AfriBiz`s MD K Le Roux announces today the company`s undertaking to start SA`s first open source magazine/newspaper.
Le Roux says: "We believe there is a need for an open source magazine/newspaper in SA. However, we are not going to jump into this without a proper feasibility survey. Currently there is no such publication available for open source developers, interested people and users in SA. These guys have to make use of the Internet or buy expensive overseas magazines that do not necessarily reflect South African reading.
"We placed a feasibility survey on our Web site (http://www.afribiz.co.za/survey.html) and really need people to go there and complete a five-question survey that will take them about one minute to complete. With this data we can then make a decision on starting the magazine/newspaper or not.
"The aim of this magazine/newspaper is to promote open source software, technologies and operating systems in SA and to help open source developers to have a place to showcase their GPL open source products for free. We are also very keen on having a section for each Linux user group in SA to publish events, noteworthy stuff, etc.
"If this survey proves to be successful, we will be launching a content survey to establish the content of our publication. The content is what will make this publication successful and not advertising like so many other publications believe. It is frightening to see what is left of some magazines/newspapers if all the advertisements are taken out. It makes me think of those very hairy dogs that are just skin and bone when they are shaved.
"The third survey will establish the format of the publication, and have lots to do with pricing. We are trying to have this magazine/newspaper sold dirt-cheap and believe it is possible to do.
"This magazine/newspaper is also intended to get the truth out there and get businesses to see that open source is not the big scary beast some try to make it out to be. The idea will be to pick up one of these magazines/newspapers and to see for yourself what open source is all about. In the past just a few knew about open source South African events, successful open source implementations, etc, because they knew where to look for it.
"If the readers agree with our ideas we will have lots of reviews on software, books, hardware, technologies, etc, to help them make better decisions, so this publication is also intended to teach. But these things will be covered in our second survey.
"Already help is streaming in from all over, proving again the commitment of the open source community. It is good to know we are not alone and to know we have a support system behind us that is so overwhelming."
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