Do you read digital versions of glossy magazines on your device?

KenJackson · 12-18-2010, 08:24 AM

I just switched from paper to digital when I renewed my subscription to Linux Journal.

Of course, unfortunately, it's published as PDF. I'm not very happy with the format at all, though at least the text is laid out in narrow columns in print, so it's not to hard to read. But going from column to column and page to page is confusing and the TOC doesn't seem to work very well. I've asked them to also produce an epub version, but I've received no response so far.

Is anyone reading a magazine on their reader, especially a 6" reader, and enjoying it?

Crowl · 12-18-2010, 08:52 AM

I gave it a try, but on the whole wasn't that impressed and indeed comics and magazines were one of the primary reasons why I also got an ipad to go with my ebook reader.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 12-18-2010, 09:07 AM

The Nook Color is essentially designed for reading color PDFs. (I'm planning to use it for just that, myself.) If you can get yourself to a Barnes & Noble, I'd check one out.

RoboRay · 12-18-2010, 05:59 PM

It all comes down to the software being used to read the PDF, rather than the screen-size.

For Android-based devices, the ezPDF reader can automatically zoom into a single column of a multi-column document and one click takes you from the bottom of the current column to the top of the next one. I haven't used it on a PDF magazine, though, so I'm not sure how it would cope with such a varied layout of text and graphics.

For dedicated readers without third-party software capability, you're at the mercy of the hardware provider's support, though.

mldavis2 · 12-19-2010, 09:20 AM

No. I use a Kindle for text, and an adequate-sized laptop or desktop LCD screen for PDF or anything with photo or drawings. It is screen-size for me -- zooming is a nuisance and small screens are a non-starter. The main reason for magazine color is illustrations or pictures, and a good photo is simply inadequately displayed in either small screen or zoomed into small sections. Just my opinion....

Sweetpea · 12-19-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoboRay

It all comes down to the software being used to read the PDF, rather than the screen-size.

For Android-based devices, the ezPDF reader can automatically zoom into a single column of a multi-column document and one click takes you from the bottom of the current column to the top of the next one. I haven't used it on a PDF magazine, though, so I'm not sure how it would cope with such a varied layout of text and graphics.

For dedicated readers without third-party software capability, you're at the mercy of the hardware provider's support, though.

For me, it's screensize. I don't want to zoom to colums, I want to see the whole page. What if you have a page with a big picture on it (think National Geographic)?

pwalker8 · 12-19-2010, 11:50 AM

I've been reading backpacker mag on my iPad. It works pretty well. All things being equal, I would prefer to get my magazines this way.

tubemonkey · 12-19-2010, 12:16 PM

I have a Nook Color and I want to, but B&N overcharges for the magazines I want; so I don't do it.

daffy4u · 12-19-2010, 12:17 PM

I don't read magazines very often (usually in some waiting room situation). I canceled all subscriptions a few years ago. I can get most magazine articles I want to read online when I'm interested.

timezone · 12-19-2010, 08:23 PM

On my Expoc slate I read NewScientist from Zinio. It is taking a bit of time to get use to it but I do like it. I hate having tons of magazines and newspapers around the house. I like the change to Digital magazines.

lene1949 · 12-20-2010, 01:39 AM

No, but I don't read magazines at all... Occasionally - every few years - I'll subscribe to National Geographic, but I like that in paper form, because of all the extras.

KenJackson · 12-20-2010, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timezone

I hate having tons of magazines and newspapers around the house. I like the change to Digital magazines.

You hit the key point.

I acquire at least 3 times as much paper as I read. Then when I eventually concede that I'm just not going to read that magazine 2 or 3 years after I got it, I feel defeated when it goes in the recycling bin.

With the digital format, at least it won't clutter the house. And digital memory is "cheaper" than shelf space.

athlonkmf · 12-20-2010, 07:58 AM

I'm in the process off digitizing all of my older magazines. So yes, I do read them on my ipad.

And no, any screen smaller than the ipad is not an option. The letters will be unreadable small.

12-18-2010, 08:24 AM	#1
KenJackson Addict Posts: 256 Karma: 112042 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Sony PRS-650	Do you read digital versions of glossy magazines on your device? I just switched from paper to digital when I renewed my subscription to Linux Journal. Of course, unfortunately, it's published as PDF. I'm not very happy with the format at all, though at least the text is laid out in narrow columns in print, so it's not to hard to read. But going from column to column and page to page is confusing and the TOC doesn't seem to work very well. I've asked them to also produce an epub version, but I've received no response so far. Is anyone reading a magazine on their reader, especially a 6" reader, and enjoying it?

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12-18-2010, 08:52 AM	#2
Crowl Wizard Posts: 1,340 Karma: 1160346 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southport, GB Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition	I gave it a try, but on the whole wasn't that impressed and indeed comics and magazines were one of the primary reasons why I also got an ipad to go with my ebook reader.

12-18-2010, 09:07 AM	#3
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	The Nook Color is essentially designed for reading color PDFs. (I'm planning to use it for just that, myself.) If you can get yourself to a Barnes & Noble, I'd check one out.

12-18-2010, 05:59 PM	#4
RoboRay Zealot Posts: 132 Karma: 270 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: NookColor (CM7); OLPC XO (Ubuntu 8.10); HTC Thunderbolt (CM7)	It all comes down to the software being used to read the PDF, rather than the screen-size. For Android-based devices, the ezPDF reader can automatically zoom into a single column of a multi-column document and one click takes you from the bottom of the current column to the top of the next one. I haven't used it on a PDF magazine, though, so I'm not sure how it would cope with such a varied layout of text and graphics. For dedicated readers without third-party software capability, you're at the mercy of the hardware provider's support, though.

12-19-2010, 09:20 AM	#5
mldavis2 Coffee Nut Posts: 410 Karma: 298350 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre	No. I use a Kindle for text, and an adequate-sized laptop or desktop LCD screen for PDF or anything with photo or drawings. It is screen-size for me -- zooming is a nuisance and small screens are a non-starter. The main reason for magazine color is illustrations or pictures, and a good photo is simply inadequately displayed in either small screen or zoomed into small sections. Just my opinion....

12-19-2010, 11:50 AM	#7
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	I've been reading backpacker mag on my iPad. It works pretty well. All things being equal, I would prefer to get my magazines this way.

12-19-2010, 12:16 PM	#8
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,760 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I have a Nook Color and I want to, but B&N overcharges for the magazines I want; so I don't do it.

12-19-2010, 12:17 PM	#9
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I don't read magazines very often (usually in some waiting room situation). I canceled all subscriptions a few years ago. I can get most magazine articles I want to read online when I'm interested.

12-19-2010, 08:23 PM	#10
timezone Addict Posts: 244 Karma: 1232 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boston, MA Device: Windows Phone7, Kindle Fire	On my Expoc slate I read NewScientist from Zinio. It is taking a bit of time to get use to it but I do like it. I hate having tons of magazines and newspapers around the house. I like the change to Digital magazines.

12-20-2010, 01:39 AM	#11
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	No, but I don't read magazines at all... Occasionally - every few years - I'll subscribe to National Geographic, but I like that in paper form, because of all the extras.

12-20-2010, 07:58 AM	#13
athlonkmf Guru Posts: 714 Karma: 1014039 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3, Sony PRS350, iPad 64GB	I'm in the process off digitizing all of my older magazines. So yes, I do read them on my ipad. And no, any screen smaller than the ipad is not an option. The letters will be unreadable small.

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