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Silicon Chip
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goldenrebel:
I love Silicon Chip Magazine, especially since the demise of Electronics Australia.  But what is Leo Simpson thinking?  A few years ago I sent him an email explaining that I felt ripped off and the so-called online subscription is a fraud.  Compared to the magazine version it doesn't compare, even though they claim otherwise (graphics that are so heavily compressed that you can't read them, and the inability to have easy off-line access to any of the articles).  That email was ignored, and I fear the future of that magazine.  What can we do do help a magazine where the management struggles to care or understand about online distribution?
johnboxall:
The problem with online subscriptions is that they generally appear on various download sites for people to get for free - further devaluing the magazine and reducing their possible revenue. Which further harms the magazine. Etc. I for one support them introducing an Android tablet and iPad application version of the magazine - this would strike a balance between online availability for readers and not being ripped off for Silicon Chip. However I think not too many SC readers would have a tablet computer of some sort to make this a viable proposition.

If you haven't already done so, perhaps email Leo again and articulate your concerns in a well-structured, polite manner - and see what they come up with.
amspire:
It is not fraud, it is just disappointing.

Old media is really struggling to come to terms with the way the Internet works today.

I think ultimately, if you want a perfect copy of a project article, see if they have the original copy of the magazine to sell.

Given the prolific work of Leo over 5 decades in his Electronic Australia and Silicon Chip articles, I can sort of forgive him if he doesn't want to change the fundamental business model at this stage. He has a model that has worked, and that is selling hard copy magazines.

Leo has done an extraordinary job in bringing electronics to the hobbyist and he definitely deserves to be treated with a lot of respect.

I definitely would one day love to see the articles in the great electronics magazines all available in quality scans on the internet in some form before they disappear. There was a British magazine called Wireless World (started about 1911) that did the most incredible articles by top electronics designers.  It is now called Electronics World, and as far as I can see, the Wireless World articles are not available.

Richard.
EEVblog:

--- Quote from: amspire on October 09, 2011, 01:50:58 pm ---Given the prolific work of Leo over 5 decades in his Electronic Australia and Silicon Chip articles, I can sort of forgive him if he doesn't want to change the fundamental business model at this stage. He has a model that has worked, and that is selling hard copy magazines.

--- End quote ---

I've spoken to Leo in person about this very thing, and you are correct. He has a system that works and is very hesitant to change it.
He (understandably) said the magazine and the subscribers base is all he has left, and he can't afford to lose it. And he's not exactly a young risk taking whipper-snapper any more  ;D
He would have to weigh up any potential gain in sales due to popularity of an electronic version vs the almost inevitable loss in sales on the print version. I don't know how thin his financial reserve is, but perhaps he could try it for a few months and see what the popularity is.
In any case, he is constantly considering the idea.

Dave.
goldenrebel:
Thank you for the replies.  I would like to add an apology to Silicon Chip – using the word “fraud” was out-of-line and poorly reflects my sentiment.

I understand that it’s a tough time to be in the print industry, and I am grateful for Leo and his team’s clear enthusiasm.

We have seen in Electronics Australia what can happen if the winning formula is ignored.
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