Telescope Reviews: The Trouble with the Magazines

There is already a searchable pdf archive of S&T (and most other magazines) that extends into the mid/early 90's --your public library's internet accessible electronic magazine database, large ones are Gale or Proquest. Virtually all articles are available in their entirety including illustrations. And it is free to library card holders--which are also free. Prior issues are typically maintained in hardcopy in the stacks going back to the 50's. Let's not be lazy--it is all at your local library or accessible through their website, (unless perhaps you live in a more podunk place than Tacoma, WA...)

I'd also point out that S&T has around 70,000 subscribers who have made a monetary commitment--while the largest internet forum (here) has 25,000 total members, despite membership requiring no monetary commitment whatsoever. This would suggest that more people pursue their amateur astronomy interest sans internet than we internet users assume...

People who tout the imminent domination of the internet over print media always gloss over several salient points.

The first is cost. Computers have a significant one. If one's interest is specifically in astronomy--and no interest for the rest the internet famously offers (Utube vids, political blogs, social networking and "you-know-what" is about it that is legal anymore--and unique to the net experience) what economical sense does it make to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of equipment just to access what will eventually be covered, more accurately & succinctly, in a 40$/yr magazine?

The second is the skills required. Not only those involved in maintaining a computer system, but those skills involved in effectively editing the information to be found on the internet for relevant value. Unfortunately, even the most computer savvy generation (18-30) has a distinct deficit in the latter. Knowledge, however extensive, about games, myspace, mp3, videos, shopping and cellphone texting does not translate into the ability to effectively use the net as an effective, efficient and accurate research tool. Not my opinion, BTW, but the findings of innumerable surveys quantifying the ITL illiteracy of today's university students. an example

The third is ongoing maintenance of equipment. Another significant expense (without end) and another significant skillset. What percentage of "computer users" are able to install & format a harddrive, troubleshoot program/hardware conflicts, repair virus infections, even install a new operating system without outside, often paid, assistance? I have some idea-- as a member of our household used to work for one of those "Geek4Rent" outfits...and there was certainly no shortage of work.

The fourth is portability. Home computers are not, even within the home. Laptops, portable yes, but are also prime theft targets while one is 'porting them about--but books, well...not so much, huh? (I don't even own a book worth 200$-- let alone a couple of thousand.)

The fifth is speed limitations (broadband has finally plateaued in the US (in case you missed the story--infrastructure and expense issues are mostly responsible apparently). Also, specific to astronomy, it is a no-brainer that those who have the darkest skies over their homes are also the most likely to be physically restricted to dial-up net access--which makes computer use in this day & age much more frustrating as well as much more usefully limited.

And the sixth is cost of access. An "internet subscription" for broadband runs about 480$ a year. (wow!) That's a lot of magazine subscriptions or discretionary newsstand purchases. You know, this makes me wonder how much, in toto, i'd really be missing, information-wise, if i just shut off my computer and went exclusively with print media in the pursuit of this hobby?

All of these factors function to constrain the continued growth and popularity of internet use well into the foreseeable future.

Here are a couple of telling datapoints that speak to the sustained popularity of print media (and fly in the face of conventional wisdom--whatever that is):

1)Gen Y (18-30yrs) and the heaviest library users (100% for printed resources, 65% for internet use.) ; the next highest rated group are those over 72.

2) "Those who use the public library to look through newspapers and magazines in these cases have a decidedly younger bent. More than half (51%) of those in Gen X and Gen Y (ages 18-42 years) say they did that at the library, compared with 29% of those older than age 42 years." Bet this is a surprise to many of you...but considering the extensive popularity the free big city weeklies have among literate youth...maybe not so much. (both points sourced from recent Pew research reports)

My overriding point is that those who foresee the impending obsolescence of print media--and the overriding importance of net media-- may be both premature and a bit digitally overenthusiastic. We should keep in mind that computers, necessary to access the internet, are not simple & reliable "appliances" like television sets have come to be by any stretch--nor is such simplicity & reliability in the offing. They are much less egalitarian than print media--this goes directly to relative expense of "operation & acquisition". And last, more misinformation is spread by the internet than print media ever disseminated (tabloid press excepted--perhaps?) on any subject--this follows directly from the lack of discretionary and ITL skills within the general computer user population.

The fact is that people profit from the authoritative editing services that print media generally provides. And by the look of the statistics, it appears at least the younger generation knows it too. Perhaps this speaks to the fact that statements prefaced with "I read on the internet that...." often elicit the same eye-rolling response from listeners as "I read in the National Enquirer that...."...

Computers are really as much of a hobby as astronomy is. Yes they intersect significantly, but still I suspect they intersect much less than computer hobbyists, like most CN enthusiasts additionally are, tend to assume.

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Mardi

4" achromat, ETX-70.
Whitepeak Lunar Observatory Website