Each month I receive dozens of magazines (the picture below shows the pile created by one months worth of magazines that arrived in my mailbox), the vast majority of them are free advertising paid for drivel (my predcessor had a thing for free tech rags). I actually pay for and read regularly just four technical magazines.
Windows IT Pro: I first read this magazine in college when it was called Windows NT Magazine (since 1999 it has gone through the names Windows 2000 Magazine and Windows and .NET Magazine before settling on the current name). Previews of new Microsoft software, reviews of all sorts of enterprise software, and indepth how-to articles continue to make this a must read for all Windows administrators.
SysAdmin: A magazine geared toward the professional unix adminstrator (with details for Solaris and Linux most frequently). Each month is obstensibly filled with articles centering around a theme. While the articles don't always relate too closely to the theme, they are always filled with serious technical know how and real world experiences from the authors.
2600: The Hacker Quarterly: Not a magazine that has much immediately applicable knowledge for my job, but one that continues to encourage me to be paranoid and think cynically about businesses and the world.
Computer Power User:
This magazine aims for the gaming, modder, and obsessive tweaker
audiences. While they do focus a good deal on the latest and greatest
videocards and processors, there are plenty of articles on useful
utilities and troubleshooting tips that make it a worthwhile read. If I
weren't interested in the rest of the articles for my non-work life it
probably wouldn't be worth the subscription though.
