photonovore
Moonatic
Reged: 12/24/04
Posts: 2472
Loc: tacoma wa
|
|
Here's what I think:
Just received the first issue in the new format announced last month. The magazine is now stapled, as it used to be, and a tad shorter. I like this change personally, makes the magazine easier to handle.
Also, the issue is good sized, 112 pages and there seems to me the editorial changes seem overall quite a bit more observer oriented. The editorial mix was, to me, much better. The writing even seems to have risen a grade level or two!
I noticed more color separation quality lapses than previously which makes some of the text in screened images difficult to read, blurry even. Makes me wonder if they changed to the low bid printer...
I also noticed less garish graphics--less red and more pastels--much better--red is such a "shouting" color, glad to see its being used more sparingly.
Printing problems in the copy i have aside, i give the new effort two thumbs up.
--------------------
Mardi
4" achromat, ETX-70.
Whitepeak Lunar Observatory Website
|
novbabies
Postmaster
Reged: 06/05/05
Posts: 15678
Loc: Northern Georgia!
|
|
Haven't looked yet (fun for today  !), but I like the non-stapled fprmat due to the ease of removing pages I wanted to save.
--------------------
Good Seeing!
Mark
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
VERY old Edmund 6" f/8 reflector
Assorted binoculars
|
llanitedave
Humble Megalomaniac
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 10477
Loc: Amargosa Valley, NV, USA
|
|
I just saw it today at the bookstore. The less glossy paper isn't what I'm used to, but it seems serviceable.
I really like the fact that they've apparently returned to the ATM fold, with an ATM Workshop column to be run regularly. I missed the old "Gleanings for ATMs", and this has the potential to be a worthy successor. It might actually convince me to subscribe again, for the first time in many years.
--------------------
"S.O.E." (Sauron's Other Eye) 16" Royce conical mirror: A permanent work in progress.
10" Homebuilt dob, old Coulter mirror
Next Project: The "Eye of Sauron" Observatory!
|
edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4423
|
|
Different, but I have to strong feeling.
I have not had time to look at content.
edj
--------------------
n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
|
Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2119
Loc: Isle of Wight, England
|
|
Looking forward to seeing it when it comes out here next week.
--------------------
Visual Deep Sky Observing
Visual Astronomy blog
Fotopic astronomy gallery My photos from astronomy events, etc
8x42 binoculars 'light thimble'
4" refractor and 4" Meade SCT 'light cups'
12" Dobsonian 'light bucket'
Various TeleVue eyepieces
|
swalker
Imaging Editor - Sky & Telescope
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 366
Loc: 42.9225°N, 71.2242°W
|
|
Feel free to comment directly on our website:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/skytel/beyondthepage/9309806.html
We'd really like some feedback.
Sean Walker
--------------------
12.5" f/5.1 Newt
10" f/4.5 Newt
4.25" f/4 Astrograph
80mm f/10 refractor
70mm Mak Cass
40mm PST
Millennium Mount EQ
TI ProDome #002
|
PeterC2
member
Reged: 11/11/05
Posts: 66
Loc: No. CA
|
|
I received mine today in no. CA. At first glance, I'm pleased with the "look" of the new format. My first reaction to the simple stapled in the center was, "looks like fewer pages." But guess what? Page count is up. Last 2 months were 102 but this month is 112. Astronomy is less by 10-20 pages. I don't know if the new pages are content or advertising but we could be getting more "stuff." I like the new sky map with portions keyed to enlarged maps nearby. A new column on suburban viewing -- great. There's a review of the new TV Ethos eyepiece - 5 stars! But no one yet has even estimated a price. Guess they're stirring us up into a frenzy so price doesn't matter. On the whole the issue looks more observer oriented and less technical/theory. Hopefully, the issue will read as well as it looks. Astronomy has been gaining steadily on S&T, especially the last few months. S&T has answered the challenge and my impression is that we, the target audience, are the real winners. I hope the battle continues!
Peter
|
trainsktg
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 4497
Loc: Pacific Northwest
|
|
The magazine is a notch above its previous offerings...format, content, writing, topic choice---all better. In a way, it feels like a revival of the magazine from the 60s and 70s.
Keith
--------------------
He was a good little monkey and always very curious.
|
jwaldo
Smart Mime
Reged: 04/26/04
Posts: 3506
Loc: SoCal
|
|
I don't really like the stapled binding. In my experience, stapled magazines quickly fall apart. Not to mention it was nice being able to quickly locate an article without having to pull out 5 years' worth of magazines.
Other than that, everything else seemed really nice IMO 
--------------------
-Jim
DHQ 8"
C102 w/ upgraded focuser
ZenithStar 66 ED Triplet
DSH 6"
Transporter 70
Sears 60/900mm
10x50's & assorted other binos
|
NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12070
Loc: Rockford Illinois
|
|
I'm with Jim... Hate the Stapled format... I loved the original "Spine" binding.
Also, many of the full color pages seemed to be "Offset" with white edges (Back cover as well)...
And.... Does it seem smaller (Width/Height)? Or is it just my imagination?
--------------------
Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
|
PeterC2
member
Reged: 11/11/05
Posts: 66
Loc: No. CA
|
|
According to Rick Fienberg in his editorial, the size is smaller. I haven't measured to see how much. Not sure if this is part of why there are more pages. He said they were saving paper, but I wonder if they really are since they have more pages. Details, details.
Peter
|
edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4423
|
|
Quote:
Different, but I have to strong feeling.
I have not had time to look at content.
edj
S&T came one day, Astronomy the next-so far, Astronomy has been more interesting.
--------------------
n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
|
gparkerson
Vendor (Astronomy Technology Today)
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 962
Loc: Louisiana
|
|
Less glossy paper, staples, renewed focus on equipment, including ATM - I like it! Sounds like a great publication just got even better.
--------------------
Gary
|
John Jarosz
I'm being watched...
Reged: 04/25/04
Posts: 2193
Loc: Chicago area, IL
|
|
Well my stapled issues from the 60's and 70's haven't fallen apart yet.
I did post a comment on their website, it only seems fair.
In this instance, change is good. I hope the tabloid inspired headlines are gone for good, along with the illustrations of the doomed earth being hit by a giant asteroid.
John
--------------------
6" F4.6(w/Paracorr) GEM reflector, 8" F11 Dall Relay Scope
6" F5 RFT Refractor, Garrett Gemini 20x80 LW
|
edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4423
|
|
Quote:
In this instance, change is good. I hope the tabloid inspired headlines are gone for good, along with the illustrations of the doomed earth being hit by a giant asteroid.
John
--------------------
n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
|
rtomw77
sage
Reged: 10/06/04
Posts: 463
Loc: Deer Valley, AZ
|
|
I had problems with glare off the high gloss paper they used until now. It also caused problems with some photocopiers. The new paper is less glossy, and the staple also lets the magazine lie flatter if you want to make a photocopy.
The content of the first issue of the new format looks good. I hope S&T will continue to improve.
Tom
--------------------
Celestron 8" Nexstar GPS XLT
Meade 8" f/6 newtonian on GEM-New GSO Mirror
StarBlast 4.5" Dob
XT12 IntelliScope Dob with COL
|
desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30032
Loc: Tucson, AZ
|
|
Quote:
According to Rick Fienberg in his editorial, the size is smaller. I haven't measured to see how much. Not sure if this is part of why there are more pages. He said they were saving paper, but I wonder if they really are since they have more pages. Details, details.
Peter
Actually, he said they were trying to cut back on paper wasted in the production of the magazine, not on the overall use of paper. So they could increase the page count and still make more efficient use of the paper involved.
The new layout reminds me strongly of my favorite all-purpose science magazine, Scientific American. And that's a good thing. I haven't had a chance to assess the content, yet.
--------------------
Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
|
Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10960
Loc: Los Angeles
|
|
In the course of thinking about my "carbon footprint" on the planet, it dawned on me that I wouldn't mind receiving my magazines as an on-line download.
Is this possible with Sky & Tel?
So long as I have a digital storage of the contents, I wouldn't mind saving the trees and not getting a printed magazine.
When I think of the energy required to print, mail, and deliver all those thousands of magazines I've received through the years, I'm embarassed at how bad it's been for the environment.
And, if they were available that way, I wouldn't have lost 1968-1993 when my house burned down. I would've just walked out with my laptop.
--------------------
Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
|
Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
|
|
Spined back allowed me to have ready access to date and main articles as the mags are arranged on shelf.
It was easy to replace the mag in chronological order, not so now.
Also, it seems to me that the technical level of the articles is declining; I don't see much difference between S&T and Astronomy at this point.
So what's the alternative? My renewal is coming up.
Oh yeah, I've been a subscriber for 25 years.
--------------------
10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
|
Jay_Bird
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/04/06
Posts: 680
Loc: Nevada 36N 115W
|
|
The small changes in paper/ink and format don't matter to me. The new content (such as ATM section and 'suburban starhop') are nice to see. I still find S&T in 2007 era technically meaty enough that it takes several months before I can say I've really read an entire issue. While occasional competitors bear newstand purchase I find S&T most reliable - maybe it's just more consistent with my tastes.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 