Printed Catalog Or Cd Of Same?

Thinking of upgrading my US & world Classic catalog and have found the CD volume ( said to be in original wrappers) at a large discount to the printed catalog. Has anyone used the CD version as well as a paper version that can say the advantages of each? I have always like the physical book myself to mark notations,and hated software where you have to get a new password whenever you change HD or CPU, etc. thanks

Jim

Picked up a set of Scott on CD a few years ago and would prefer to get the books next time. There is no password involved (at least in the 2004's). There are features I like about the CD's -- words can be searched, even a catalog number can be entered within a country and it will take you there. Also, as with any PDF, you can click on the magnifying glass and blow up the pages to get a better look at things. Books are more convenient for finding things more quickly and without a computer. Six books, rather than finding the right one of maybe two dozen disks and loading that into the computer.

I have been using the CD-ROM version since they came out. Until last year's edition, they were quite easy to use. Now, with a very unfriendly password system, they have become a real bear. On the positive side, you can search for items using Adobe Reader search function ... although not all text in the Scott files are searchable ... go figure. Further on the negative side, the resolution of the images has steadily been degraded. In the first year of release, the CDs were promoted as having very high-resolution illustrations ... now they are a shadow of their original. The individual files, of course, are smaller.

Dick

I am a book fan, especially since Scott started printing
the catalogs in color.

I cannot figure out why With all the technology out there, you'd think they'd
have better resolution of the images--not worse! Maybe we all need to go in together and create our own and sell it. Even make it in "large print" for those of us with vision problems.(You saw it here--that's my idea.) ha

Gussyboy1

I bought and use both for Volume III since it contains both Germany and Guatemala. What the others have said above are true but I've found that they both have their advantages for me. I primarily use the book at home and the CD when I'm on the road.

And Swabbie you are very fortunato to have both your areas of interest in one volume...the Guatemala stamps change catalog value very slowly..the German stamps have mood swings up and down..i am happy to see some of he earlier Guatemala stamps increasing in value..it must show there is more interest in them !!

I am lucky Phil - but at the same time, it was actually a small part of my decision to stick with Guatemala only. I'm not a big fan of spending nearly $400 just for catalogs.

I for one always prefer paper catalogs to software catalogs even though I'm in IT field.
I hate starting the computer every time I need to use the catalog.

Hi Jim....

As most of you know, I've been collecting about 50 years and I have to say that I am a book guy, especially now that the Scott Catalog is printed in color. But I can also see advantages to having a computer version, if you are comfortable using a computer. Maybe it's just me, but I seem to run into some sort of computer glitch almost daily, some clear up quickly, many seem to take forever. I would be really aggravated if my only Scott cat set was an online version.

Just like everything else about the hobby, everyone gets to make their own choices.

I haven't used the CD version yet but I have the 2007 vol6 and bits and peices of others that I bought off ebay I love the ones I have and hope one day to have a complete set.

I can see the advantage to having a CD when you travel but like nr-notrare I seem to have my share of computer glitches and would hate to have to rely on technology alone.

dianne

The more I've used my CD version, the more I've come to like it. In my line of work I always have my laptop with me and I really enjoy being able to find a price or some info without having to lug an additional 5 pounds of paper everywhere I go.