IT Employment

Babui386,

Thanks for posting. However, as your query is off-topic here, I think you'd be better served posting your question in our Windows 2000 Server Technical Question and Answer Center. You can find it here: http://techrepublic.com.com/5204-6239-0.html?forumID=39&start=0.

Erik Eckel
TechRepublic Executive Editor

JimHM,

As my note mentioned, my plans call for making these guides available free for a specific period on TechRepublic.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Erik Eckel
TechRepublic Executive Editor

First I agree with Jim. Second technically you contradict yourself a bit...

"While these files will ultimately live on TechProGuild, we will make some of them available for a short period to all TechRepublic members."

That what your note read, the keyword here is *SOME*.

Here in this thread your message doesn't say *some*, it implies ALL.

Why this topic is being batted around here, I love how several of the books that TR sells for up to $89 a pop is basically a re-hash of the website. So I can PAY for a book or visit the site and get the same info?

I don't understand that.

ditto what Tom Sal said.

Well I must agree that with all the banners impressions I display each day and night, all the people who regulars exncourage to stay here and participate in discussions etc. It would be nice to see SOME free information from someone other than the peers that keep the site alive.

I can get free info from some of the world's top techs, and YES they are here and I have the privaledge of tapping into their experience as thousands of others have. If I want something from TR, I have to buy it?

Tell you what, you guys live up to YOUR end of the bargain and send out the elusive Top Geek prizes as you have said you would so many times and PERHAPS, I may encourage people to support TR by purchasing TPG memberships and goodies.

The prizes are not an issue in themselves, I have a coffee mug and don't drink coffee anymore, the point is, you gathered feedback, everyone was interested, you announced winners and.............

I guess it's a credibility issue?

Tom,

I'm hoping to test how well these new guides help IT professionals solve real-world challenges. I have no reservations about making the guides (either some or all of them) free on TechRepublic for a period of time, if they prove helpful to IT professionals.

If I'm correct assuming you'd prefer all these guides be made free (at least for some period), then your feedback is already helping shape the manner in which these tools are delivered.

Just as TechRepublic's books, CDs, and charts have proven popular by collecting content around specific topics and offering readers an optional (other-than-online) format, I'm hoping I can introduce other items IT professionals find valuable in overcoming the daily problems they face. But to make these guides valuable, I need more feedback on exactly what elements should be included and what topics you need covered.

Feel free to e-mail me directly at erik.eckel@techrepublic.com with any other questions or thoughts you have. I appreciate your sharing your opinion.

EE

Ok, first, I have to say I think we're all off topic complaining that there might be a cost before anyone's even seen the product. Second, if we all want to keep seeing free products, we might just have to accept the fact that the men and women writing these articles and guides that we all love to read/see/use do need to collect a paycheck just like the rest of us, so we need to be prepared to show some support for the projects, especially when they do meet our needs and provide materials we can work with. I admit, I do NOT subscribe to TechPro Guild because when I did test it a few years ago, I did not find the layout of the magazine very helpful at the time, and, yes, I had usually read all the articles I was interested in before the paper version arrive, but it may time for me to check it out again, especially with the addition of pieces like the Quickstart Guides. I think these guides could be very useful, and if they do work, from what I've read, the work that the TechRepublic folks are putting in deserves acknowledgement and, yes probably even, *gasp* money!

Thanks to Erik and everyone else at TechRepublic for providing us with TONES of free information, for all your hard work, and for continuing to provide us with new and better ways to obtain the information we need.

Kali

I've never posted on a subject before, but I feel like I have to at least give a little support to Kali and the TechRepublic staff. This is the only website that I have ever paid a subscription for, and I have been a member for a couple of years now. The membership fee is within reason and I know that the information that my staff and I can get is useful, relevant, and easy to find.
I think the user guides are a great idea, and a minimal fee for access to compiled research like this is more than fair.
Keep up the good work, TechRepublic - and thanks for asking for our opinions. My $89/year has saved me countless hours searching for information I can trust before purchases; given me great tips and insight into all areas of my profession; and saved my sanity a number of times. Resellers charge more than that for a one-hour "assessment" AND you can bet that they won't be handing me templates and do-it-yourself guides - or finding any 'Gotchyas'.

Keep up the good work and the low prices. It's a great value.