winterbournecm Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 I think any service that has been free for so long, changing to payment is bound to face a struggle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted February 5, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 5, 2012 I've been reading Railway Herald for several years, not quite from the start but from soon after it launched. I think it has developed rather well over time and I've looked forward to reading each edition as it became available, especially since I now usually read it on my iPad. The first digital edition I found, like many others have, rather frustrating and a bit disappointing. I hope they're able to improve on it over the coming months and I'm encouraged by Richard Tuplin's email which I've received today. I appreciate the commercial pressure that has meant that they now wish to move to a subscription model and I'm willing to give them a chance, so I'll buy a subscription and see how it goes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Belgian Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 After reading the first three issues in the new format I find I have become rather less angry with the changes than I was at first. The 'readability' factor still seems to be an issue however, this is simply because I have only a 19" monitor and the new double-page spread style seems to have been designed to make it look like a printed magazine. This is similar to the layout that the magazine used in its early days before they changed to the landscape format. When they did that the readability improved dramatically and it seemed to be a recognition that this was now an on-line magazine and designed accordingly. I suspect the redesign back to a simulation of a printed magazine is the input of the dead hand of the Ian Allan connection: it might even indicate that that organisation has designs on a printed version in the future if readership is promising. One further aspect of the 'readability' of the current issue, no 302 (issue 303, the fourth and last free edition hasn't appeared yet although due today) is that they appear to have taken note of the early comments about font size and increased it marginally: I can read it more easily than the first new one. All the same, I still want it to give up pretending to be a printed magazine and realise the great benefits of being exactly what it is: an e-zine. I for one will subscribe, despite the oddity of the changes I still think it will be excellent value for money at the price offered. JE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted February 22, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 22, 2012 I've now decided and the answer is No thanks. Two reasons really. The first is that it has moved away from being a short weekly update on the railway scene which you could read quite quickly, to more or less replicating the printed magazines already on the market. In that respect Railway Herald has lots the individuality that I found refreshing. Now its just an electronic version of the many printed magazines. That would not have been the deciding factor if it wasn't for the readability on screen. My computer monitor is landscape and the old version could be seen and read in full screen. This is no longer the case. With the pdf you have to scroll around to seen a whole page and with the digital version the text is too small. Bring back the old landscape format and I would be happy to reconsider. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon020 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I've now decided and the answer is No thanks. Two reasons really. The first is that it has moved away from being a short weekly update on the railway scene which you could read quite quickly, to more or less replicating the printed magazines already on the market. In that respect Railway Herald has lots the individuality that I found refreshing. Now its just an electronic version of the many printed magazines. That would not have been the deciding factor if it wasn't for the readability on screen. My computer monitor is landscape and the old version could be seen and read in full screen. This is no longer the case. With the pdf you have to scroll around to seen a whole page and with the digital version the text is too small. Bring back the old landscape format and I would be happy to reconsider. I read the last issue recently and it was also available in the old pdf format. More of it than before and not as snappy I agree, but the format was there. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Nevard Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 It's interesting as where this emag fits in with Railways Illustrated and Modern Railways in the long term, also from Ian Allan. (edited for typo) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 It's interesting as where this emag fits in with Railways Illustrated and Modern Railways in the long term, also from Ian Allan. (edited for typo) For me Modern Railways is a professional well informed magazine whereas the other mags are more for the enthusiast- I prefer the former! XF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted February 23, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 23, 2012 I read the last issue recently and it was also available in the old pdf format. More of it than before and not as snappy I agree, but the format was there. Jon Sorry but I think we're talking at cross-purposes. Yes, the pdf version is there, but it's now in portrait format, like the digital version, so you have to scroll down or reduce the page size to read the whole page. The previous version (pre 300) was in landscape format, so the whole page was shown on the screen and at a font size that was readable. That is what I don't like - as with a printed magazine I want to see and be able to read the whole page at a time. Neither version allows you to do that in the way you could before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon020 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Sorry but I think we're talking at cross-purposes. Yes, the pdf version is there, but it's now in portrait format, like the digital version, so you have to scroll down or reduce the page size to read the whole page. The previous version (pre 300) was in landscape format, so the whole page was shown on the screen and at a font size that was readable. That is what I don't like - as with a printed magazine I want to see and be able to read the whole page at a time. Neither version allows you to do that in the way you could before. Andrew, yes sorry... I think that I'd just been scrolling as before. Agreed. I've just received notification of no 303 being available and that's the same. Unfortunately, this will be my last one as it'll be vying with all the other pubs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 They've now announced all March's issues will be free too. Obviously not getting the subscribers they'd hoped for... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon020 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I think it said that there had been some issue setting up the subs system... and that it'd be free until number 208. Or rather that was my impression; fair enough, I thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWJ Posted March 2, 2012 Author Share Posted March 2, 2012 Another good issue this week. I still don't see the advantage of the portrait orientation but at least it's still available in PDF format. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 They still don't have a "proper" online credit card page for the subs - you have to use PayPal or pay by phone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pendennis Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 I note that Ian Allan has sold its printed magazine business to Key Publishing last week (2 March) http://www.keypublishing.com/view_news.asp?ID=4970. No mention of Railway Herald, so I presume it is staying with IA. Maybe buying into Railway Herald was part of this plan. On the subject of Railway Herald itself, the new format has been tweeked and is now somewhat easier to read. As many have said, I fail to understand why it cannot be produced in a landscape format; is there a technical problem or are we all supposed to buy tablets? I'll probably subscribe, but not until a proper on-line payment process is in place. Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWJ Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 I can't fathom it either, Martin... a tablet can be turned on its side to become landscape, but you can hardly pick up your desktop or laptop screen and make it portrait! Judging by the various features spread across two adjacent pages, someone somewhere must have printing in mind. Doesn't this defeat the object of an online magazine? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'm beginning to think it's a pity RH wasn't taken on by Warners.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chris116 Posted April 26, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 26, 2012 I paid my money and took my chances. I still don't like the new format but I put up with it. My biggest problem is that I used to look at the magazine at work during my lunch hour and because of some of the settings my work now class the magazine as something that is not allowed on our system (they don't allow things like eBay, Facebook or pornography. Not sure which Railway Herald comes into!). This means I can only read it at home and over the past four weeks I have never had a chance to open it once. Looks like I made a big mistake and I won't bother renewing when the time comes. Just wish I had not paid in the first place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWJ Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 As mentioned before, I like the Railway Herald, but for some reason (possibly my Yorkshire origins) I just can't bring myself to pay for it. I'll hear the news eventually via printed magazines (which I read anyway) or the rail industry grapevine, and as for the photography: it's still visible for free in the image gallery section. Silly really, when it only costs a few pence per issue! Cheers, Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWJ Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 PS. I haven't uploaded any more photos to RH since they were taken over by Ian Allan. I don't believe a company should profit from my images without paying a reasonable fee to the photographer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterbournecm Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 PS. I haven't uploaded any more photos to RH since they were taken over by Ian Allan. I don't believe a company should profit from my images without paying a reasonable fee to the photographer. I understood they would be paying from now on. Is it not in line with other publications, i.e. 20 - 30 quid for a colour print? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Belgian Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Well, I paid up and am very glad I did. The mag has all one needs to keep up with the news, and does it weekly rather than monthly and even includes video footage. I think it's far better value than printed mags, none of which I now buy due to financial constraints. All the same, why does everyone think they should get other peoples' hard work for nothing? RH is hardly expensive at 38p a go! JE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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