I've heard members actually raise Greg's questions/issues. I think that many people would love a digital version that was theirs to keep, off-line as well as on-line. Or put another way, a digital copy that wasn't tethered to internet connectivity (many people STILL have a dialup connection and will continue to have that limitation for a long while.) I know that I really like the eBook concept but I refuse to buy anything that doesn't result in me being able to possess the content for an infinite time. Our CDs and DVDs that have the older QST, etc. are a good example of what works. If I have to print it out to be sure that I'll have access in the future, I actually consider that step backwards. Over the short term, rolling out a digital version is a good step forward, but only one step. If we don't address these longer term issues, we're missing the bigger part of the opportunity with our members, because they surely are going to be looking at these issues/lack of features. I recognize that we have IP control issues (unauthorized sharing) when the content can be made available for use off-line, but I think we need to have a sense of proportion over such issues/concerns. Loosing members is a big and expensive thing to have happen. Of course cost of acquisition of a new member is a whole separate issue I won't get into at all! ; ) Well, I have to sign this and head back into the PNW DX convention. 73, Grant On Sat, Aug 13, 2011 at 6:23 AM, G Widin <gpwidin@comcast.net> wrote:
Marty, Yes, that is true right now. But I am thinking about the situation down the road, where it is forseeable that there is a larger interest in not receiving a printed journal. I will say frankly that 'neither requiring nor promoting opting out' of a printed QST doesn't sound like a stable long-term situation to me.
We can also turn this around, and say that a positive policy on online archiving could be a benefit to our members, who would then no longer need to be concerned with preserving old issues, in whatever medium.
In other words, I think we need to figure out a good archive policy no matter what we do about a printed version. I don't have the answer. 73, Greg, K0GW
On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 10:48 PM, Marty Woll <n6vi@socal.rr.com> wrote:
** Hi, Greg.
Since the League will neither require nor promote opting out of receiving a printed QST, one's collection and access to prior issues received during his or her tenure as a member will remain unaffected.
73,
Marty N6VI
----- Original Message ----- *From:* K0GW <K0GW@arrl.net> *To:* arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> *Sent:* Friday, August 12, 2011 4:28 PM *Subject:* [arrl-odv:20149] Electronic QST--unanswered questions about archives
While we've discussed many facets of an electronic QST, I think there is one group of questions still unanswered--what will be a user's access to the archive?
Many members have and are proud of their collection of past QST issues. For example, at one point, I had every issue from 1963 to the present (until I started getting the CD-ROMs). Leaving for the moment the difference in media, will members be able to "keep" their copies in the same way? From what's been discussed so far, it appears that a member will be able to view/use the issue, but not save a digital copy. This would mean that a user would need to be online continuously to read an issue. Would we preclude downloading to read elsewhere offline? Would printing be disabled?
Would only current members be able to read archive years, while a lapsed member would be unable to review an issue, even if it was published during the time he/she was a member? If I have a current subscription/membership, does that mean I have access to all the past issues?
I am not objecting to electronic delivery, just wondering how we should address the complicated access questions that can be raised. Any suggestions? 73, Greg, K0GW
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-- 73, Grant Hopper, KB7WSD Vice Director, Northwestern Division