CTT digital editions (Nook added 2/21)

[Carl Swanson]

 

I am pleased and excited to announce that Classic Toy Trains is now available in a new digital format for readers around the world.

Our digital edition, powered by Zinio, gives you the same great articles, in-depth profiles, track plans, and tips you get from the print version of Classic Toy Trains.  Now you can read Classic Toy Trains on your PC, Mac, laptop, iPad, and tablets and mobile phones using Android version 2.2 or higher.

You can order a digital subscription, a print and digital combination, or upgrade and add digital to your existing print subscription by calling our Customer Service Department at 1-800-533-6644. 

Digital subscription link: https://secure.kalmbach.com/offer/Default.aspx?c=IF1CCD

Print and digital combination link: https://secure.kalmbach.com/offer/Default.aspx?c=IG08C

CTT is also available on the Kindle Fire through the Amazon Kindle newsstand.

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Toy

 

[barrister2u]

Good. Now, when will all CTT's be available on DVD?I am presently cleaning my basement of box upon box of old magazines. Back in the day, that seemed like a good idea, but it is now out of control.

Best, Mark

[Mauka]

Aloha,

I have a few questions:  

I just subscribed in December, would I be able to switch from print to digital?

Is the digital issue a DRM free file that I can  freely move between my devices?

Are there any special device restrictions for reading the digital version, Linux, OSX, Windows?

Will a sample article or issue in the actual digital format be made available to try?

Thank you,

[Carl Swanson]

Good questions!

I just subscribed in December, would I be able to switch from print to digital? 

Yes, you can easily switch your subscription by calling our Customer Service department at [phone] during weekday business hours.

Is the digital issue a DRM free file that I can freely move between my devices? 

We use Zinio (zinio.com) to manage our digital subscriptions. You may read your content on all devices that Zinio supports.

Are there any special device restrictions for reading the digital version, Linux, OSX, Windows? 

Content is currently available on computers running Windows, Apple OS or Linux, iPad and Android-based mobile phones and tablets running Android version 2.2 or later.            

Will a sample article or issue in the actual digital format be made available to try? 

We currently do not have sample articles available for viewing.

 

[barrister2u]

I am changing over to digital only, starting with the May 2012 issue. My renewal will be digital only. I will get the CD's of all CTT when they are avilable. Meanwhile, I am cleaning out the basement of boxes and boxes and more boxes of old magazines, which, although I saved them after reading, I never read again. Best,  Mark  

[EIS2]

I have also been saving back issues of CTT.  I occasionally pull some of the old magazines and enjoy reading them.  Conventional engines don't change much and classic engines never change.  So pulling an old magazine is almost as good as getting the latest issue.

I subscribe to the digital edition of OGR.  There are pros and cons to digital magazines the pros are that the magazines are readily available and searchable and there is no need to store old magazines.  The cons for me are the pages are too small to see on my screen and if I zoom in, I can't see the entire page.  I prefer to hold the magazine in my hand. 

OGR has done a good job of providing links to advertisers websites in their magazines and it is very easy to navigate throughout the magazine.  I hope CTT provides a digital sample to evaluate before purchasing a digital subscription.

Earl

[Dobson]

Can you buy back issues in digital versions.

[Carl Swanson]

All 2012 issues are available for purchase (January, February, and March). A decision on wider availability of back issues will be made once we've had a chance to gauge demand.

[cando614]

+1 for making all back issues (especially the earliest ones) available on DVD!

Carl, can you please post a link where I can purchase the digital versions of the Feb & March issues?

Thanks! 

[Carl Swanson]

Hi,

February and March issues available here:

http://www.zinio.com/browse/publications/index.jsp?sch=true&productId=500646219

[palallin]

Thanks, but no thanks.  I'll stick with paper, please.  It's irritating enough to be told that, to get the full story from a magazine I subscribe to, I have to go online.

More power to those who have to have everything they do on an electronic screen, but I want a paper copy--I'd prefer it be complete (I know, of course, that a paper magazine cannot do video, but that's not what I'm talking about).

What happens to all those DVDs when the DVD goes the way of the 4.25" floppy disc?  I'll keep my paper copies.

 

Just a post so The Powers That Be know that not everyone is rushing headlong into digitalizing everything.

[David Barker]

I most certainly agree with palallin!

I enjoy being able to go to an article showing me how to wire a particular engine, or accessory which was explained in detail with often a diagram, lay the CTT open with  the page in front of me and fix the problem!  Also I have a stack of the old floppy disks which are only good in my 1990 DGI laptop and that thing weighs to much to  lug around and it does not have internet access.

[Mauka]

Took the plunge and added digital editions to my paper subscription for ten bucks a year.  Started by calling customer service, made the purchase online and was directed to the Zinio site to create my account.  Downloaded the iPad app and the March issue, (which has not arrived in my mailbox yet).

Looks real nice, text and photos are very clear and pinch to zoom works.  There is a table of contents and bookmarks too.

I'll report back on the Mac OS desktop app and Kindle Fire app later, and if anyone has a question post it here.  So far I'm impressed and highly recommend, of course it doesn't replace paper but having recently moved I have decided less "stuff" is better, trains not included of course!

Alan

[webenda]

I agree with Earl. Digital CTT is a little harder to read than the print edition. (Print on on left, digital on right.)

Zinio seems to use embedded fonts for CTT digital, so I am not sure why the blur when displaying full page. Perhaps compression set to high? Letters sharpen right up when displaying half page on my screen.

[fjerome]

why is it no longer needed.  did you find fix?

[webenda]

F Jerome,

Notice I have three posts in a row? I only need one post to say and show, "Digital CTT is a little harder to read than the print edition." Next two posts are not needed. I lost the "delete" key. Do you know where [delete] is? It is under [More] in my other posts, but not this "digital editions" thread. The evil Carl Swanson has stolen it?

No fix yet. I was hoping someone would suggest a way to sharpen the font on my monitor. I checked my resolution setting (1680 x 1050.) I adjusted my "clear type" application. Microsoft says, "With ClearType font technology, the words on your computer look almost as sharp and clear as those printed on a piece of paper." True for digital magazines in PDF format, but not for digital CTT in Zinio format.

I looked at a magazine on something called a "Nook Simple Touch" today. Text was perfectly sharp and easy to read, even though the screen is only seven inches (my monitor is 22 inches.) Maybe I should purchase a Nook to read my CTT digital edition on? ($99.00 for a black and white Nook, $199.00 for a Nook Color.)

Has anyone noticed Zinio is a little slow at scrolling an enlarged page?

[Moozuki]

You can't read it on the Nook, Zinio does not have a reader app for the nook. I'm bummed about it as I have a Nook color and would love to be able to read CTT on it.

 

[Carl Swanson]

Good news!

Classic Toy Trains is now available digitally on the NOOK Newsstand

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Classic-Toy-Trains/Kalmbach-Publishing-Co/e/2940043956439

 Carl

[Bob Keller]

Woo hoo! Nooks Rock!

There are two in my household!

[webenda]

Cool! There are three nooks now. Decisions, decisions.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook/379003208

Classic Toy Trains Nook copy is delivered bi-monthly. (Six issues per year?)

Cost: $3.33 / month x 12 months = $39.96

Classic Toy Trains paper copy is published monthly except for April, June, and August. (Nine issues per year.)

Cost: 39.95 / year

I don't care about the penny difference, but I do care about missing three issues. Perhaps Nook subscription information is in error?

[Carl Swanson]

The "bi-monthly" wording is incorrect and we're working to resolve it.

A year's digital subscription does include all nine regular issues and is billed monthly. (We divide the annual subscription cost by 12 months to accommodate the monthly billing system used by online newsstands.)

Carl

 

[webenda]

Thank you Carl, I suspected as much.

[cnw1995]

Great news about the Nook!  

[Phoebe Vet]

Ogaugeoverlord

Woo hoo! Nooks Rock!

There are two in my household!

And one in mine.  My wife absolutely loves her Nook Color.

[Moozuki]

Nook version is way cool, too bad I subscribed before it was available.

 

[Boscoed]

Mark, I second that emotion! 

Erin go Bragh!

Ed

[Boscoed]

Any plans for including the iPhone?

Thanks,

Ed

[Bob Keller]

I believe that Zinio has an app for the iPhone.

[SotaPop]

Unfortunately - I too ran out of space for storing my issues of CTT and MR mags.  I ended up donating them to a second hand book store  with the hope that someone else might page through them and spark an interest in the hobby.

DVDs by Year - past and going forward would be GREAT!

[SotaPop]

Does anyone know if with Zinio - would the entire copy of CTT download into my iPod ?  ... therefore not requiring a constant WiFi connection to read it.  No WiFi on the bus.

Riding the bus home from work would be an excellent time to read my CTT on my iPod!