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- This topic has 7 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 9 months ago by
Peter Gudgeon.
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5 December 2021 at 4:03 pm #575113
Paul Anthony Brierley
ParticipantI have an 8″ Samsung Andriod tablet and was wondering whether I should change my membership, in favour of receiving digital copies of the J-BAA?
How many of you do this?
5 December 2021 at 4:22 pm #584973Jeremy Shears
ParticipantI have the printed Journal for a few reasons.
1. I’m far more likely to read it. I have a mixture of other publications in either printed or electronic format. I am far more likely to read a printed edition. I tend to forget about a electronic publication. Or I might read a couple of articles, think I will continue another time, but don’t. It’s much easier for me to pickup and put down a printed edition, leaving it by my favourite chair.
2. I find it difficult to take in detail when I read it from a screen; I also absorb more info in printed format.
3. I much prefer the feel of a printed mag or book
4. Much of my day job is performed on screens. I look for opportunities not to use them when I can
The big advantage of electronic is when I travel. I can read the Journal anywhere on my iPad. But aways have that choice as my non-electronic sub also gives access to the electronic Journal
5 December 2021 at 5:17 pm #584974Dominic Ford
KeymasterAs Jeremy says, your paper subscription to the BAA Journal actually already includes access to the electronic version (in PDF format) which you can download here: https://britastro.org/journal
So, feel free to try reading it on your tablet and see how you get on with it.
For the record, I switched to an electronic subscription a few years ago when I was living abroad and was anxious not to accumulate too much “stuff”. But Jeremy’s point (1) is absolutely right: I read far less of the Journal now than I used to.
In case you’re wondering, the December Journal isn’t available electronically yet, as it normally appears online shortly after the paper copies arrive.
5 December 2021 at 5:40 pm #584977Dr Paul Leyland
ParticipantI have the electronic subscription for two main reasons:
a) I am a cheapskate and it’s cheaper;
b) I already have far too many chewed trees in each of two houses. Doesn’t stop me collecting more, unfortunately …
I read both JBAA (and similar publications) formats about equally often and likewise in depth. There is something immensely comfortable about having a physical artefact, especially one which is much safer to read when lying in a hot bath or a sauna. That said, the portability and physical storage space of a digital version has a lot going for it.
Horses for courses.
5 December 2021 at 7:53 pm #584978Nick James
ParticipantThe JBAA is one of the few journals/periodicals that I continue to get as a physical thing. I’ve been a member of the BAA since 1974 and my run of Journals goes back getting on for 50 years (scary) but still only takes up a couple of metres of shelf space so storage isn’t really an issue. A bit like Jeremy I find that I don’t read digital copy in the same way as physical, its much more a quick scan then store it on the computer to look at another day. I tend to embrace new technology but reading for pleasure is still definitely physical books for me and I feel the same way about the Journal.
As Dominic says, you have access to the electronic Journal now so can try it and see how it works out.
5 December 2021 at 10:14 pm #584979John Thorpe
ParticipantCurrently living in Oz, I value both the print and electronic journals. During covid, the mail has been very slow taking at least a month. So it is great to read on computer, and then have the pleasure of reading all over again once the paper copy arrives. Once I have the paper version, it is a permanent feature by my bedside, permitting me to read, revisit articles, discover bits I missed etc. What better way to relax at the end of the day?
5 December 2021 at 10:39 pm #584980Michael O’Connell
ParticipantI have to agree with the other here and say I enjoy the paper copy.
Michael.
6 December 2021 at 12:01 am #584981Peter Gudgeon
ParticipantI have electronic subscription only, mainly because I live abroad, and snail-mail here can vary from a few days until never. With printed books/magazines I am much more likely to browse through them several times, whereas with an electronic copy it’s usually one initial read and that’s it unless there is a specific article that catches my eye.
On the other hand, the one or two magazines I do buy in printed form soon build up, then I’m told they make the place look untidy (!) so end up in the bin after a few months. With the pdf files I automatically save them to an archive and can easily recall them later (even when off-line). So while printed copies feel more comfortable, and preferable, the electronic versions are more practical in that within seconds I can read something mention in a copy a few years ago, long after the paper version would have been binned.
Peter
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