Newsletter

[Sty]

An idea that I was thinking about last night, that seems plausible, is a "Vector Insider" newsletter.

My idea is something along the lines of a quarterly publication that is theme focused and newbie oriented.

For instance, one issue could be just setting up boot managers, such as GRUB and LILO and just how to dual boot Windows and Linux.  Another could be how to configure KDE from install to the end.  Or one that talks all about optimizing for laptops.

I figure if it's done right this would not only be a great resource for newbies, but also a great resource for new linux users because a lot of the tutorials would probably be cross-distro applicable.

Anyway, just thought I'd toss the idea out there.

[M0E-lnx]

Probably a good idea, but I'd like to see a full blown wiki instead... sort of like the arch wiki

[GrannyGeek]

We hashed out the possibility of a newsletter one or two or three years ago. It's an appealing idea, but the problem is getting reliable volunteers in it for the long haul. What too often happens is that people enthusiastically join the team but after a couple of work cycles, they get busy with something else or their life circumstances change or they just lose their enthusiasm. You need people to write for the newsletter, other people to make sure things are accurate, someone to put the content into attractive and correct HTML. A newsletter is a very ambitious project!

I don't see a real conflict between having a newsletter and having a good wiki. Some newsletter articles could be put in the wiki.

An official VectorLinux newsletter project would need approval from higher-ups, but there's nothing to prevent an unofficial Vector newsletter.
--GrannyGeek

[stretchedthin]

An official VectorLinux newsletter project would need approval from higher-ups, but there's nothing to prevent an unofficial Vector newsletter.
--GrannyGeek

If someone follows through with an unofficial newsletter, they can feel free to use any of my unofficial Video Tutorial's for content.
http://www.opensourcebistro.com/Distro/VL60

Also, If someone commits to this idea.  They should be prepared not to be discouraged.  One dedicated person could make this happen, since the idea only calls for a newsletter each quarter.   It will take one or two publications just to work the bugs out and another two or three to see if it hits a popular cord with the VectorLinux community.

If the website that hosts the newsletter gets traction with the search engines, then yes this could be a vehicle to get the good name of VectorLinux out there.

[no2thesame]

An idea that I was thinking about last night, that seems plausible, is a "Vector Insider" newsletter.

My idea is something along the lines of a quarterly publication that is theme focused and newbie oriented.

Sty, I like the idea. Yes, it will take time and Granny Geek is right about the problems, but it's worth doing. Look at stretchedthin's contributions with his excellent tutorials as an example of what an unofficial effort can do.

Granny Geek is right about the editorial side of things, it does take time, I put together two weekly email newsletters (one is HTML) and it uses lots of time but worth the effort to maintain community.

I'll certainly contribute to a newsletter if it's an area I know about.

Back in 2007 a VL wiki was tried but fizzled the remains are the how-to area  https://vector.ecosq.com/ic/HowTos
I think an unofficial project would get up more easily.

Frankly MOE-Inx, I think this forum does the work of a wiki, but I agree the arch wiki is probably better.

So I'd encourage you to go ahead Sty, keep us posted.

[M0E-lnx]

You might be right about the forum doing the work of a wiki. But the search feature may need some work. It is so inneficient at the moment that I wouldn't eve bother to use it to try to find anything

[bigpaws]

Back in 2007 a VL wiki was tried but fizzled the remains are the how-to area  https://vector.ecosq.com/ic/HowTos
I think an unofficial project would get up more easily.

That is not really a wiki and was not designed to be. The design is more designed to get information
from. The problem has been folks having the time to add content. This is not a dead project. Anyone
that has the time or desire to add documentation feel free to contact me or Metvas.

Bigpaws

[GrannyGeek]

You might be right about the forum doing the work of a wiki. But the search feature may need some work. It is so inneficient at the moment that I wouldn't eve bother to use it to try to find anything

Yes, the forum search is awful. However, a Google search limited to forum.vectorlinux.com works quite well. I believe someone already asked if we could set a Google search for the forum instead of the search we have now. I think this would be a good idea unless and until the forum search is fixed.
--GrannyGeek

[no2thesame]

I think we all agree that forum search is abysmal. Fixing it would make a huge difference to newcomers. I used the Google specialised search on the forum as GG suggests.

That is not really a wiki and was not designed to be. The design is more designed to get information
from. The problem has been folks having the time to add content. This is not a dead project. Anyone
that has the time or desire to add documentation feel free to contact me or Metvas.

Bigpaws

 

Thanks for the invitation Bigpaws. Sty, does the How-To area https://vector.ecosq.com/ic/HowTos satisfy your newsletter need?

Bigpaws, have you and Metvas got a list of documentation that needs to be done? Or is it just the links that show up red (because the page isn't there)?

Also, I haven't spent much time on the Knowledge Center pages. They really are quite good. Maybe we should have more prominent links on the forum page as well the VL home page (and it is far from prominent - right down the bottom).

What is the relationship between the Knowledge Center and the Vector Docs I get on my desktop?

I suggest is that when the forum search is fixed, there is a choice to search just the forum or both the forum and the Knowledge Center pages as well.

[Sty]

I'd be more than willing to help / be a major player in this project as it is at least mostly my idea.  I've never put out an html newsletter before, the ones I have worked on were all for print, however I bet we can draw from the how-tos, get some interviews (maybe?) with people about what's going on, etc. to make a decent contribution.  I just need 2 weeks to get through finals first.

Maybe there could be some help on the graphic side of things...  *hint hint*

[GrannyGeek]

I've never put out an html newsletter before, the ones I have worked on were all for print

If you're more comfortable with a print-type newsletter, you could use Scribus or OpenOffice Writer for layout and create a PDF, which is an option built into both programs. You'd want a fairly small file, of course, and you can find hints for how to do that.

People could then either view the PDF online or download it to their computers for reading or printing it out.

A newsletter is something I'd look forward to, so I hope this project is successful.

Good luck with your finals!
--GrannyGeek

[stretchedthin]

I've never put out an html newsletter before, the ones I have worked on were all for print

[/quote]

Granny's PDF idea is a good one.  You could also download kompozer from Gslapt.  With it you can make an html document using a wysiwig editor very much like a work processor.  doesn't take long to get comfortable with.
I also hope you do will on your finals.
Ken

[kidd]

If we think of a printed (so static) newsletter, maybe we should consider latex to write the articles.  If many different people writes articles for it, the one in charge of assembling all the articles in one document can have easier work if it's done in latex.  This has some drawbacks too:

1.-  No videos there, only links.
2.-  All writers should know latex (it's not difficult, at least at (my) beginner level)
3.-  We should write a template for our formatting. Well, or pick up one already done (I suppose there are some already done apart from classical 'book' and 'article').

Very good idea.  I hope we have enough manpower to make lots of numbers.

[no2thesame]

This idea is taking off, Sty. What have you got yourself into? It is good though.

A couple of observations:
HTML emails are not too difficult, once you have the layout you just reuse each week/month. Editing them is  not easy though.

Blog -  If you want graphics and video, maybe a blog is a better idea. Layout/formatting is set, you can have a heap of contributers and the "editor's" job is pretty easy. It is interesting because it updates frequently (people subscribe with RSS) and the posts come up on Google searches. The comments can act a bit like a forum, with the contributer able to update and correct the original post on the the basis of comments.

[Sty]

Alrighty guys, while I've got a second, (gonna be busy through next week).  Do we have any actual volunteers willing to help contribute?

The only "official" resource I would love is a text interview with Vec or another developer (I'm not entirely sure who's an actual developer and who's a contributer / tester / etc).  Not too long, but things like what's happening with the next SOHO, light, 64-bit, etc.

The rest I think could be 100% community driven effort, and I think if done right with a "Theme" for each issue, it would all tie together really well.

So, anyone wanna say, yea, I'll help!