Win |
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