My Magazine Love Affair

I'll be the first to admit that searching for articles in online databases and finding just the right material from X or Y magazine - in a matter of seconds - is something to behold. However, I discovered again last night just how much I love to read the Real Thing™. To sit back and hold a nice, glossy magazine and flip through the pages is an experience I don't think can be duplicated on the computer. In fact, I'll be quite honest, I rarely read very long text articles on my computer screen at all. If it's a very long article or post - I'll print it. I don't think it's all about ease on the eyes either, there's just something about reading a long piece from a newspaper, magazine or my printer that appeals to me and my tactile desires.

My experience last night: I am not a subscriber to TIME magazine but came across an interesting article while browsing around titled, "Happiness Isn't Normal," which looks at the relatively new psychology of ACT, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I wanted to read this in a bad way and even seriously considered going to the store to buy the magazine rather than read it off the computer screen. (My printer ran its last drop of ink earlier in the day.) This hit me square between the eyes and me me realize another truth about paper in the digital world. Some things really can't be duplicated, and the experience of curling up in bed and reading this (very long) article on my laptop had zero appeal. Yet, the idea of doing the same with a real edition of the nice, cool, slick TIME Magazine was very appealing. I opted against the trip to the store and read it online. But it wasn't the same.

Today, while looking at Borders and picking up the issue of TIME with this ACT article, I discovered there were five or so pictures that didn't accompany the web version. I wished I had waited. I savor the times with a good magazine. Surely there are others like me. I'm not a luddite, as I explained above, I love the lightning fast search for articles and I discovered the article in the first place on the Internet. But that is where the relationship between me and magazines on the web end. Great for quick research, browsing and back issues - but no comparison to the real deal.

I admit to being a magazineaholic. At this moment I subscribe to: U.S. News & World Report, Maximum PC, PC World, The Week (great magazine), The New Yorker, Fast Company, Best Life, Inc., Entrepreneur, Poets & Writers, SC Magazine (computer security), The Atlantic Monthly and Computer Shopper. Those are just the subscriptions. I plead guilty to being an impulsive buyer of magazines at the newsstand - I'll pick up Writers Digest, Pages, Bookmarks, Men's Health and others. The point here being that holding a magazine, flipping the pages and leisurely reading from the Real Thing™ is, I think, a sort of simple life pleasure. Reading these same magazines online, clicking the arrows from page to page just won't do it - for me.

Am I the only one?

 

Comments

[WoodChuck]

I'm with you all the way on this. Whether it's a magazine or especially a book. Can't even imagine trying to read a book online. The only serious online reading I do is blogs or when I'm researching a particular topic.

[Davey]

Ditto. I cannot read anything longer than a blog post myself. The main mags I read are Fast Company, The Economist, Inc., Business Week, and varrious trade journals. My all-time favorites are Longboard Mag and The Surfer's Journal. Both are well put together (heafty in the hand), excellent photography, glossy, and printed on excellent paper. The writing is excellent. Check'em out next trip. You don't even need to surf to enjoy these fine publications.

[kevininspace]

Oh, I assure you, you are not the only one. I'm currently subscribed to the Economist, Wired, and MIT Technology Review, and often buy First Things, Sojourners, the Walrus (Harpers for Canadians), 3D World, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Computer Arts Projects, Digital Photography, and .net, among others.

[Lainey]

Magazine addict? At one time I was subscribed to 22 magazines. I had everything from UTNE magazine to Professional Photographer. I subscribed to BIKE, Dirt Rag, MacAddict, Kiplinger's, New York, Dynamic Graphics, Nikon Magazine, and more. I can understand the lure of magazines. I can understand the lure of books as well. Many people love those audio books. I like reading the book, relaxing in a chair and holding the book. Having someone drone on in audio makes me lose my attention.