I�ve been watching this thread now for 2 days, and trying to figure out where I stand on this. I like the idea of having more options for PB, but if I put myself in Bob�s shoes, then I have to figure out if this is cost effective. If it�s a loss or cost neutral, then you�re providing a service for people that are already subscribers and aren�t growing the subscriber base. If enough new subscribers aren�t inclined to subscribe to cover the increased costs, then it makes no sense.
If I was the �Pond Boss�, I would perhaps think about starting out with the oldest out of print issues, and making a CD/DVD/E version of those available. The info may not be published right now, and that may increase revenue. Where it gets sketchy to me is when you get to issues that are available for sale on the PB website. If you�re losing sales of 2001 and newer paper issues, then are you really helping yourself? Only Bob would know this. I do think it would be nice to be able to search older issues for articles if they were in a PDF format.
I do know that magazines like Mother Earth News offer archive CD�s, and they�re updated yearly.
JKB, I know no ill intent was meant, but it did come out wrong. You�re an engineer, and you amaze me with the stuff you post. Several times I�ve had to Google your posts, and you�re right on target. So keep posting the stuff that makes me think. I love it!
But, I think you would agree that most of us that are (or were) in some type of technical field have to decide when effort vs. dollars comes into play. If I had a coding problem, and a $40 book saved me 5 hours of research, then I put money in my pocket. PB magazine does that for me.
I told Bob this very week that I don�t always read PB cover to cover. Some articles just don�t interest me. But, if I find that one gem like The Bugman article this year, then the whole subscription is worth it. Lucky for me (being from TX
), there are many articles that I love.
