12 MAR 2008 - 2311 CDT My thoughts on electronic publications... For my age, I'm probably one of the heaviest users of computers on the ARRL board and I fully support using electronic data technology whenever and wherever it's practical to do so. The under 30 computer users probably think that electronic magazines and books (E-zines and E-books) are the greatest thing since sliced bread. However, this type of publication does have it limitations. Most of the time the publication has to be either read on-line or down-loaded from a web site. Picking up the hard copy from a shelf, a chair, or the floor is easier, faster, and much more convenient. Reading a publication more than 4 or 5 pages long on a computer screen is not a convenient way of reading for those of us who grew up in the paper age. It's not easy to move and use the electronic reading device on a trip, in the bathroom, at the kitchen table while eating, or even when you are watching TV. You have to concentrate on the small video screens, or when using a large screen, you have to move your head to see who is talking to you and and answering the phone is more of a hassle. The overall cost is larger depending on how much you invest in a good dedicated portable reading device, and how often you feel the need to buy a newer one. My University Alumni Association, the University itself, and my fraternity are now using electronic publications to replace most of their paper ones. I, and a lot of other alumni in my age range offered to pay a bit more to keep receiving the paper publications, but we were ignored. Maybe this is the wave of the future, but I have dropped all financial support for these organizations because they no longer provide the paper publications I have received for over 40 years. I'm out of the loop and I will not donate money to an organization whose activities I can no longer easily follow. In the commercial world, I know of only one newspaper that has managed to make money from the electronic publication of its premier paper publication: the Wall Street Journal. I have an idea that most of their electronic readers are under the age of 30. As a paper subscriber to several newspapers, I have access to their electronic editions which is handy for obtaining electronic copies of various articles. But I doubt if I will ever read one of these electronic newspapers page by page. - Dick, W9GIG