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Author Topic: Zymurgy Magazine?  (Read 34034 times)

Offline mikeypedersen

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #30 on: February 25, 2010, 11:18:16 am »

That's what external hard drives are for.  Or you could back them up and burn them to a DVD as well.  

Just playing devil's advocate here, but what's to stop the unethical person from illegal distrobution if you could save them and distribute to friends, who then don't feel like they have to sign up for the AHA?

Personally I think that I get a lot more value from other aspects of being a memeber, but it is a great little perk!

Offline babalu87

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #31 on: February 25, 2010, 11:23:10 am »
Actually, can I patent my idea?

AHA might be able to make more money with a web version that has advertising.
Jeff

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Offline Kaiser

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #32 on: February 25, 2010, 11:29:44 am »
Actually, can I patent my idea?

AHA might be able to make more money with a web version that has advertising.

Now, this is something where I would have an issue with. An on-line only version would only be practical if I had access to the internet everywhere I may end up and wanted to read the magazine.

Advertising is ok, but I always prefer it to be at a minimum and approved sponsors. Don’t let Google choose what they want to advertise.

Kai

Offline beerocd

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #33 on: February 25, 2010, 11:37:26 am »
an invaluable “throne companion” for me is my iPod

ewww. (yeah I know real mature)
Maybe because I'm old I don't figure stuff like that belongs in the bathroom.
If you take it in with you it's tainted forever.... like the Seinfeld "george reading in the can" episode.
The moral majority, is neither.

Offline tygo

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #34 on: February 25, 2010, 11:37:45 am »

That's what external hard drives are for.  Or you could back them up and burn them to a DVD as well.  

Just playing devil's advocate here, but what's to stop the unethical person from illegal distrobution if you could save them and distribute to friends, who then don't feel like they have to sign up for the AHA?

Personally I think that I get a lot more value from other aspects of being a memeber, but it is a great little perk!

I completely agree.  There's nothing to stop it.  If that's all a significant portion of the membership feels they're getting from the AHA then it wouldn't be a good idea.
Clint
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Offline mikeypedersen

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #35 on: February 25, 2010, 11:40:10 am »
ewww. (yeah I know real mature)
Maybe because I'm old I don't figure stuff like that belongs in the bathroom.
If you take it in with you it's tainted forever.... like the Seinfeld "george reading in the can" episode.
Sorry Sir, this Ipod is flagged.

Offline a10t2

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #36 on: February 25, 2010, 11:57:38 am »
Just playing devil's advocate here, but what's to stop the unethical person from illegal distrobution if you could save them and distribute to friends, who then don't feel like they have to sign up for the AHA?

You think copies of Zymurgy don't get passed around? ;)

Not that it's an invalid concern, but it isn't one that's unique to a digital copy.
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Offline babalu87

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #37 on: February 25, 2010, 12:21:45 pm »
Actually, can I patent my idea?

AHA might be able to make more money with a web version that has advertising.

Now, this is something where I would have an issue with. An on-line only version would only be practical if I had access to the internet everywhere I may end up and wanted to read the magazine.

Advertising is ok, but I always prefer it to be at a minimum and approved sponsors. Don’t let Google choose what they want to advertise.

Kai


No, not an online only version but print (like we get now) AND an online version like the newspapers are all currently using.

Think of the advertising revenue the AHA could get?
Might also help to educate people

Quote
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is deeply passionate about
all aspects of homebrewing and beer culture: technical, artistic, sensory, and social.

As a member-driven organization, the American Homebrewers Association educates and promotes the homebrewing hobby through its publications, programs, and events.

I would NEVER want it to go web only
Jeff

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IIPA, Stout, Hefeweizen, Hallertau Pale Ale, Bitter

Primary:
Hefeweizen,Berliner Weisse, Mead

Offline dontblake

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #38 on: February 25, 2010, 12:43:08 pm »
Couple of comments:

We also subscribe to Cook's illustrated.  Excellent 6x/year magazine with no ads whatsoever.  Cook's illustrated also has a website, which they make you pay more for (which I hate - and haven't ever subscribed to the online version).

But, if the publishing of Zymurgy is so expensive, might it make sense to charge a basic fee wherein you would have access to the digital version of Zymurgy and for a nominal extra fee (which, when combined with the basic fee would be in the neighborhood of today's membership fee) to get the printed version?   Seems sorta like charging extra for soft drinks, luggage, or even blankets on an airplane, but if there's some discount for a "digital only" model, then it may make sense.

I do realize that it costs a lot of money to print a magazine and determining how many fewer printed copies would be needed would be difficult.   And it's probably not much cheaper to print 5000 copies vs 50000.

As someone mentioned, we all have access to an online index, but not the actual material.   This is indeed a bummer for me personally since I lost a large portion of my issues from the 90's to water damage at home. 

Just some lunchtime ramblings
Cheers

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Offline mikeypedersen

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #39 on: February 25, 2010, 12:45:47 pm »

You think copies of Zymurgy don't get passed around? ;)

Not that it's an invalid concern, but it isn't one that's unique to a digital copy.
The fact that you can forward a PDF copy of a file to your whole contact list in a matter of seconds is a little bit more disturbing than letting a friend borrow a magazine.  Think how long it would take that magazine to usefully change hands 300 times; maybe a few years.  One e-mail can get that magazine into the hands of those same 300 people instantly.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for less paper, these are things that need to be contemplated.

Offline Thirsty_Monk

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #40 on: February 25, 2010, 01:12:00 pm »

You think copies of Zymurgy don't get passed around? ;)

Not that it's an invalid concern, but it isn't one that's unique to a digital copy.

The fact that you can forward a PDF copy of a file to your whole contact list in a matter of seconds is a little bit more disturbing than letting a friend borrow a magazine.  Think how long it would take that magazine to usefully change hands 300 times; maybe a few years.  One e-mail can get that magazine into the hands of those same 300 people instantly.

Look what I have started.

I think we are putting buggy before horse in here.
I could also jump off that bridge but will I?

I quess we should be thinking how to have better access to the info then who could steal it.
The info is put there by us for us.  
By the wy, my white is on my email distribution list and she could care less about some brewing PDF file.

Magazine is most likely delivered to theprinter in PDF format.
There are also other delivery methods like Oracle Magazine (IT magazine).
 

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for less paper, these are things that need to be contemplated.

Moderator Note: Edited Quote Tags for Clarity
« Last Edit: February 25, 2010, 01:18:21 pm by dbeechum »
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Offline mikeypedersen

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #41 on: February 25, 2010, 01:20:37 pm »
My point was in regards to someone wanting to be able to save copies on a hard drive or other removable drive. If you could do that, then it would/could be distributed in ways that the AHA didn't intend on. Let's not get hung up on file types and who is on our distribution lists.

Offline dbeechum

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #42 on: February 25, 2010, 01:32:26 pm »
I have to say that I'm happy this discussion is happening like this. There's going to be a ton of communication and question asking of the membership as the org contemplates how to adjust to the new world we're seeing.

Just so everyone knows my stance - I hate intrusive DRM. I tend to think of DRM as a little suitcase combo lock that really only inconveniences the honest folk and does nothing to stop anyone who's serious.

In some ways I think have to look at content as a loss leader. If you go and share the magazine with a few friends - that's exposure we wouldn't have had before. We have to provide a reason for that person who got a free copy of the magazine to pay their dues. How and what we do, I don't know yet. So far the answer for other groups seems to be something different for each of organization.
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Offline glitterbug

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #43 on: February 25, 2010, 02:24:19 pm »
In some ways I think have to look at content as a loss leader. If you go and share the magazine with a few friends - that's exposure we wouldn't have had before. We have to provide a reason for that person who got a free copy of the magazine to pay their dues. How and what we do, I don't know yet. So far the answer for other groups seems to be something different for each of organization.

Rupert Murdoch and Co are planning on selling access to the news on the web. I believe the plan is to restrict the paid content to current\new articles and then freely publishing everything after a certain period of time. This provides an incentive to pay and gives the cheapos access to the articles at a later date. Maybe you should look at a similar strategy?
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Offline denny

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Re: Zymurgy Magazine?
« Reply #44 on: February 25, 2010, 02:48:54 pm »
Like Drew said, this is an interesting and informative conversation.  These are all issues we've been thinking about and will continue to wrestle with.  It's really valuable to have inputs and ideas from AHA members...after all, that's who we're trying to serve.
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