Digital Subscriptions to Paper Gaming Magazines - Worth It?

Thanks to GamersWithJobs for its review of digital subscriptions to notable videogame magazines such as EGM or CGW, running down the advantages ("No need to store it at home and you really can't lose it because you can download the magazine as necessary. Unless your wife manages to trash the entire Internet, digital magazines are pretty hard to throw away"), and disadvantages ("No CD/DVD that comes in many magazines these days... Some users will find the need to zoom and scroll as they read a hassle") of the Zinio Reader based digital formats, although for the Baghdad-based reviewer of these digital subscriptions, "getting content otherwise not available in Iraq is a big plus."

Comments

Good Idea

[netfool]

The article forgot a couple PROs:
- Your 3 year old won't bring it behind the couch/secret-fortress-of-magazine-destruction-and- general-place-for-hiding-your-stuff and tear your magazine up when he's alone in the living room.
- Your 3 year old won't spill his milk on the article about Half-Life 2 and have it drench every page under it (though, I guess he could spill milk on the computer and cause it to explode somehow, but that hasn't happened yet so I'll mark this a PRO).

It's a great idea, I'm all for it. The use of searchable text is invaluable to me, I tend to go through magazines backwards for some odd reason and never look at the table of contents except as a last resort.

Re:Good Idea

[yohan1701]

I tend to go through magazines backwards for some odd reason

Are you left handed ? I am and its easier to flip through a magazine backwards with your left hand.

Paper

[stereo_Barryo]

Paper is easier on the eyes over a period of time ( higher res than screens ) and can be held in a more comfortable position for a long time. Score one for old-tech!

Disadvantages . . .

[Dausha]

* Can't grab a copy and go stink-up the bathroom, unless you're on a laptop and have wireless. Even then, ew. There are some places laptops shouldn't be.

* What happens when their server goes down or they decide to change business models?

This is true of any online rag, not just gaming.

Why?

[mutewinter]

I like the idea, but only if I'm getting a digital *and* print copy. The truth is, I find very little in print magazines that is better content-wise then the internet.

website pros
-updated hourly/daily
-download demos
-pictures from the games + movies
-multiple websites offer reviews making it easier to spot out reviewer biases
And of course, its free! Why the hell would I want to read a magazine? One reason only, portability. I can lay down on the sofa or sit in a vehicle and read it. I can apply the same to newspapers or other print periodicles. Books have the whole eye-strain issue due to their length. Digital paper is going to change everything ;)