 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group New Publishing Venture Major Keary |
Syngress is the publishing arm of Global Knowledge, an American-based
company that provides certification courses, the texts for which arc published by Osborne McGrawHill.
In addition to those books a new professional reference series has been launched. The titles arc
easily identified by a common livery, so to speak, and were featured on the Collins stand at this year's PC
show.
The concept is innovative; information used in course texts has been reworked to provide in-depth coverage of
specific topics for technical professionals who need precisely focused reference material presented in clear
language. What I like about the format is that readers are not dumped into the information deep end, but at
the same time will not feel they are being patronised or fed superficial material.
Keeping Abreast of Change
Syngress also recognises that developments have a habit of overtaking printed material, often before the ink
is dry. In an environment where coping with rapid changes in technology is made more difficult by the
relentless release of new software versions and revisions, it is important to have resources that are not
just current at the time of writing, but which are maintained. Syngress provides "a Web-based service that
includes the following features: A one-year warranty against content obsolescence that occurs as the result
of vendor product upgrades. We will provide regular Web updates for affected chapters. Monthly mailings that
respond to customer faqs and provide detailed explanations of the most difficult topics, written by content
experts exclusively for solutions@syngress.com. Regularly updated links to sites that our editors have
determined offer valuable additional information on key topics. Access to Ask the Author' customer query
forms that allow readers to post questions to be addressed to our authors and editors."
Reprinted from the October 2000 issue of PC Update, the
magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
