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What we're up to here

Thanks for stopping by. There are a lot of sites devoted to Linux, and in that you've gone to the trouble of visiting this one, we thought it might be a good idea to let you know why we think you've made a wise choice, and why you might want to come back frequently. We think we're different from other Linux sites, and in explaining how we are different it's probably good to begin by describing what we're not:
You're probably sick of articles about whether or not Linux will ever succeed as a desktop operating system. And there's a good possibility that all the lengthy and in-depth pieces about the glories of back-office server farms, SAMBA, and using Linux to do the heavy lifting for desktop machines running other operating systems cause your eyes to glaze over. We think embedded Linux is just fine, and wish those who embed Linux all the best, but as an issue for theoretical discussion we usually find it kind of boring and suspect that you do, too. Likewise stories that are aimed at the hard-core coder and understandable only by the hard-core coder. You'll not find those kinds of coverage here.
Nor is this a "portal," where the chief content is links to the work of others. There are plenty of those already.
Instead, we're here to cover, as our slogan puts it, Linux for the rest of us -- those of us who use Linux as our desktop operating system, who are interested in new projects that will make desktop Linux more productive and enjoyable, who want to follow the news about the events and personalities who help determine the direction Linux will take. We will have some technical articles, but they will be aimed at helping you understand and make better use of your Linux system, from compiling source code so you don't have to wait for your distribution to package the latest and greatest to articles that explain why things are as they are under Linux. We'll dip into networking here and there, because more and more Linux users tell us that they're connecting machines at their homes and offices, if only to make use of the cable modem or DSL connection.
Our focus on Linux on the desktop will not be "whether," but instead "how."
We'll highlight projects and applications that we think you'll like. We'll interview the movers and shakers, and we'll make space available for those persons -- and for you -- to talk directly through our pages.
We'll cover stories you're not likely to find anyplace else, and we think that you'll find our coverage compelling.
Yes, there will be banner advertisements. LinuxandMain.com is in some measure an experiment seeking to prove that a site devlted to the desktop use of Linux can support itself. You are helping that experiment succeed by being here, and you can help even more by clicking on the banners, checking out the products of our advertisers, and if those products appeal to you, buying them.
That's not, of course, the only way you can help us succeed. Your thoughts, comments, and story ideas are welcome. If you believe you have something to say that is of interest or benefit to other readers, we'd love to take a look at it.
A word about our design: We're keeping it as simple as possible. That's on purpose. We have enough respect for your time that we're not going to keep you waiting around for oodles of graphics and trick code to load. We do have our little logo -- the signpost is short enough that a penguin can read it -- but that's about it. (Our thanks to Larry Ewing for his wonderful Tux, on which the Tux in our logo is based.)
Make yourself at home. Look around. Take the tour. Keep in touch.

Dennis E. Powell
Editor and Publisher