2. Can We Pull the Plug On Paper?
Magazines are evolving into more than just words and pictures, but what’s the best way to consume them? We test different devices against paper.
The magazine industry does not have a great environmental record. More than 2.2 million tons of paper per year are used to create the magazines we buy, and most of this is printed on paper made from virgin fiber (mmmm, think of the paper quality.) According to an industry survey, more than 35 million trees are being cut down each year. Less than 5% of the paper used in magazines has any recycled content, and even the recycled content papers generally contain only 10-30% recycled fiber. Because of the graphics-heavy nature of magazines, the paper must be bleached with chlorine or chlorine compounds, making the industry is a big contributor of toxic dioxin to the environment. About 90% of all magazines are discarded within a year of publication, and only about 20% of these are recycled. And worst of all? About 3 billion magazines on news stands are never even read.
So how to we savvy media-consumers cut the cord with paper magazines? Through the magic of technology, of course.
Read on to hear our thoughts on the options …
- 1. Magazines: All the Fun that’s Fit to Read
- 2. Can We Pull the Plug On Paper?
- 3. WIRED: Paper version
- 4. WIRED: iPad version
- 5. WIRED: web version
- 6. Popular Science: Print Version
- 7. Popular Science: Nook Version
- 8. Popular Science: iPad Version
- 9. Popular Science: Web version
- 10. Kindle and Sony e-Reader: What’s available?
- 11. Analysis
Personally, I prefer the paper version of every magazine I've ever read.
However, sometimes I wish someone would invent adblock for paper magazine. I HATE how some magazines split up articles with tons of full-page ads.
I prefer paper for mags also, they're cheaper and more resilient. The only thing lacking is the search function. If I read a mag/book in the bathroom and it gets wet; no prob. If a slate gets wet its gone.
progress requires:
magazines delivered on disks (flash cards or mini cds) or downloaded from the net which can be viewed on PDA or laptops
PDA's with a viewing area of a regular paper magazine
it'll save on paper and be easier to distribute
I love stacking my mags in the bathroom. My Kindle is good for long trips and it's a great advantage since I spend most of my time abroad, but I can't see myself subscribing to my favorite mags with it.
And the amount of ads with adblock? none!
Surely this review missed the other magazine apps - ones that scan a magazine, ads and all in presenting the question of whether we can do without paper. Zinio on an Ipad presents a great mix of showing the print version with a bit of interactivity (some active links). It's great to review full featured interactive magazine applications in a comparison, but unless you look at an alternative - can you really say that's about it as far as magazine apps go?