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** This is an archived, static copy of the Casebook messages boards dating from 1998 to 2003. These threads cannot be replied to here. If you want to participate in our current forums please go to https://forum.casebook.org **
Electronic Subscriptions to Ripperologist & Ripper Notes?
Casebook Message Boards: Ripper Media: Ripper Media:
Electronic Subscriptions to Ripperologist & Ripper Notes?
Author: NR Tomasheski
Wednesday, 12 June 2002 - 11:55 am |        | This request would be most appropriate to direct to the editiorial offices of each respective periodical, but by posting here I hope to stimulate interest in the community.
I would love to have an *electronic* subscription to the journals. I'm sure there are others in our cyber-world who feel the same. I'd be happy to pay the same US$ amounts.
I know that there are logistical concerns and set-up costs involved, plus issues surrounding illegal copying and distribution, which are impossible to fully control. Still, it would be nice.
Thanks for listening,
NR Tomasheski |
Author: Vila
Wednesday, 12 June 2002 - 02:51 pm | | I don't know how hard it would be to set up the various periodicals as pay-websites. I'd like to see something like that happen, though. I think e-zine versions would gain even more readers for the perodicals.
There could be a free area of the website with articles and excerpts to make the reader want to subscribe, and the subscriber's area that would contain the full text of each new issue. And an added bonus would be online archives of back issues. Naturally, it would be murder to transcribe pre-existing paper issues to online webpages, so the Archives would most likely start with the first online issue.
These are just thoughts off of the top of my head, so take them with however big a grain of salt you feel necessary.
As an aside:
Once again, the porn industry has led the way to new technology. In the '60s & '70s it was VCRs, in the '80s it was digital cameras & photo CDs, in the '90s, porn websites pioneered secure-server credit card ordering. I think it's funny how something that some people would rather not exist turns out to be the proving ground for so many new technologies.
Life is just funny like that.
Vila |
Author: Paul Begg
Thursday, 13 June 2002 - 02:42 am | | Hi Vila
Pornographers and evangelicals have always grasped and exploited any available technology to distribute their respective product. Considerably slower than either, an electronic version of the Rip has been discussed from time to time in the marbled towers of Rip HQ. I can't recall what the objections were, but I know we seem to have encountered enough trouble just accepting credit card payments. But Adam will no doubt have the answers at his figure tips...
Er...
Adam...?
In the meantime, anyone here not subscribing to the Rip or Ripper Notes, might like to consider doing so...
Or even contributing... |
Author: Christopher-Michael DiGrazia
Thursday, 13 June 2002 - 09:42 am | | Here at the lavish editorial offices of RN, we have never discussed an electronic version of the magazine, primarily as we have no-one on staff who could handle the logistics of setting up the site, maintaining it and doing all the required grunt work. Your Luddite Editor has neither the ability nor interest to do the thing, but would appreciate hearing from people who have the necessary abilities.
And as the gallant Mr Begg noted above - if you're not a subscriber to the Rip or RN. . .well, in heaven's name, why not? And if you;ve never written for either esteemed publication. . .well, in heaven's name, why not? Take the bit between your teeth and do the right thing. |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Friday, 14 June 2002 - 08:43 am | | Just in response to Vila's, above, the Casebook does already have a "Free site" for Ripperologist, with cover images, tables of contents and sample articles from each issue. The latest, June 2002, issue is now up at:
http://casebook.org/ripper_media/book_reviews/periodicals/ripperologist.2002-06.html
Congrats on yet another color cover, this latest issue looks great! |
Author: Paul Begg
Friday, 14 June 2002 - 10:42 am | | Thank's Stephen. And, yes, thank you too for bringing this valued feature to everyone's attention.
Cheers
Paul |
Author: adam wood
Friday, 14 June 2002 - 10:43 am | | Hi all
As Paul says above, from time to time we've discussed making Ripperologist available online. One idea was for a PDF version to be available on subscription, either the entire issue or each article purchasable individually. We have three samples issues available as PDFs on the magazine website (www.ripperologist.net).
The decision not to do this was mainly one of monetary concern. As CMD knows, it's hard enough to produce a top-quality publication on the limited funds generated by a smallish circulation. The feeling was that PDF issues would be circulated via email, thus depriving us of much-needed subscription revenue.
However, the second idea - that we may publish a web version of Ripperologist - is a project which I've fostered for some time. When discussing the idea at the time Paul and myself took over the editing and production we felt that an online version would look stale if it only changed every two months to fit the print publication dates. Online subscribers would expect the news section, for example, to be constantly updated, and while this would certainly be no problem, it leaves Paul and myself with the problem of what to put in the printed version.
However, at that time nobody had spoken about the idea other than ourselves, so perhaps we should discuss it again, now there seems to be a taker or two!
Thanks for the comments about the colour cover, Stephen. Again, this is something that I've been aiming for since the beginning of my role as designer of the mag. It's simply down to cash - we're lucky that for this issue the PRO wanted to place an ad for Stewart and Keith's new publication, and that they were happy to cover the cost of colour reproduction to ensure a good reaction. So any future advertisers out there - contact me now! You could help to give the Rip a permanent colour cover!
Adam |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Friday, 14 June 2002 - 11:16 am | | Hi Adam -
Just my two cents....
Adobe Acrobat has security features that can allow you to password protect individual files, or even restrict certain files to being "view-only" (i.e. they can not be printed without a password). While this would certainly not be fool-proof, it might offer just enough protection to make the venture worthwhile - particularly if it could defray expenses of printing/shipping hard copies overseas.
You can somewhat limit a person's willingness to share their password by making it personally identifiable - i.e. mine would be "StephenRyder-9281cs2", or even use that person's name and home address or email, such as "StephenRyder-123MainStreet-HappyvilleCA90192"... the passwords are a bit cumbersome, but such information they would likely not want to send out into the Net. And if and when piracy does occur and passwords are shared, it will be obvious to everyone which subscriber caused the leak and that person's subscription could be revoked.
This might help: http://www.adobe.com/education/pdf/acrobat_curriculum/Acrobat_lesson10_final.pdf
My suggestion would be to start out by offering digital copies of back issues first, more than 6 or 12 months old. See if there is a ready and willing audience for it, and if so, take it from there. Unfortunately, you may find that the number of people willing to shell out money for "digital information" may not be enough to warrant the extra time/effort/expense. |
Author: Paul Begg
Friday, 14 June 2002 - 12:37 pm | | | An additional option is that the issues is not supplied as a PDF but is accessed online in much the same way as people access the sample article on the Casebook, but with the copying of only small extracts from the articles being allowed. The electronic subscription would cost more than the annual subscription for the paper edition, but would give access to every issue, and also the full text of all the issues , including reviews, would be fully searchable. People can then decide whether they want to subscribe to the paper edition, pay £X more for access to the fully searchable full works, or pay a combined price for both. Access to the electronic edition would be permitted only by the use of a password supplied at the time of subscription. |
Author: NR Tomasheski
Friday, 14 June 2002 - 01:24 pm | | Thank you EVERYONE for your input on the issue. I am glad to hear that the concept is, at least, under some consideration.
For now, I will satisfy myself with (the ever-growing pile of) print editions, and keep my eyes "peeled" for news of e-zines.
Thanks!
NR Tomasheski
nrbt@att.net |
Author: Tom Wescott
Saturday, 15 June 2002 - 01:35 am | | Hello all,
Those are some interesting ideas. I particularly like the idea of making back issues available online. However, I think it is a shame that there are so many e-zines now that should be print zines. Why do I say 'should'? Because, eventually, the zine goes out of business and down goes the site with all its info. At least with print the back issues would still be available, and that is particularly important with historical journals such as the discussed. Personally, I don't like to read long pieces on the computer screen. I like to curl up in bed. But then again, at 28 I didn't grow up in front of a computer screen, so maybe I'm just not as conditioned to it like so many of todays young people. What I DO think though is that Ripper Notes should be given a more adequate page here on the Casebook, and Stephen should write a new blurb. The one I read last time I checked (2 or 3 weeks ago) was very outdated and not at all befitting how RN is today.
Yours truly,
Tom Wescott |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Wednesday, 19 June 2002 - 10:05 am | | Thought this might prove useful to anyone interested in subscribing to Ripperologist.... emagazinestand.com is offering until 20 June £10 off any subscription above £20, and they offer Ripperologist subscriptions online. Total cost is £24 for a U.S. subscription, or about $36, so that's a considerable discount from the usual subscription price. You can take advantage of this special offer at:
http://www.qksrv.net/click-579687-6249371 |
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