I am perfectly clear about the problems with the magazines and it all comes down to money. They are owned by big corporations who have investors who insist upon profits. Rod has written for S&T and I have written for Astronomy for some years and it has been great to see my name in print and hear from folks who enjoy what I have written about. Yes, my ego is that big. I understand that for some people the Internet takes care of all their needs in this area.
I like having a magazine and settling into a comfy chair and browsing through the latest issue. It provides me information on a variety of subjects and it is convenient. I can move around the house or take it out with me to read at another location. I am not willing to deal with a battery powered device to do that.
There is also a sense of trust. If these folks work at a news agency in some form, then I generally trust what they have to say. The problem with the Internet is that if you ask a question you get bombarded with answers. Go to the eyepiece forum and post a "Is ___ eyepiece a good one?". Stand back and watch what happens. Every answer from "it is the most fabulous eyepiece ever" to "don't waste your money on this stinker" will appear. What is a novice to do with that type of feedback?
I get it that a magazine is generally a one way communication and you usually don't get an answer if you post a reply to Sky and Tell. But you can use their expertise about a particular item to see if it suits your needs. And, yes, they don't do enough equipment reviews and they are not detailed enough.
Right now, I am going to continue my subscriptions and read when and where I want, without having an electronic device in the loop. Maybe that will change.
Clear skies and no eye strain; Steve Coe
-------------------- 150mm 6" f/8 Celestron Refractor on Sirius Mount
80mmED 3" f/7.5 Orion Refractor
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
New Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
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