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Posts tagged Group Test
Linux User & Developer, Issue 100
0380 days
by Gareth
in Published Work
To celebrate Linux User & Developer magazine’s 100th issue milestone, editor Russell Barnes asked me to work on a special feature looking at the top ten Linux distributions around.
To say it was a monumental undertaking is something of an understatement: compiling a list that won’t have readers frothing at the mouth with rage that their favourite distribution is nowhere to be seen wasn’t easy, and every distribution needed to be downloaded, installed, tested and documented.
Each of the ten distributions – plus a handful that didn’t make it into the full list but are worthy of note – needed proper testing, if only to create the screenshots: each one customised so that the same applications were open in the same spot on the screen, making it easy to quickly compare the visual appearance of each distro.
Add in to that interviews with developers and community members to offer readers a feel for the people behind each of the operating systems on offer, and you’re looking at a lot of work and not a few sleepless nights.
Thankfully, it turned out great, with the art and layout teams working hard to turn it into a real centrepiece for the magazine’s celebrations.
This issue also sees a review of the DreamPlug ARM-based microserver, as a follow up to an earlier review I wrote covering its Marvell SheevaPlug predecessor.
More information is available over on the Linux User & Developer website.
Linux User & Developer, Issue 99
0410 days
by Gareth
in Published Work
For this month’s Linux User & Developer magazine, a twofer: my regular group test, this time looking at media players, and a review of the Axigen Messaging email server.
The group test was a relatively simple one this month: looking at client applications is always a pleasure, and with media players it’s just a question of rating the appearance, functionality and performance to arrive at a ‘best of the best.’
That’s not to say it doesn’t take time: each package on test needs to be researched, installed, tested and then screenshots taken to ensure the piece isn’t just a wall of words.
For the review, things were a bit more difficult: Axigen is a powerful piece of kit, and requires configuration before it can be used. Drawing on experience gained in my previous life as a sysadmin – with a shudder – meant it wasn’t too difficult, despite VirtualBox doing its best to keep the software’s web-based user interface hidden from my laptop’s browser.
More information is available over on the Linux User & Developer website.
Linux User & Developer, Issue 98
0441 days
by Gareth
in Published Work
My first full cover feature for Linux User & Developer magazine, my group test this month was a rare hardware bonanza looking at four of the top Android-based tablets.
Hardware group tests are a rarity: firstly, it’s often difficult to find Linux-specific hardware that will appeal to the magazine’s readership, and secondly it’s damn-near impossible to find four such beasts of the same flavour from different manufacturers to pit against one another.
The recent tablet boom, however, changed that, and gave me a chance to get my hands dirty testing some fun kit; much of it well out of my pocket money’s range.
More information is available over on the Linux User & Developer website.
Linux User & Developer, Issue 97
0469 days
by Gareth
in Published Work
For this month’s Linux User & Developer, the final part of my Arduino tutorial trilogy alongside a group test of the best and brightest disaster recovery live CDs.
The latter is a topic very close to my heart: as an ex-sysadmin, Linux live CDs have saved my life – or career, at least – on numerous occasions, and if you’re not aware of some of the impressive features available in a free-as-in-speech emergency repair distro you’re missing out.
Finishing the Arduino feature is bittersweet: it’s true that writing and debugging code isn’t exactly my strong suit, but I’m pleased with how it turned out. It’ll be nice to have the evenings back now it’s done, though.
The Arduino series was always a gamble, as it’s something of a departure from the magazine’s normal fare; thankfully, editor Russell Barnes took a punt. Response has been good, and I certainly wouldn’t be averse to doing something similar in the future – once I’ve had a rest!
Full details are available over on the Linux User & Developer website.
