Stamp Magazine - Electronic Edition

A few days ago, in another thread, we discussed the Electronic Editions of Linn's and Scott Stamp Monthly (http://www.linns.com). The "reader" for Amos publications is matterCast; you can see their tagline at the bottom of the screen when you read Linn's.

Zinio is probably the largest competitor in the "online reader" industry. They offer a free reader that you download, then you use their website to subscribe to online publications.

They offer only one philatelic title -- Stamp Magazine (from the UK). Out of curiosity, I decided to compare the subscription rates. On the Stamp Magazine website (http://www.stampmagazine.co.uk/), a one-year print subscription mailed to me (in the USA) costs $143.25. At Zinio, the same twelve issues are $21.95. I'd call that significant!

PC-Magazine, once the flagship of computer publications, has already eliminated it's print edition opting for Zinio-only delivery. So, I'm pretty certain we're going to witness the end of printed magazines -- especially for specialty interests like philately. How much longer can it be before Amos decides that Linn's and SSM will be available only in e-format?

Your thoughts? Rumors?

KirkS

[P.S. I'm not attempting to promote anything; I have no financial interest in any of these publications or readers.]

KirkS,
It is really hard to say when this eventual change could take place. Most people under 30 would easily go to e-mags & newspapers. I myself have been using online banking and paperless statements for quite awhile now. With being Green in full swing, it is only a matter of time. There was an article in Linn's I received yesterday in my mailbox,not my inbox,about the decrease in mail volume and printed periodicals being delivered is the writing on the wall. Most of my mail these days is philatelic or hobby related in nature.

I had purchased a 2008 Scott USA Specialized on CD. I had been previously satisfied with a 2007 Specialized CD, but was so unhappy with the 2008 CD that when it finally failed I went and bought a used hard copy of the 2006 edition! (I'd previously sold the 2007 CD that I had). Whereas I fear that hard copy versions of these publications will eventually become a thing of the past I don't look forward to it.

stampnaround, I agree.

I have the 2008 Scott in the CD/PDF format. I very much like the fact that I can perform keyword searches -- makes it very easy to do a quick lookup for the catalog value or number of a stamp. And it's more affordable than the printed copy.

BUT, most of the time, I still go back to my 2007 Print Edition. I guess I'm just of a different mindset, but I like to hold my catalog and thumb through the pages.

As much as the purveyors of these magazines would love to go to electronic copies only, I think they will hurt themselves in the end.

Like it or not... this is a paper hobby.

When working on my British Commonwealth stamps, i've had three catalogues (Scott, SG, and the KGVI Commonwealth) open, plus two magazine articles and a write-up, trying to figure out a stamp or cover.

I tried the CD version of the Scott Catalogue... you cannot flip through it as easily as the paper version.

David