Model Railroader on CD or DVD, yes or no???

[DMcG14]

Would you purchase back issues of Model Railroader in a digital format? Assuming a reasonable price similar to other magazines.

[jfugate]

Would love to see this option. However, I don't expect it will happen.

While it would not be too difficult to digitize the issues of MR since the era of desktop publishing, getting searchable versions of the magazine prior to this would be a major undertaking indeed.

Each page would have to be individually scanned into digital format, then key search phrases would have to be hand entered for each page. Barring that, each page would have to be OCR'd and hand checked for errors, since OCR is not perfect.

If we assume MR production went digital in 1990 then all the years from 1934 to year end 1989 would have to be hand scanned and proofed, which I estimate would be something over 50,000 pages.

While that might work for a magazine with the market of National Geographic, the Model Railroader market is a pittance compared to that, and I don't see all this work being cost justified.

Dream on ... would love to see it but I ain't holding my breath.

[DMcG14]

I wouldn't even care if the pre digital issues were searchable. The database already available online could be used to point you to what year, month and page your interests were on.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

Would love to see this option. However, I don't expect it will happen.

While it would not be too difficult to digitize the issues of MR since the era of desktop publishing, getting searchable versions of the magazine prior to this would be a major undertaking indeed.

Each page would have to be individually scanned into digital format, then key search phrases would have to be hand entered for each page. Barring that, each page would have to be OCR'd and hand checked for errors, since OCR is not perfect.

If we assume MR production went digital in 1990 then all the years from 1934 to year end 1989 would have to be hand scanned and proofed, which I estimate would be something over 50,000 pages.

While that might work for a magazine with the market of National Geographic, the Model Railroader market is a pittance compared to that, and I don't see all this work being cost justified.

Dream on ... would love to see it but I ain't holding my breath.

I agree with Joe on all points.

Just wanted to mention that this very issue came up on one of the Yahoo groups a few years ago, and IIRC, A.S. basically said/was of the opinion (I'm trying not to put words into his mouth since I don't recall exactly his response), "NO".

[CNJ831]

This same question has been polled over and over again since I joined this forum. At the time of one of its earlier incarnations Kalmbach indicated in no uncertain terms that it had no inclination of making back issues available on CD or else-wise. Must we keep asking the same tired questions? I'm sure if they change their minds they will let us know.

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

I voted "Yes" because it would be really cool to look at a model railroad issue on my computer and with all the new software out it would fit in fine.

[Javern]

as long as they package the cd so when i pulled it out of the sleeve a dozen subscription cards fall out

[DMcG14]

The reason I ask the question, even though I know it has been asked before, is if enough people are interested perhaps Kalmbach will pay some company to professionally scan the back issues and make them available. Obviously they won't do it if there is no interest.

[Anonymous]

You cannot beat the portability of a magazine. My PC's are located in the kitchen and the family room, but I read my MR at work, in my car at lunch, or home at the workbench or the "reading room".
I would hate to put a PC in all those locations!!!!

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kbfcsme

You cannot beat the portability of a magazine. My PC's are located in the kitchen and the family room, but I read my MR at work, in my car at lunch, or home at the workbench or the "reading room".
I would hate to put a PC in all those locations!!!!

A tablet PC changes this somewhat ... but then there's trying to find a place to plug in 'cause the batteries only last a few hours!

[dragenrider]

No! How would I take it to the bathroom to browse while I'm [censored] or pop a back issue in my travel bag for work? It's too handy to be able to grab an issue and kill some down time.

[Anonymous]

It's not just a simple matter of scanning and burning to a CD. A publication's agreement with an author may limit the use of the article to a single printing. This is especially true of older articles. I don't know of Kalmbach' Publishing's agreements but there have been lawsuits filed concerning re-publishing an authors work in non-print formats.

I suspect Kalmbach might not reli***he job of tracking down and obtaining releases from hundreds of authors or their estates.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

If Kalmback won't do it, I will probably end up doing it for my own personal use. Sheet feed scanners are much more reasonably priced, so I would just *gasp* slice the mag right down the spine, feed it through, turn it around, and feed the backs. Rearranging the pages and doing OCR automatically are easier with new software, and stick it on Word format pages. (Why word? see below)

Once that's done, i would index the magazines with Google Desktop (it supports MS Word files).

What about OCR errors? The simple fact is, that it's not perfect, but in casual reading, corrections could be made, especially if the documents are stored on a DVD-RW or large hard disk.

What about the throne room? I would certainly keep a year or more of the most recent magazines, for such purposes. Really, though, I don't have room for 30 years of back issues, and the older ones are deteriorating, and some have begun collecting mildew and need diposed.

[egmurphy]

I just belong to the dinosaur era. I'm still purchasing back copies of MR, but in magazine form. I'd have no interest in a digital version. I prefer the hard copy magazine format.

ymmv

Ed

[sansouci]

When I see people selling home-grown scanned MR or Trains on eBay, then I'll know there's demand. Is there a statute of limitations on reproducing old articles?

[IRONROOSTER]

While I suspect I'll always prefer the physical form, having CD's would sure save on space.
But as Joe mentioned above, there probably isn't enough of a market to make worthwhile a professionally produced CD. Just scanning in the pages gives you a series of pictures. To be really useful you need some kind of index and organization to be able to "read" the magazine. Also some kind of search mechanism would be handy.
Enjoy
Paul