Which Computer Mags Still Publish Paper Copies?

[fine-tune]

I shouldn't feel creepy, or be surprised that monthly periodicals are quickly
dying off like many of the major newspapers. Still, I will miss PC Magazine,
Computer Shopper, and soon to be dead PC World. Like an idiot, I extended
my subscription to PC World for two more years. The magazine has shrunk
to the size of a fat pamphlet. I emailed their subscription department and
they practically swore that the paper edition would continue.

These three publications played an incredibly important role in the early days
of the pc. If you have copies going back to 1995 you'll laugh and be amazed
how quickly the pc evolved. How about a pc with 4 mb of ram for $5000!

I'm not saying they were the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I felt a lot
more informed with them than without.

I'm really not familiar with any of the lessor known computer mags. I'd occasionally
see some of them in racks at major book stores. I can't remember any of their
names. Are there any good substitutes that might survive in paper form for a
few more years?

[Lenp]

It's the sign of the times. Pay more, get less and be convinced it's better.
The paper issues of magazines had quality, permanence and were handy. Carry them on trips, in a briefcase, on the train and almost anyplace. Don't forget the time spent in the porcelain bowl room. Now you need a laptop, or a high powered cell phone with a costly service plan, that might not work where you are, just to read the news. It's Insane. Insane because some of the world thinks the rest of the world has great unlimited internet access because they do. Many areas have poor access so it takes forever for pages to load, if at all. Travel and you have to pay additional fees, like at airports and hotels. Why should I have to go to a TV station's website just to see the 'rest of the story'. The publishers are off loading their cost to print a magazine directly to us, we still pay the same subscription price and our overhead to read it increases, and yet, for whatever reason, we think it's OK! We pay $200 for software and get to print the 500 page manual or pay tech support to answer questions! We're being scammed. It's the 'shipping and handling charge' in disguise. Common sense is becoming extinct.

Len

[fine-tune]

I tell ya Lenp, you said everything I was thinking, only better!

The demise of information and opinion printed on paper is a threat
to the very foundation of a democratic nation. Unfortunately, not
many people seem to care!

PC Magazine was the first major computer mag that quit publishing,
as far as I know. We all knew it was coming. I started to investigate
various portable devices like netbooks, etc. What really got me angry
was the conversion of this open and accessible publication into a
carefully controlled proprietary file. I'm talking about Zinio Reader.
Once I pay for a publication I should be able to read it, eat it, or
use it as toilet paper! All of a sudden, hundreds of monthly periodicals
are converted into this ZNO file format. Your favorite magazines
are now going to be regulated like licensed software. A friend already
found a way to use Snag-It to convert the ZNO file into a PDF. Its
a long and tedious process.

I'm betting that all these publications that are converting to "online only"
are not going to get many subscription renewals. After awhile they will
become free to anyone who wants to read them. Frankly, I don't want
a "free" magazine or newspaper. Paying a small subscription fee is a
commitment. It shows advertisers that we are willing to pay for valuable
information. Many years ago a wealthy publisher tried to offer his magazines
for free. He quickly lost most of his advertisers.

If you're very young this stuff doesn't matter. Kids are addicted to the web
like heroin. All things electrical and mechanical have been my life, but the
end of the printed word is beyond my comprehension.

[Lenp]

AH HA!

At least there's another soul out there that feels the same way. I am always being acused of being cynical, but, I just have the unusual ability to hear the thunder before I see the lightning!.
I'm considering in investing in compressed air....Someday people will pay for it!

Len

[Robert Reed]

Been following this post with interest and came time to throw my 2 cents worth in. What Lenp posted, I coulld not have said better. Any news articles I get off the web seem incomplete and poorly written. I don't know what it is about 'pooters' - the screen is bigger and the print is bigger, but some how I do not seem to ingest its content and knowledge as fast as paper print such as a book. I just learn faster and more thoroghly with a book in my hand and in a comfortable chair than I ever can with a computer screen. This is espescially true with study material. Does any one else share that problem?

Just read your post while I was typing
I'm considering in investing in compressed air....Someday people will pay for it!

We already do at the service stations 25-50 cents a pop out hre!

[Lenp]

I guess the best approach is to vote with your wallet! Yes, I feel cheated since my multi-year subscription went from print to online without any options. I requested a refund from PC Mag, the silence was deafening. It almost borders on breach of contract! So you know how I'll vote. It's like when you go to the fast food burger syndicate. You look at the pictures over the counter and order a #4, which nowhere resembles what they stuff in the bag! But...It's OK........
Bait and switch is the term that really applies here.

Len

[reloadron]

Maximum PC still publishes on paper and I believe plans to remain so.

Lemp said:

I guess the best approach is to vote with your wallet! Yes, I feel cheated since my multi-year subscription went from print to online without any options. I requested a refund from PC Mag, the silence was deafening. It almost borders on breach of contract! So you know how I'll vote. It's like when you go to the fast food burger syndicate. You look at the pictures over the counter and order a #4, which nowhere resembles what they stuff in the bag! But...It's OK........
Bait and switch is the term that really applies here.

Couldn't agree more. I am seeing newspapers become online publications only.

Ron

[Robert Reed]

See what I mean. I never get the above print media!!!