We've learnt today that Acorn User magazine are currently looking for comments and input from the RISC OS userbase on a couple of subjects. Seeing as we know you're all dying to tell them what you think, you might like to offer some direction for the long running magazine.Firstly, Acorn User are inviting users to comment on what they think about the Castle buyout of RISC OS. Judging from the comments posted on drobe.co.uk, the reaction is pretty positive with most sensible queries answered here and here. A NoughtPointOne poll on iconbar.com shows the majority of voting users felt that Castle's move was a good one, while a quarter of voters were concerned about what the acquisition meant for other companies.
Secondly and most importantly, Acorn User are putting together an FAQ for their website that promises to be "an honest, tell it like it is, statement about Acorn User and its relationship to the Acorn market". If you have any questions you want to ask to the only newstand dwelling RISC OS publication then fire off an appropiate email to faq@acornuser.com.
Running a full monthly publication for a platform of our size is a tricky business both in terms of producing sufficient monthly content and editorial and also in terms of keeping your finances in the black. Acorn User's FAQ may be in response to the levels of criticism the magazine has received from some quarters although we hope the Acorn User team will avoid laying a guilt trip on us all.
It hopefully will be an insightful public statement on Acorn User's view of the RISC OS world and how it intends to serve our tiny community. Will it pledge to chase up companies and developers on things the end user public are eagerly awaiting? Great, RISC OS now has PCI and USB, so how about all those drivers? When do we get pre-emptive multitasking? Stop us if we're being unreasonable.
The summer months, being the long stretch between the key Autumn and Spring UK RISC OS shows, are always slow for news but that surely means extra pages for features. AU's July and August issues cover a range of subjects. Rivals like the bi-monthly Acorn Publisher are certainly packing in the content so there should be no excuse for complaining of lack of topics to scribble about.
Acorn User have seen RISC OS through thick and thin and we're not refering to their page count. With so much on the horizon, a farewell FAQ from AU would be a big disappointment.
Links
Acorn User magazine