I just signed up for the electronic (computer) version of Trains and cancelled the paper version. I love it; I can read it on my computer and, when desired, among other things, I can change the font, etc.
Maybe someone else has posted this topic, but I have not seen it.
My congratulations to the Trains for recognizing the need to deliver the content of the magazine in as modern a media as possible. This may be a way to bring more young people into the fold.
I had not realized this was available. Interestingly, it appears to be a $10 add-on to the paper subscription or a same cost replacement for paper but not a reduced cost replacement. Kalmback is NOT “going bravely where no man has gone before.” Nevertheless, I just might try it.
I do subscribe to another magazine in digital format. The price is something around 2/3’s of the print version. I do so mostly because I live at the far end of the postal delivery system, so digital is a much quicker and more reliable method.
Interestingly, I can’t claim any green bonus points for going digital. A substantial portion of the time I print the magazine so I can read it whenever/wherever some slack time occurs.
Print works in environments where electronics fear to tread.
There are days I get tired of staring at the computer and would prefer to snuggle up in my recliner with an interesting magazine.
I prefer to snuggle up with a member of the opposite sex or my cat. Having said that, there are several advantages to print magazines, although they are becoming more and more difficult for me to identify. However, after four editions of digital Trains, I am happy to say that I made a good choice.
Reading digital Trains takes a big of getting use to, but once I had a handle on it, I would not go back to print. I read it on an iMac, which has one of the best computer displays that I have ever seen. This from a person who used Windows PCs for more than 30 years before making the switch last year.
The pictures are crystal clear. Moreover, when my old eyes get weary, I can change the font to whatever size that I like, read on one page or on double pages, and skip around effortlessly.
In addition to MR, I receive may technical (computer network) journals. They are available on line, but I do not read them there. If you must know, they are in the bathroom so that I can read them when I sit down.
ROAR
I have been told that the e-book format is not so good for graphics. Is that an issue with e-book readers, as opposed to a computer and monitor? I don’t see any limitation to graphics on the computer. Is there any graphics limitation with e-books that would not be there with an on-line magazine?
You are correct! E-book readers don’t do a very good job with graphs, maps, and tables, although they are getting better. I am not reading Trains on my e-book; I am reading it on my iMac, which has the best display of any computer that I have owned or seen. The pictures, maps, graphs, etc. come across better than in the magazine. Importantly, I can zoom in on a map or graph much easier than reading it in the print magazine.
My first e-book reader was a Barnes and Noble Nook First Edition. I love it. I also got a Kindle Touch last Christmas because some e-books are available at Amazon that are not available at B&N and vice versa. In addition, sometimes there is a significant price difference between the two vendors. My first choice is to buy my book from B&N. The company is financially stressed, and I want them to stay in business. In addition, for me a happening is a trip to one of B&N’s bookstores.
The Kindle Touch does a better job with graphs and tables, primarily because it has a zoom and a rotation feature that the First Edition Nook does not have. However, the Nook Simple Touch, I believe, has these features. E-readers are not a good option for coffee table books or books with a lot of pictures, especially if they are in color and that is important to the reader, but the iPad or a similar tablet is an option for these books.
I have bought numerous railroad books for my Nook, including Nothing Like it in the World, Rival Rails, Railroaded, Sunset Limited, etc. I like reading them on my Nook.
iPads can be taken to the bathroom.
Just be careful not to turn on the facetime app.
Thanks for that information Sam. I suppose the capabilities of reader devices will eventually get really good at displaying graphics. I am working on a small book, and facing the bewildering array of possibilities for getting it published. One of those possibilities is e-book, but I was cautioned about the poor capability for displaying graphics. I would say there are massive changes coming to publishing, in every conceivable format, probably including discussion forums like this one.
mmmm…on my iPhone I can plug my guitar into an ampsim and jam away with my own self without waking up the entire neighbourhood…the graphics part…well…
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irig/
There are a ton of apps like this out there…some with good graphics and some…weeeelllll…
I guess one of the reasons I prefer print is the inability of someone to rewrite what I have in paper and ink. Unless they want to send a fireman. Think Fahrenheit 451 or 1984.
A couple of years ago Amazon removed a book from readers that they did not have permission to release. Ironically it was one of the two books mentioned.
Thx IGN
I have found that I read better and more thoroughly from a book than from a screen (I tend to skim when I read from a computer screen). The same applies to my morning newspaper. It’s also easier to page back with a book than with some trendy electronic device.
What happens if you cancel your digital subscription a few years from now ? Will you still be able to go back and retrieve or download the issues from when your subscription was valid ?
Or do you have to download them as you go, and then archiving and retrieving them is your responsibility ?
Similarly, what happens if the software that is used to encode (publish) and read the magazines changes ? Who’s responsible for being able to read the older issues ? (“backwards compatibility”)
Do you then skip past all the ads ? Wonder how the advertisers feel about that ? I can’'t avoid at least glancing at them as I read an article on the same page, or turn the pages, etc.
I still subscribe to Trains as print-only, but several other of my magazines come in both versions, as well as some that are ‘on-line only’. Most maddening is when some connection problem or software setting prevents accessing the digital website.
Also, turning the pages digitally is still much slower than with the ‘hard-copy’ version.
Several of the organizations I belong to have decided to publish their newsletters on-line ONLY. My problem with on line publication is - Out of Sight, Out of Mind. If you don’t see it, you don’t even think about it. When a magazine or newsletter shows up in your mailbox, you at least SEE it, reading it or not is up to you. When you don’t see something, you will rarely think about it.
Zinio is hoisting the digital version of Trains. They send me an e-mail when the latest edition is available to look at. It is not quite the same as seeing it in the mailbox or having it on a table, but it works for me, especially given that I am on the computer every day that I am in town.
I like my paper copy of Trains or any magazine for that matter. Throw it on that table beside the chair and you’ll get around to reading it at some point. With everyone jumping to ipods, tablets, and kindles for newspapers and magazine I guess I’m just staying in the past.