I think something like that as a BARE MINIMUM would work. Although I would label it "PCLinuxOS online Users Manual" or something along that line so those new to PCLOS will know that it is a reference book containing help files.
Ultimately though, I'd like to see a help file that could be downloaded directly onto the system using a "Get PCLinuxOS Users Manual" icon or something like that. Maybe a pdf file as Parnote mentioned. Also, I think its important to label it as a users manual. Otherwise the casual user may think its just some geek magazine. You can give credit to the PCLOS Magazine team when the dialog opens and in the 'About PCLOS Users Manual" section.
I think a searchable/indexed pdf file as Parnote mentioned might work ok. I was also wondering if you could you use the same program that the KDE Help Center uses? That appears to be a searchable data center. Could you use the same basic program that the KDE Help Center uses to open the PCLOS User Manual? Could you import the data and the basic layout that's already setup on the PCLOS Magazine website into that program? You may want to give is a different appearance but would that work?
All of your ideas are good ones. The problem (that I see) is still a problem of resources. My perspective may be a bit different, having served as the magazine's chief editor for well over a year. For example, I know how "difficult" it sometimes is to come up with articles for the magazine. And there are a myriad of reasons ... someone doesn't think they are a good enough writer ... another person promises articles (with great intentions) but never follows through or produces them ... "life" gets in the way, which is a huge one, given the fact that all of us who contribute to the magazine volunteer our time and services, and each of us has to hold down jobs, families, and all the responsibilities that go along with them ... and some folks just simply "move on."
Also, each time there was a new major release of PCLinuxOS, or there was a new major release of a desktop environment (such as what happened when KDE moved from 3.5.x to 4.x, or the upcoming release of Gnome 3.0), it would require some serious re-writes to remain current, if it's to be truly helpful.
Like I said, your ideas are great ones, and the plan is ambitious, even for a commercial OS with lots of resources and $$$ and paid staff. Even some of the "best" documentation for Windows comes from third-party publishers ... NOT Microsoft (who tends to suck at documenting their own stuff).
If we were to attempt something on a smaller scale, all of these things will need to be taken into consideration. And, most likely, it will require the user to at least have a net connection. One way that I've tried to bridge the gap is with the production of the "special editions" of the magazine. Recently, we've released the KDE 4 Special Edition and the Command Line Interface Intro Special Edition. There are additional "special editions" of the magazine planned for the near future.
I'm certainly open to any and all suggestions (and discussion) on this topic.
Paul Arnote [parnote]
PCLinuxOS Magazine Chief Editor
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