CD ROM for The Home Shop Machinist

[Joe]

I just heard from the publisher of HSM that he is interested in producing a one-year CD (most likely for 2001) that would be made available to the readership. If that was successful, he would then produce a five-year CD (2001 back to 1997). We want to hear from you in regard to his suggestion. Let us know if this sounds like a good plan. What are your hopes and desires?
Thanks,
Joe


[This message has been edited by Joe (edited 05-18-2001).]

[John Stevenson]

I though this was the idea of the previous post that had 122 replies all agreeing with the idea.
What's changed ???

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Regards,
John Stevenson,
Nottingham, England

[wwheelock]

Since I just started subscribing to HSM I would prefer starting with a year prior to the current year. Just my 2 cents worth.

wwheelock

[Glenn]

I would love to get archives on CD

Glenn Neff
Medford, OR

[MetalMaster]

I think that this CD would be an excellent idea, however, incorporated into its design should be a feature to EASILY print article pages onto 8 1/2 x 11 pages with the push of a button, and not have to reformat half the computer to get hard copy to take out to the shop. It seems that this feature is always forgotten by folks that put printed materials onto CD Rom.

[risermagic]

I belong to an organization that has recently put its magazine on CD-ROM. This is every edition from the first in 1923 through 1999. Everything is on 3 CDs with full searching and jpg images. Total cost for the collection is $300. I'd sure like all issues on CD.
Jim

[Dabhaidh]

count me in.

[jix]

Joe, I read several things in your publisher's notion of releasing a one year CD holding the 2001 issue year.

First, it's too easy. I gotta believe that HSM is now electronically composed. Nobody uses paste-up any more. So the conversion to PDF is simple. On the other hand, Volume 1, Issue 1 WAS a paste-up. The conversion is much more difficult and expensive. But as a test of interest, it would be fat more valuable.

Second, it fits with the fact that current print issues, and perhaps those back to 1997, are available as printed back issues. This allows the quality of the CD to be low - suited to the screen, but not to hard copy. Of course, if the publisher has in mind to replace the printed 'zine with electronic copy, the quality can be whatever he is willing to pay for. To me, it seems more likely that the CDs are not going to be archive quality.

Third, the choice of 2001 as the release year is curious. Why not 2000 or even 1990? Since the test is supposed to determine interest, why wait? It surely isn't a question of cost. AOL mails CDs to everybody, even those who have no computer. At least HSM can restrict to the subscriber list.

Fourth, your comment that there might be a 5-year CD that goes back to 1997 leaves me wondering whether there is any thought being given to publishing ALL issues on CD, starting with Volume 1, Issue 1. Certainly that would be the most exciting announcement. Then the reaction to a one year CD would be far more reliable, helpful, and objective.

[Daubie]

Hi,
Yes I would be interested in an archive of ALL issues. A good search function better than what you have here on this board, more on the line of what www.delphi.com (http://www.delphi.com) has in advance view, capable of cross referencing topics and authors is of PRIMARY importance! The only problem I would have in shelling out big bucks is, are CD-ROMS going to go the way of 5 1/4" disks like on my old clunker C-64 and IBM PC then becoming obsolete?

Kurt

[louismroy]

Being new to your magazine and website I think back issues on cd would be a good idea,if the price were kept reasonable.
especially with your new index

[shapeaholic]

I'm glad to hear that the publisher is interested in the cd concept. I just wish you would consider starting with vol 1 #1 and work your way to the present,as opposed to the opposite. I think that the most of us interested people have the later issues. It's the earlier ones that we would like to see. I think that as a test for response you would do better with earlier ones.

[toff]

Joe,
It is your publication, do what you think is best, not what the publisher is trying to foist off upon you.
Let's start at the beginning of the series, I am caretaker of HSM's for all but the first Volume to the present date. For me a relatively high priced CD $20-30 should be some thing I want and don't have! Let's try Five Year stretches!?
Given the choice of starting with a one year CD,at the price of a subscription, I would take paper any time.
I have a good scanner and software CD burner and could do it myself in any format. And, may yet for insurance/ archive purposes.
I like the ideas of Metalmaster, jix, Shapeaholic,and that type of thinking
Thank you for supporting input.
toff

As a thought, If you have the early volumns
on CDROM, Then you have control and duplication rights even if you should change publisher/printers. Having them on hand would be the equivalent of your line of books not just another way of delivering periodicals.

toff twice

[This message has been edited by toff (edited 06-22-2001).]

[This message has been edited by toff (edited 06-22-2001).]

[delphi7x10]

Joe,

A one year would be alright if it was year 1 of the magazine, but if you start with 2001, there is a problem. How many of the articles will start with part 2 or 3 or even 4 of a multiple part article, and then hpw many at the end of the CD will end with part 1 or 2 of a 4 part article. As others have said, its the early issues which many people want. I constantly see references to from way before I started this hobby, and some sound great, give me a chance to them, please.

To keep the cost down, I don't believe all the bells and whistles are needed, just get teh magazines on CD, I will search them for hours, as I do now with paper copies.

Thanks
Robert

ps Is there any time frame as to when this might happen?

[smeboss]

Hello, I also would be interested in a cd based archive. Please pursue these with all speed.

Thanks

Charles



<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Joe:
I just heard from the publisher of HSM that he is interested in producing a one-year CD (most likely for 2001) that would be made available to the readership. If that was successful, he would then produce a five-year CD (2001 back to 1997). We want to hear from you in regard to his suggestion. Let us know if this sounds like a good plan. What are your hopes and desires?
Thanks,
Joe


[This message has been edited by Joe (edited 05-18-2001).]</font>

[Marty Escarcega]

No, not interested in one year or 5 year CD roms. Especially the newer ones. I have the last several years. I'm interested in the beginning years, actually complete set todate. Sounds like the publisher is trying the easy way out. My guess is that he has the newer back issues stored electronically, but the older ones not and those would have to be scanned. Geez, listed to the readers on my first suggestion, they want the entire Library on CD. Sounds like the publisher is too conservative....

[dhensley]

I'm wondering if the publisher realizes that machining magazines, unlike most other magazines now, are still very useful many years after they are published. For most of us the earlier issues of HSM are the most desirable, and would probably have the greatest sales.

I'd like to see years 1-5 on a CD, scanned at 300dpi, 4-bit or better grey-scale and in pdf format. This shouldn't be hard to do once the scan software settings are tweaked for the photos. I scan in and print the articles for use in the shop, and they are very usable scanned like this. I can live without fancy indexing, which would probably be the most difficult part of producing the CD--just include the article index as a file on the CD.

[SGW]

For me, a CD won't replace hardcopy printed. I've seen too many "standard" computer storage mediums become hopelessly obsolete in just a few years. Could anybody, anywhere, read a 256bpi 7-track magtape these days? In the 1960s, that was THE format for mass storage backup. Yet, I can still get (and read!) printed copies of Model Engineer magazine from the 1920s.

[Hank Bloch]

The issues of Model Engineer that were printed during the war years are turning brown and crumbling into dust because the paper was not acid neutralized due to shortages during the Second World War. If we have the issues that are falling apart on CD-ROM’s the data can be easily copied to any new format that comes along. Once they are scanned we will have them in good readable condition for as long as anyone is interested in reading the publication.
Your notion that they will become unusable is totally false. I still have data that I stored on 5 and ¼ floppies, I just upgraded the data storage medium as the technology advanced

Hank Bloch.

[roberlt]

Early stuff PLEASE. My (paper) collection starts appx. 1995 however I don't have the earlier issues.
Rob

[bdarin]

I'm in.

[willjordan]

Sounds good. I realize that it's much easier to work with current issues as published. I have no idea what you have used in the recent past for typsetting software, but I imagine recent past issues would be easier to do than old issues without any digital records.

I like adobe .pdf since it is a true portable document format, readable on almost anything.

I'll buy whatever is available as cash flow allows.



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grace & peace
will

[doug]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Joe:
I just heard from the publisher of HSM that he is interested in producing a one-year CD (most likely for 2001) that would be made available to the readership. If that was successful, he would then produce a five-year CD (2001 back to 1997). We want to hear from you in regard to his suggestion. Let us know if this sounds like a good plan. What are your hopes and desires?
Thanks,
Joe


[This message has been edited by Joe (edited 05-18-2001).]</font>

[doug]

why would you want to get a cd with just 6
issues on it??? You mean go to all that
trouble to get a cd with 6 issues!
Why not all the issues,thats real value!

[Docgera]

I{m in!

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Dr. Gerardo

[Victor Bowman]

Great idea would be of assistance in keeping the trees

[Thrud]

Yes, and hurry up - I need more to read. My desire is cheaper shipping to Canada.

Somebody mentioned JPG format. Adobe's .pdf format is better for documents and printing.

With all due respect to SGW the old mainframe reel tapes are rarely used now because UDLT tapes offer incredible speed, enormous capacity, and longer tape life in a 4"x4"x1" cassette. The sheer volume of CD's & CD-Rom discs in the world forces new formats to embrace the old while moving forward with higher capacities and better performance.

As SGW also stated, I prefer the issue in my hot little hands to squinting at the monitor with my bifocals. The issues I do not have are legion and apparently printed on "Unobtainium" - so I guess I like the CD-Rom afterall.

Dave Smith
Just keep renewing me...


[This message has been edited by Thrud (edited 08-27-2001).]

[Scott B]

I'm an info junkie so count me in.

[farmwrench@aol]

I think the publisher is afraid that 1: They won't get their money back on selling the CD due to too small a market 2: loss of book sales covering topics in the CD 3: Piracy 4: that we will get so busy working our way through years of projects that we will stop buying the paper. We know that demand is present from this BBS (and so should they) BUT... NO CD YET!! So how can we force the issue? Vote with our $$$? If we sent $40 (what I paid for 20 years of FARM SHOW mag. on CD, I have since paid $20 for an update with the next 5years and a new refrence) and a note for one of the first(complet) copies and any ballance could be billed or prepaid subscription depending on final cost. At some point they will get the point. If some one wants to second this idea just start a new topic with a "I sent My $ for the CD" type title and we can vast our vote online as well as with our wallets. Vince

[sid pileski]

I like the idea of year one,volume one. From what I read of the replies, the overwelming responce is for that also. I beleave most would put their money where there mouth (type?) is! I say take a chance and go for it, otherwise, a one or two year CD may back fire with no one buying it.

[tooljedi]

Do it for both magazines. I will buy them.

[bighammer]

I like thrud have some of that unobtainium in my shop, just can't find it. volume one nunber one and i'm in.

[JIM DEWOLF]

Do them both. When can I buy them? This started out in May!

[jkilroy]

I think putting the complete history of both of the publications on CD is a great idea. (HSM & MW) Why screw around with a one year 'trial' cd? I'd pop for it in a second, were it available.

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James Kilroy

[Brett Hurt]

DO IT I WILL BUY ALL OF THEM BRETT

[pop99]

I've been hearing a lot about this for several months. When is something going to happen?