3 ms·

Why wouldn't you consider a virtual magazine a complete product? Even when you buy a magazine in physical form you're paying for the content. Personally, I neve

by asnyder 16y ago

Why wouldn't you consider a virtual magazine a complete product? Even when you buy a magazine in physical form you're paying for the content. Personally, I never go to a newsstand and base my purchase on the physical properties of the magazine, but rather, the content, articles, and design. One way or another we'll have to deal with this issue soon as electronic distribution becomes the new standard. We can't expect magazines or newspapers for that matter, to maintain the quality of design and content we enjoy if we're not willing to pay for it.

nopassrecover 16y ago
Newspapers are failing because on average they always focused on low quality content and design quality (cheap to produce no alternatives at the time). Magazines have higher quality design and content which is why they've always been able to charge more. Its the same with books - an electronic book just isn't the same and so won't be valued the same until it's electronic distribution only. If I gave you Knuth's Art Of Programming as a collection of printed pages you wouldn't pay me the same premium the quality bound tomes demand.
- asnyder 16y ago
  I think using Knuth's Art Of Programming as an example is somewhat flawed. It's not your run of the mill set. The only reason why I wouldn't pay you as much for the paper collection versus the hardcover set I have on my shelf is that I consider the hardcover set to be more of a collector sort of item. However, if I didn't care about it acting as a mantle piece I would still pay for the content, just not as much as I would for the mantle piece version. Similarly, some pay for collectors version of games, books, etc. However, the content should still be valued and priced accordingly. Clearly less than mantle piece versions. As I said in my previous posts, the prices should come down with the publishing costs discounted, but any more than that would devalue the content IMO.

by asnyder 16y ago

nopassrecover 16y ago

Newspapers are failing because on average they always focused on low quality content and design quality (cheap to produce no alternatives at the time). Magazines have higher quality design and content which is why they've always been able to charge more. Its the same with books - an electronic book just isn't the same and so won't be valued the same until it's electronic distribution only. If I gave you Knuth's Art Of Programming as a collection of printed pages you wouldn't pay me the same premium the quality bound tomes demand.

asnyder 16y ago
I think using Knuth's Art Of Programming as an example is somewhat flawed. It's not your run of the mill set. The only reason why I wouldn't pay you as much for the paper collection versus the hardcover set I have on my shelf is that I consider the hardcover set to be more of a collector sort of item. However, if I didn't care about it acting as a mantle piece I would still pay for the content, just not as much as I would for the mantle piece version. Similarly, some pay for collectors version of games, books, etc. However, the content should still be valued and priced accordingly. Clearly less than mantle piece versions. As I said in my previous posts, the prices should come down with the publishing costs discounted, but any more than that would devalue the content IMO.