My understanding is that the monthly magazine and the online magazine have identical content and both are now included in the monthly paper magazine subscription price. Someone mentioned videos but it's my understanding that MRVP still requires a separate subscription. Is that correct?
I Almost missed it. I glanced at the renewal notice and saw that the price was good, so I kept the email. When I went back to look closer, I saw that the digital magazine was included in the subscription. I renewed right away.
I had considered letting the monthly lapse for a while. It seems I get more benefit from the special issues, which seem to be more numerous in the recent few years. Like others, I prefer the paper copy, but in certain circumstances I enjoy having the digital copy. ZINIO works great.
Still trying to figure out the trains.com site. After signing in on Trains, I clicked on forum and I was directed to the old site and had to sign in again.
It did seem like Kalmbach was charging for every single thing, like compilations of track plans that are available for free to subscribers. Those issues were frustrating. I am very pleased with Kalmbach‘s decision to combine the digital and print together at a reasonable price. Thank you Kalmbach! I look forward to checking out the full benefits vs price of the Trains.com site.
I agree that it's just a matter of time before the paper editions go bye-bye.
I use to get my newspaper delivered each day and then the Pandemic hit. So I went to the digital edition. About the same time I purchased a Tablet. Now I find me spending more time on the tablet, with it's WiFi portability, and less on the PC. I have even started watching things like sports on the tablet. Beats walking down to the bottom of the driveway each morning in all kinds of weather to search for the newspaper.
Someone in my neighboirhhood reported getting a CHristmas card, postmarked Dec 14, just this week, Feb 18. Yeah, the late issue is not Kalmbach's fault here.
I dunno, but when I read my electronic issue, and the other electronic magazine, it's not 2-up, it's one page at a time, and if I hold my tablet in portrait orientation, which is 90% of the time I use is - for reading other ebooks via Kindal and so forth - it's slightly smaller than a magazine page but much bigger than a paperback book page. If I rotate to landscape oerientation, then I get 2-up pages that are just too small to read - too short and compressed. Portrait mode always for reading.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
KemacPrrI just received my March MR. With the USPS being what it is with the pandemic I don't believe that Kalmbach can be blamed for late issues. ---------Ken
The Wilmington Delaware distribution center has been particularly messed up since before Christmas.
Sheldon
SeeYou190I just can't read periodicals or books electronically
I can read it, but as presented, I see 2 pages too small to read. Yes I can enlarge them, yes i can scroll around to read more but paper and eyeballs were more efficient, worked in full sunshine and would be worth the risk to take it into the bathtub.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
John-NYBWIt doesn't matter to me whose fault it is, if I'm not getting my issue delivered, there's no point in continuing to subscribe. If I'm not happy with the service, I'm not going to renew.
I understand.
I guess I was trying to say that blaming Kalmbach and complaining to them is probably not going to help anything. Mail delivery of their magazine is out of their control. I'm sure they're not real happy about it, either.
York1 John
York1 Kalmbach can't do anything about the Post Office. I got my paper issue several weeks ago, so I believe that the late issues are probably out of their control. I'm sure they don't have unlimited resources, so not answering a complaint is probably due to manpower. This is an issue that is not restricted just to Kalmbach. I am looking forward to the rollout of the entire new "unlimited" line. If I remember, for less than $7.00 a month, we will be able to access digital versions of all five railroad magazines and the videos. That sounds like a great deal, and it includes stuff that I would be willing to pay more for. I pay many times that for my TV services, and I enjoy the MR much more than all those TV services combined.
Kalmbach can't do anything about the Post Office. I got my paper issue several weeks ago, so I believe that the late issues are probably out of their control.
I'm sure they don't have unlimited resources, so not answering a complaint is probably due to manpower. This is an issue that is not restricted just to Kalmbach.
I am looking forward to the rollout of the entire new "unlimited" line. If I remember, for less than $7.00 a month, we will be able to access digital versions of all five railroad magazines and the videos.
That sounds like a great deal, and it includes stuff that I would be willing to pay more for.
I pay many times that for my TV services, and I enjoy the MR much more than all those TV services combined.
It doesn't matter to me whose fault it is, if I'm not getting my issue delivered, there's no point in continuing to subscribe. If I'm not happy with the service, I'm not going to renew.
I'll look into the all electronic option. It might be my best bet.
If my service doesn't improve, I'm going to phase out the paper edition. I like to read my magazines while soaking in my Jacuzzi but that's not an option with the electronic edition.
I think newspapers are living on borrowed time. I'm surprised the Columbus Dispatch is still in business. It was sold a few years ago by the Wolfe family to a media conglomerate. Last year they started printing it in Indianapolis which adds another three hours to the distribution of the newspaper, making it even less current. I live well outside the city so that's another hour behind the times. I canceled last year and have no intention of ever signing up again.
We all know that magazine publishers have their backs against the wall.
Costs go up while subscriptions go down.
Be honest ... I'll bet many of you are upset like me when I am looking for information on a topic and hit an online site that has a paywall. I am expecting them to provide the service for free, and I have an ad blocker!
Kalmbach still puts out an excellent paper magazine at a reasonable price, they now provide an added digital version at no added cost, they provide this forum (with ads) for free even to magazine non-subscribers, and they are one of the few publishers I know who seem to actually have their readers in mind.
hardcoalcaseIs the Zinio Service free with the MR paper subscritpion? Note that the Zinio Terms of Service refers to payment for subscriptions, it appears that MRR is providing the digital via Zinio at their expense, but subscriptions to other periodicals would be on your dime.
Yes. You get the digital MR version for free if you subscribe to the paper version.
If you want other magazines, you will have to subscribe to them.
Is the Zinio Service free with the MR paper subscritpion?
Note that the Zinio Terms of Service refers to payment for subscriptions, it appears that MRR is providing the digital via Zinio at their expense, but subscriptions to other periodicals would be on your dime.
Correct?
Jim
richhotrain Hey, Scot, I'm not a spokesman for Tstage, but go back and read Tom's reply and tell me where it is an off topic non-related nit to pick. His reply was in direct response to maxman's initial post. Rich
Hey, Scot, I'm not a spokesman for Tstage, but go back and read Tom's reply and tell me where it is an off topic non-related nit to pick.
His reply was in direct response to maxman's initial post.
Rich
I too got the emailed offer from Kalmbach relating to MR and got basically the same email relating to Trains magazine. The real underlying "news" in the email is that it seems the much advertised roll-out of the new and improved Trains.com seems to be actually taking place. This has been the world's longest reveal party.
I find that increasingly I read Trains thoroughly when I get the issue but tend not to go back to past issues unless there is a specific topic that I want to research more thoroughly, and that happens only now and then. Yet I keep them all. So an online version of Trains might actually free up some shelf space. If an article in MR is something I am actually going to use, then in common with Kevin and some others, I prefer paper and likely always will. But the online version might be helpful when on vacation etc.
In recent years Kalmbach has tried to monetize everything individually: want the online archives, then pay extra. Want videos, then pay extra. Want digital plus paper, then pay for both. Maybe this is a change in viewpoint. If so, I think they are wise to create more benefits to subscribing rather than charge here and charge there and charge everywhere. And having had the experience of trying to add the digital archives and not being able to convey to their so-called "customer service" rep what I was talking about, just add value to subscribing and tell me what it costs rather than deal with that obstacle course again. Customer Service my caboose.
Dave Nelson
I just wonder what they're taking away with this "gift" to the subscribers.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
No. I don't take dirtections in this regard, nor will I be responding to anything else said on this most excellent of topics put up by the OP in good faith.
Alton Junction
I think it's reasonable of an OP to request that folk try to stay on topic otherwise what was just a heads-up for board members ends up with the usual ramble into hatered of DCC, Broadway Limited, locomotives being too detailed, 12 inch thick to scale running boards, those who are audacious enough to buy a model and not put 200 miles on it a week etc, etc, etc...........
"And this is a non-related nit to pick?"
Well, let me think about that a bit......................................
Okay, thought about it. No, I don't think so. My post, so I get to choose who the relatives are. Might be a little distant, but related.
On the other hand "I still haven't received my March issue" (it is still February, is it not?); trying to add archives because the button doesn't work; or customer service hasn't called me back (yes, that is a problem, but last couple times I called they said they were in Texas, and I think most of Texas has other issues right now) have as much relationship as the 6 degrees of seperation from Kevin Bacon.
Besides, as you can see, my train got derailed anyway.
Now, back to the original topic, which I think had to do with snow shoveling.
Regards
I don't remember when I revieved this:
https://trn.trains.com/pages/sneakpeek/index.html
Mike.
My You Tube
I understand the ramifications and problems of printing anything with a 19th century method but I get eye strain after a very short time of looking at a computer screen. Plus with a magazine I don't have to reload it if I set it down for awhile. Personal preference not scientific.
maxman I made the original post so that those who might be interested could have a look-see. It is my hope that it doesn't get derailed by every Harry, Dick, and (especially) Tom who might have a non-related nit to pick. You've all had your say elsewhere.
I made the original post so that those who might be interested could have a look-see.
It is my hope that it doesn't get derailed by every Harry, Dick, and (especially) Tom who might have a non-related nit to pick. You've all had your say elsewhere.
maxman I guess that means that the paper edition prices will go up.
I guess that means that the paper edition prices will go up.
SeeYou190 mvlandsw Might be the beginning of phasing out the paper edition I hope not. I just can't read periodicals or books electronically. I need pages! -Kevin
mvlandsw Might be the beginning of phasing out the paper edition
I hope not.
I just can't read periodicals or books electronically. I need pages!
-Kevin
I much prefer actual pages as well. Still have Model Railroader issues back into the 40's - nearly complete from about 1947.
Similar situation with Railroad Model Craftsman, starting in the mid 50's.
I consider the older issues more valuable than the new ones, drawings, more technical info, etc.
I was fustrated just yesterday not being able to measure something on a scale drawing in MR when looking at the digital version. My print versions are not well organized at this moment because of the move and home improvement work in preparation for layout construction.
Storage space in not an issue here, basement sized layouts have lots of storge space under them, so I will keep the magizines, the 1700 vinyl records, the books, etc.
I have subscribed to MR since 1968? And have had a subscription to the electronic archive since they created it.
The rest of their digital stuff is of no interest, I find it very tedious to watch most videos on these kinds of subjects.
Back to the topic in hand. I actually like the ZINIO interface. I can throw the magazine onto my TV and read it more easily than in print format. I bought a whole load of their Classic Trains titles a few months ago and to be honest I wish they had more.
I have sympathy for those who prefer print though because if looking at pdf's or other digital media in niche markets like this is not your cup of tea then better enjoy your magazines while they are made.
There was a bit of a thrill 20 or so years ago when the Model Railroader would drop through my letter box in the UK hotfoot from the US, not contract printed locally.
Thanks for the heads-up.
mvlandswMight be the beginning of phasing out the paper edition
Living the dream.
I'm wondering about those who already paid extra for the print/digital combo subscription, do we...er...they get a refund now that digital is "free"?
I just logged onto the digital site. I like it.
I like the paper version, but I will enjoy reading the online version, especially if I need to look up something in past issues that I may not have kept.
I also like the zoom feature. I was able to zoom in on some of the photos in the magazine.
I appreciate Kalmbach doing this for us, in addition to this free forum.
I think this might entice me to start my subscription again.
- Douglas