Tuesday, 08 February 2005, 14:14:33 EST

I regularly read a site called Slashdot. It used to be a rather good site for technical information; particularly, information related to open source software, mostly Linux. Since the Open Source Technology Group, formerly Open Source Development Network, bought the site it has increasingly become a pointless site to read. The site is woefully unmaintained and the founders of the site just don't seem to care about it any more. The people who approve new stories don't even bother to remember, or even check to see, if the story has been posted before. On top of all that, the stories are just plain lame ninety percent of the time. For example, a story was just approved that asks the Slashdot readers "how much they charge for technical support."

Granted, the site is for technical people and that is relatively on-topic, but come on, that is lame. If a someone cannot figure out what the going rate for a person of his qualifications is in his area then I don't think he is truly qualified for the position. Hell, just go to the local Best Buy, look at their price chart, and shave about twenty-percent off each price. Personally, the only time I play "technician" is for people like my family or close friends. I don't ask for any payment; I just accept whatever they feel like giving me. It could be as little as a cheap lunch or as much as the person can afford.

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Slashdot.org is entertaining and informing sometimes. I like to hear about what is about to hit the market right before word gets out. The do seemed to be very biased towards and OSS developments, and sometimes I get the feeling they are dramatizing the situations.

Posted by Mr Frosti on Tuesday, 08 February 2005, 14:36:21 EST.

I stopped taking /. seriously when someone posted the story about a sticker that increases cell phone battery life.

Posted by Jay on Tuesday, 08 February 2005, 16:53:17 EST.

Biased toward OSS? Do you understand what the website is and why it was founded? Plus, if you think that you get new information on Slashdot then you should really learn to read other websites. The stuff on Slashdot is, 9 times out of 10, old news.

Posted by James Sumners on Wednesday, 09 February 2005, 8:03:22 EST.

What's the big deal with asking about how much you should charge people for tech service? It's a big problem for some of us, with literally 20-30 people asking us for advice in a month. It's just a geek asking other geeks. And if you were looking to slashdot as your moral guide to technical news, I think you misunderstand why we have places like slashdot. Its not cnet, ok?

Posted by Ryan on Sunday, 13 February 2005, 0:55:05 EST.

You don't seem to have had a problem figuring out what to charge. In fact, you seem to have done what I suggested someone wanting to charge a specific rate do. It seems to me like you undercut the local repair shop by half.

The problem is that if you cannot figure out your own market then I don't think you should be trying to even compete in that market.

Posted by James Sumners on Sunday, 13 February 2005, 8:26:46 EST.