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Dec 14, 2009

IBM Systems Magazine Plans Big Changes in January

By Evelyn Hoover

The other night my husband and I were struggling to close our storm door because the closer wasn't working properly. We pushed the lock button on the closer release, we adjusted various settings, but the door just wouldn't close.

Determined to find a solution to the problem I went online with the door's manufacturer and read the installation manual. I have to say that the manual wasn't very helpful. Then I found a short tips article on four steps to try if your closer doesn't work properly. I read it, walked back to the door, made one adjustment and magically, the door closed. Thank goodness for that tip. My next option was to remove the closer altogether. Not optimal, certainly, but it would work.

As an information consumer, I wanted that tip right then and there. I didn't want to wait for an answer. If my storm door manufacturer had a magazine or newsletter, I would want it to explain the value proposition of the door, not how to get the closer to function properly.

Similarly, if you're a systems administrator or a developer, do you want to wait for an entire month to get the tips and information that can help you quickly maximize the return on your technology investment? As an IT manager or CIO, on the other hand, a monthly magazine can give you IBM server strategy and trends in a well-written and engaging manner.

It is with this in mind, that IBM Systems Magazine is altering the format of its two editions focused on Power Systems customers. Beginning in January, we will unify the Power Systems--AIX and Power Systems--IBM i publications into one monthly magazine. The content of the print and digital versions of the publication will be strategic in nature, aimed at IT managers and C-level executives.

Not only will the unified magazine better serve the diverse needs of the magazine's readership, it will also better support IBM's Power Systems unification strategy.

The technical content, which is currently found in the back of the magazines, will remain separated by operating system platform (IBM i or AIX) to better serve readers AND will be moved exclusively online in an easily searchable format. The amount of technical content will also increase as the number of Web-exclusive articles is expected to climb. These changes should make the magazine's Web site a one-stop shop for technical AIX or IBM i information.

We also plan to introduce a second IBM i e-mail newsletter in coming months to further augment the amount of IBM i specific information delivered to our readership.

So what does this mean for you if you subscribe to one of our current Power Systems editions? If your job description is within C-Level or IT management and you currently receive either the IBM i or AIX edition(s) you will continue to receive the newly unified magazine beginning with the January 2010 issue. However, if your job title falls outside of C-level or IT management, or if you want to ensure your status as a subscriber and receive the magazine monthly in 2010, subscribe today.

If all of these changes weren't enough, we will also be launching a major redesign of IBM Systems Magazine, Power Systems and Mainframe editions in January. Our first major remodel of IBM Systems Magazine in more than five years--it's overdue. When your January issue lands in the mail, you'll notice more variety in the headlines, a new nameplate on the front, more easily digestible short articles and spot articles, a new approach to some departments and much more. We hope you agree that the redesigned publications are much more reader friendly and look more graphical in nature.

We think the Power Systems unification along with the redesign of both publications will be a win for all readers. Let us know what you think.

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Comments

As a technical writer for IBMSystemsMag.com, I for one am excited to have the technical content be online. I usually get so excited about a technology that I just can't wait to have it linked to from my blog and reference it on calls that I am on with RPG coders or call it out at conferences. Hopefully this will lead to additional cool online things like the ability to comment on articles so readers can give feedback (similar to how I am giving feedback right now).

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com

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