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News PC Mag goes online, ditches mag

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Tim S, 21 Nov 2008.

  1. Tim S

    Tim S OG

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  2. _DTM2000_

    _DTM2000_ Minimodder

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    I can see this being the direction that many magazines will go in the near future and I don't think that's a bad thing in general.
    For the type of magazines that I read (computer, Hi-Fi and car), on-line distribution is perfectly acceptable in my opinion. You don't get any less from the reading experience and you get the bonus of it being free and not cluttering up your house.

    I can see some types of magazines being less easy to move on-line. Fashion magazines for example are synonymous with the "glossy magazine" image and many of their readers would object to loosing the experience of turning the pages and staring at the shiny photos of unachievable standards of beauty. The high end fashion magazines are also a status symbol and I'm sure many of their readers would prefer to be seen reading a glossy copy of Vogue rather than some electronic equivalent. At least until electronic paper becomes more widespread.
     
  3. CandiceC

    CandiceC What's a Dremel?

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    That kinda sucks...

    What about the people that registered for 2 years of PC Mag within the past few months? I recall it being about $80... I bought the subscription for my husband's birthday because he loves that magazine. :sigh:
     
  4. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    You certainly used to be able to cancel a subscription at any time and receive a full refund for any issues that hadn't yet shipped, so I'd imagine that you'll get your money back.
     
  5. CowBlazed

    CowBlazed What's a Dremel?

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    Just bring your netbook to the the "loo" lol.
     
  6. CandiceC

    CandiceC What's a Dremel?

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    I hope so; I did do it through a 3rd party though, maybe I have a receipt somewhere. That is a pity that they are stopping that... the ever growing pile of magazines under my coffee table was looking rather handsome.... :rolleyes:
     
  7. HourBeforeDawn

    HourBeforeDawn a.k.a KazeModz

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    I think most magazines relating to any field will soon be digital subscription based why because by the time you get the mag the info inside is already a month or more old, but I guess we can blame sites like Bit-Tech =p for bring the latest news to our finger tips without having to pay forcing these poor mag companies to sell two year subscriptions for like 10.00 lol (thank you Maximum PC for that one) in order to just stay afloat lol
     
  8. Faulk_Wulf

    Faulk_Wulf Internet Addict

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    I loved Maximum PC for a long time but I find that all the parts reviews are outdated by the time I get it. Between Bit-Tech and Engadget and then more arbitrary one-off sites. Some of their how-to's are very well done, but when some issues just don't apply to my interests I have to wonder why I'm playing $32 a year for a subscription. Not that I'm knocking their efforts, its just that printed media isn't a good mesh for technology in this day and age. Maybe E-paper + WiMax where the next issue is downloaded to your E-paper/reader when its ready. But I more likely see the evolution to downloading an online PDF version of the magazine to your E-paper/reader / E-reader for reading on the go. I think we'll see alot of this as time goes on. The bigger question is this: Would you pay for a subscription to a "Magazine Site". (Since it would be the equivalent of buying the magazine.) What would you be willing to pay? Should it be $X.00 a month for access to the new content of the month and access to any previous purchases? Or would it be a yearly subscription with access to the whole website? Thoughts?
     
  9. HourBeforeDawn

    HourBeforeDawn a.k.a KazeModz

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    Well CPU Magazine charges $7.00 for a one year digital subscription to their magazine, I think sub $10.00 a year could be worth the cost in those respects and this of course allows you to view online or download a pdf version but again with sites already providing such news is it worth it still?
     
  10. zimbloggy

    zimbloggy Genius Extraordinaire

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    I had been a suscriber in the past year. I can see that they might of been in trouble, there kept getting more and more ads.
     
  11. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    Who cares?

    We got bit-tech's up-to-the-minute reports and reviews. Who needs the old news of the printed tech mags?

    I -for one- see user dependent publishing in the near future, webzines that build themselves based on user interests. I see PC Magazines move as a move towards this direction.

    (eg: remember -back in 2004- when Reason magazine released an issue with satellite photos of the subscribers house on the cover and their name printed in the cover heading?)
     
    Last edited: 22 Nov 2008
  12. minilogoman

    minilogoman Wannabe Modder

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    in my opinion since the magazine is all about PC's then it makes sense to have it on your pc.
     

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