Fred Langa And The Langalist - WE MISS YOU, FRED!

My biggest concern is that where Fred would occasionally mention topics of interest to Linux users, I wonder if the Windows Secrets marriage going to spell an end to coverage of anything except Windows. That would be a shame.

I used to subscribe to the paid version of both newsletters. I think I liked them better as separate entities.

I totally agree. Fred’s letter was a joy to receive, full of interesting stuff. Windows Secrets is disappointing. The old version was like receiving news from a buddy sharing the latest gossip. The new version is just another commercial sales pitch. Fred’s personal touch, so adored bya ll of his readers, is gone. What a pity!

here is a copy of an emial I just sent for your interest. Tried to send it to another address that I googled:

Dear Fred,
I have sent numerous emails to the new merged newsletter marked “attn Fred Langa”. They mostly concern the question that I keep asking as to whether or not you endorse the products that are now advertised in the newsletter. I have never gotten a single reply and my concern is that even though I addressed them specifically to you and in the last one asked for at least a confirmation that you were allowed to see them I still have gotten no reply. My suspicion is that you are not being allowed to see them. If this is the case then you are no longer in any real position with the newsletter that bears your name. If this is not the case and it is indeed you who is ignoring me then please just confirm that you did read this and that you simply do not wish to address the question and I will stop trying. I just think you should be aware that there are serious problems with the new newsletter that need to be addressed. PLEASE SEND SOME SORT OF REPLY if only to say I got it and I don’t want it!

I have cancelled my subscription and it is a shame.

Looks like I’m not the only one who feels betrayed by Fred Langa! I, like others who’ve commented note that any and all emails sent to Fred have gone unanswered. Windows Secrets is a joke, as it seems to be more of a platform for shoving ads down our throats. Fred’s original newsletter was “ad free” for paid subscribers, but that, along with his twice-a-week format went down the crapper. It’s now twice a month, and sometimes less, due to “site maintenance”.

I too question his actual role in this new format, as he seems to be almost an after thought, rather than a key player. Curious as to how much he got paid off for providing such a vast database of subscribers!

Don Naphen

Well Ron, the latest issue of Windows Secrets landed in my inbox yesterday and it was probably the worst yet! Three articles from Fred Langa, and nothing of substance (again).

Probably the most disappointing of all is the total lack of interaction between his readers, which was his signature prior to the merge. It appears that he now picks out a couple of topics to discuss and just rambles on. I’m guessing that he’s got other things going for him, as it doesn’t take 2 to 3 weeks between issues to put something like that together.

AND, still no response to my emails sent to him over the past month. No individual emails are listed for the group, so it’s impossible to know if any emails sent are actually received by the respective parties.

Maybe the’re being screened for content by someone in India (??) L O L !!

Don Naphen

FINAL Comments on Fred Langa:

This morning’s Windows Secrets had yet another bland offering by Fred Langa. To devote such a large amount of space advising people to be careful when plugging/unplugging USB devices, for fear of damaging the plug is a laugher. In his heyday, Fred often commented on how knowledgeable his reader base was, and, based on reader input, I’d have to agree.

At least he admitted to receiving input this time around, but apparently he has someone screening for negative comments. I’ve yet to see anything published in his newsletter that reflects the comments contained within this Blog Ron. For fear of beating a dead horse, I won’t add anything else, as it’s become a dead issue now. WHAT A SHAME !!

Don

Just found this site while searching for some old Winmag stuff. I’ve been a subscriber of Fred’s since the beginning, and I have to agree with everything that’s written here. Although I’m not ready to throw in the towel on Windows Secrets…..it’s not that bad, but it’s not on par with the original LangaList. I hate the ads, despite the fact I pay for it, and Fred’s content has been bland, he hasn’t even been writing the good stuff.

I have two guesses….a) Fred was on the verge of going under and had to find a partner; or b) the years of 60 - 70 hour weeks were just too much and he wanted a reduced role so he could spend more time with his family. I’d lean toward b), simply because he seemed to be successful for several years, I don’t see how he would suddenly be struggling. Also, I noticed in the new picture he has for Windows Secrets, he really doesn’t look good compared to previous photos. Sure he’s getting older, but in that recent picture, he’s gained a fair amount of weight and his face looks like one of a very stressed man.

I too have been a long time reader of the Langalist paid version. It was a pleasure looking forward to each upcoming addition because you always knew there were at least several topics of value. I recommended it to a lot of my computer associates. Not anymore. I have been waiting for improvement as all of you have. It is not happening and since ample time has passed for adjustment I doubt it ever will. My friends also agree. So it looks like we all have to fact the fact that Langalist is gone - for good. It was certainly the best while it lasted.
-=George=-
(¯`·._.·ns¢ävË·._.·´¯)
www.nscave.com

Ah…..what timing I’d say it is b.

Windows Secrets Newsletter • Issue 104 • 2007-04-19 • Circulation: over 270,000

By Brian Livingston

Our esteemed editor, Fred Langa, is taking a much-deserved sabbatical to ride his motorcycle coast-to-coast across the U.S. and back through Canada…..

Hell Dan and George,
Funny. My thoughts also when I read this as well. However, they are going to have Fred stop off at 4 clients home to tune up their systems. I recall many moons ago that Fred did something similar.:-)

I wish him well and a safe trip.

Thanks, Ron

Hi Don,
I hope you are wrong as well.
I sincerely hope that everything works out for the best.
Ron

Hi Don,
I agree. I think that Fred may have sold his subscription listings to this group. It is really a shame that things have turned out this way. I know a lot of us are extremely disappointed.

Ron

Hi Archie,
Thanks for your sharing your thoughts. Many of us feel the same way and do wish Fred all the very best.

Regards, Ron

Hi Thera,
I think you might be right. It is strange how this situation has turned out.
Thanks for your comments,
Ron

Hi Don,
It is a shame but there appears to be many of us who have to agree with your sentiments. Nobody likes to be deceived.
Ron

Hello Barb,
Thanks or sharing our thoughts with us and also your comments.

Like you, I still miss Fred as well.

Take care, Ron

Hi Karen,
I think most of us would agree that the new newsletter is a waste of time reading.
Ron

Hi Stephen,
Thanks for your comments and for sharing your thoughts.
Ron

Hi Mark,
“But I do miss the Langalist!”
So do I.
Ron

Hi Terri,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Regards, Ron

Hi, everyone.
I, too, have been very disappointed in “Windows Secrets” as a replacement for the old, much-loved, Langalist. And it clearly isn’t that Fred is still on his Sabbatical - we have had reports from him after his return, with photos, etc - but nothing like the old Fred - I even wonder did he write them himself? Anyway, this morning’s Windows Secrets arrived - no Fred at all!
I will certainly not be subscribing again to Windows Secrets. But, like so many of you, I wish Fred well, whatever has happened to him.

I was wondering myself. I thought it was just me. I subscribed to the new Windows Secrets. I was formerly a Langalist member and subscribed to BrianLivingston’s newsletter. I have most of the Windows secrets newsletters still unopened in my inbox. It seems to be okay material but I think a good computer magazine is better. Good luck to Fred. I hope he returns with some form of newletter.

This has to be the longest running blog ever, and also the most controversial. I have yet to see one positive remark since the changeover (translate that to SELLOUT). Since whatever columns include Fred are only in the “paid” version of Windows Secrets, chances are that a new generation will never have the opportunity to even know who Fred is/was. That’s the real shame of it all Ron.

Can’t believe that neither he nor his cohorts have ever responded to the volumes of negative comments directed at him/them !! I’ve been out of the loop with their current publication now for about a year, so maybe you or other readers can fill me in on what’s going on there? I still have that gut feeling that Fred had some major personal issues at home and had to bail out to come up with some heavy cash for legal expenses. Just my hunch, but it’s the only logical conclusion I can come up with. Nothing else makes any sense.

I was just sitting at my laptop this morning (1/1/08 - 7:00AM) and thought about how much I missed Fred Langas articles and such so I Googled “Langalist was better” and found this…
To make a long intro a bit shorter I have officially dropped my subscription to “Windows Secrets” .

I thought that I would share my email in response to the last message I received from editor@wondowssecrets.com concerning the renewal of my subscription.

We all MISS YOU Fred!!

************************
To: Editor
Subject: My reason for unsubscribing….RE: Renewal Notice for Windows Secrets Newsletter

I am not sure if this will get to someone but I believe this needs to be said. If you feel a rebuttal is necessary then I would be happy to receive it.

For many (9) years I was a subscriber to Fred Langa’s newsletter. It was full of good stuff, involved almost every reader (it felt personal) and it had stuff for almost every range of skill (newbie to professional).

There was always some sort of freeware/open source application mentioned. Even on a boring week the topics covered a security issue quick and neat and moved on.

He gave many webmasters their start on the Web by sharing their links online with his “Load the Code” offer. Sure, sometimes it would suck to get published because the bandwidth would go through the roof but even then it wasn’t so bad. I mean, you made the “Langa List!!!” for gosh sakes.

Since Fred has become a sort of “Editor-at-large” and merged his newsletter it has become more business oriented. Not personal and fun. The articles are full of almost useless info and strange “investigative reporter” style tech news.

I have found, as well as many people in techno circles, other newsletters that aren’t covering the latest “Microsoft Flaws” news that is all over the web anyway. They field user questions often and give us insights into the guts of Windows and computing from many aspects.

Windows Secrets has yet to give me anything Fred gave me…It gives me some sort of political “Microsoft Secrets” but I want something I can use, not gossip and slander. “He said; She said” crap.

To that I say, “Let the subscription expire”

We miss you Fred!!
*******************

Now its no literary masterpiece but I believe it gets the point across enough to say “We need a -Fred Langa-!” I wonder if Brian even got this email? If so, could Windows Secrets ever get close to what Fred did??
Would they even care…
Until they do they will be less one subscriber.
It’s the AT&T of tech newsletters… too big and too worried about the bottom line.
I can almost hear Mr. Livingston say “We have advertisers to worry about, lets get on it people!!”

I’m a late comer, but I liked Fred’s original newsletter. It actually had good stuff in it. I get tired of Brian always talking about clean-installing an upgrade copy of windows. It was a good article LAST YEAR.

Just ead the latest mostly useless issue of Windows Secrets. Very sad to read that Fred is retiring for good. I am sure we all wish Fred well with his future plans. WS has offered little and without Fred it is only good for a soap opera read.

I have also stopped being a subscriber because of the change. Windows secrets newsletter plain sucks. I would like to recommend another newsletter that I think is of equal caliber, but different though. You can find it here www.techsupportalert.com

Im a paying subscriber there.