Uncle Bob wrote:


There's dozens of great scopes and accessories requiring a review, and
only 12 issues in a year, better start making those 12 issues count.

I think the internet is well on its way to taking out at least 50% of
the magazine market, only the very strong will survive.

I do 90% of my "hobby" research online now, as opposed to 8 years ago
where 100% was in mags, books, and at the library.


I don't think it's so much a case of magazines backsliding, as it is the
www overtaking them (note, I didn't say "the internet overtaking them").
It is impossible to compete with an infinite number of opinions/reviews
by and infinite number of authors.

Have to agree. And it is true for many hobby areas. Many times this
month's magazine has no info on the latest hardware on the market -- and
the actual reviews lag those on line by months: Can publish immediately
on line but the print cycle takes substantially longer -- really a
factor in those areas like digital photography and computers where there
are new products monthly, perhaps less so for astronomy.

Magazines really have to re-invent themselves to survive, and many have
done so.

Phil