This is a real head scratcher for me. Kalmbach would benefit from having subscribers drop their paper copy for a digital one. It costs a fair amount of money to print a magazine, so eliminating the print version for customers that wish to do so would be a nice addition to their bottom line. Charging an additional “punitive” fee for those users to receive the digital edition kind of defies logic, in my opinion.
I’d pay the “extra” $10 if I could just get it alone as a digital copy and drop the paper copy. Other than bandwith and maybe a few digital images for redundancy and server load, the cost to host a digital magazine can not equal the cost of printing the same thing. Pass the savings onto the customer Kalmbach and maybe ring in a few new subscribers! Heck, I’d so much as up my $10 to $12 for a dollar a month lol.
The thing is, if they can offer it for $10 extra if you already subscribe to paper, they can offer it alone in the $10-20/year range for just digital copies. I’m sure as heck not going to pay the same paper price for something I can’t physically archive for rainy days when my computer/kindle crashes or the electric is out, or Kalmbachs servers are down etc etc.
I haven’t looked at a digital copy yet, but how is it handled? Is it loaded via web page like a normal web site? Is it a monthly PDF you download and keep? Do they allow access to older digital copies at no extra charge?
There is a large benifit to both Kalmbach and us to go digital, but at the price for paper copies? I’ll pass.
Kalmbach uses Zinio to distribute the electronic version. Your stuff stays there, and you can either download it to your reader device via their app, or you can read directly on their web site. You can have multipel devices with the Zinio app pointed to the same account and read the same material in more than one palce. Don’t think it syncs the pages though, so if you leave off on page 50 on the web site and then go to your tablet it won’t remember that.
The app is free and available on all the major platforms. They have tons of other magazines you cna subscribe to as well. When I created my Zinio account they offered $25 free to get other magazines or books, I ended up subscribing to 2 other magazines in addition to the $10 for the digital add-on of MR.
-Randy
I agree, if the e copy is an extra $10, with the paper copy, why isn’t it available by itself for $10? I’m sure some profit from the paper copy softens the cost of the e copy, but all the employees involved in printing, shipping and storing leftover copies…that’s gotta add up quick! I’d love to see these savings, or increase the web content (more free videos to subscribers please!).
If many of us switched to the e copy, print copies may go up in price (basic supply and demand curve?), or (worst-case scenario) we all save money by getting e copies but put all the printers out of work…adding to the unemployment. I guess the printing business isn’t as long term as some may think…things change so fast sometimes, usually for the good, but the transition can be tough.
There is a Hobbyist magazine for the Modelrailroader (I don’t want to drive any business away from Kalmbach, so I won’t offer a direct link (but if you rearrange the capitalized words, you’ll find it). I’ve read a few of these issues, but always turn to MR as the benchmark for this hobby (it’s great to have several sources for information!).
I read the same e-zine as well, but kept my MR subscription, and plan to continue doing so. There are different business models and types of presentation. I like getting multiple perspectives, so I don’t see an either/or where MR should worry about losing me as a customer. The same seems to hold true for others I know who read more than one magazine every month.
Yeah, but digital is hard to handle in the bathroom, where the mag does fine with one hand.
Bob
Your e-reader doesn’t work in the bathroom?
What about your e-reader takes more hands than a magazine?
Some comparisions of current magazine pricing:
Model Railroader- Paper $42.95 Digital $42.95 Paper & Digital $52.95
Railroad Model Craftsman- Paper $37.95 Digital $37.95 Paper & Digital $47.95
National Geographic- Paper $15.00 Paper & Digital $19.95
Popular Science Paper- $14.97 Digital $14.99
Popular Mechanics Paper- $12.00 Digital $12.97
Popular Photography- Paper $12.00 Digital $14.95
The price for Model Railroader’s digital editions appears to be in line with the current magazine publishing industry practice
MR is the only magazine I subscribe to period and this forum to me is priceless. Other magazines may be cheaper but do they have a forum equal to this one?
I paid $10 for the digital version and have read and read it more times than the paper copy. For me the digital copy is worth the money and I suspect Kalmback will adjust prices in the future as readers make their choice known
So all things considered Kalmbacks imo is right on track.
Bob
That’s one of the reasons why I’m sticking with the print magazine and not going digital. Plus, the only electricity or power you need for the print magazine is the light to read it.
Also, I’m allowed to read the print magazine where and when I want. At my job, we’re no longer allowed to bring personal electronic devices or laptops to work. We’re also not allowed to have cell phones or personal items (except two small framed pictures) on our desks. And since the company is now firing employees for using company computers for personal uses, there is no way for me to be able to read a digital magazine at work. That would leave reading it at home on either my PC or laptop which, after doing tech support all day, I don’t want to be in front of a computer all night or weekend.
We are allowed to take books, print magazines, homework, etc. to occupy our time between calls, so the print magazine is the only option for me.
Kevin
“portable” meaning I have it with me all the time, since I ALWAYS carry my phone and/or tablet. ANd it’s smaller than a print magazine and lighter than a print book. I read. A LOT. And trying to read in bed with a 700+ page hardback book it gets heavy. Plus you need a light on. My phone or tablet are both far lighter and self-illuminating. Much more convenient. ANd if I go to an appointment and have to wait, I already have my phone so I can read a few pages. Whipping out my own magazine, I dunno, just something I’ve never done
–Randy
Exactly. The three biggest costs in publishing magazines are the physical production, postage, and store returns. Digital takes all of that away, but adds bandwidth costs, which is less than postage. The salaries of IT professionals to create a digital version and maintain an online “store” are higher than mail room employees, but far fewer people are required.
Of course, the volume of physical issues sold probably outweighs digital by a factor of 1,000 to 1 right now. But things are changing. Kalmbach aren’t the only people trying to find their way in this new realm. While MR relies heavily on advertising to cover expenses, they are not getting the kind of ad revenue mainstream publications get, so it’s unlikely they’ll ever sell digital versions much cheaper than the print version, but the subscriptions have never been as cheap as magazines like Time or SI anyhow.
At this point, I think having the option to buy individual issues would be a good start. RMC already does this through their app, but I’d prefer something that would be readable in iBooks or Kindle instead.
EDIT: Just looked at the Zinio site for the first time. Apparently, you can buy single issues of MR directly from their newsstand. Kalmbach needs to promote this more. Buying a single issue will be a nice way to see if it’s worth it before subscribing.
Barnes and Noble sells individual digital copies or subscriptions for their Nook Color.
I use the Zinio reader for Mike Holmes’ Make It Right (which is/was $15 for 10 issues). As I view on my 24inch monitor, I get two full color pages in that are life size (actually somewhat larger). The reader provides multi-page up viewing, table of contents, searching and live links.
Of course, the monitor (and computer) is in the home office, so it’s not portable. However, given my 65 yo eyes, I don’t think I would enjoy reading this on a reader or tablet.
You might be surprised. The screen on my Touchad, and on an iPad, is about the size of a hardback book. Bigger than a paperback, smaller than a magazine. The smaller tablets and paperback size or smaller, definitely not ideal for magazine size publications. Plus you can zoom, although with a magazine’s typical format of a column continuing to the bottom of the page and then resuming back at the top of the page, this is less than ideal.
–Randy
I agree with Brake, I’d rather have the paper. But for you other guys that’s fine. Just as long as its not forced on us like DCC is…
DCC is forced on us? I must have missed that memo. Don’t tell all the guys in here who are still running DC.
I’m still driving with DC block control and have no immediate plans to change over to DCC.
Wayne