Would you read The Drum on an iPad in the bath or is paper better?
With just weeks to go until the Social Buzz Awards night, we're in no doubt that people are already pampering themselves up and getting their skin looking good by taking long soaks in the bath - but while there, should you be reading the likes of The Drum on your iPad or the print version?
Here, Lyndon Antcliff from Let's Subscribe makes a compelling case for why you should go with print
You don't mind soaking a magazine
Yes, you may think it looks uber-sexy to be reading your iPad or iPad mini with bubbles surrounding you but what if you get a cramp or someone jumps in with you or you just plain drop the iPad? That's an expensive oops. There are other places where a magazine is more convenient too:
- Football match
- Beach
- Ten minutes during take off and landing
- Edge of the swimming pool
- Whilst painting the ceiling
In fact, print has a few other advantages as well...
You wont get mugged over a copy of Vogue, but you will if you read it on an iPad.
No-one bats an eyelid at someone reading a magazine walking down a street - even in the roughest parts of town. Try it with an iPad. Note: It's probably not worth testing this supposition by conducting an experiment to gather data on which part of town is safest to walk around with expensive electronic goods. But if you did, it would make a cool infographic.
If I get my content hit digitally, I want it to be current
Digital is great for up to date, breaking news but magazines like The Drum's printed version let you reflect on the analysis. Also, a magazine doesn't constantly interrupt you with updates from half a dozen other apps, letting you concentrate on the words.
A magazine helps focus
See above
You can't invest in an iPad app
I wouldn't say I was a magazine or comic addict, although I have spent many hours embedded in the deep funk of atmosphere that fills the Notting Hill Comic and Book Emporium. But I am an enthusiast. I have my collection of vintage comics in dust covers, quietly increasing in value, 2000AD if you must know, I was around to buy the second prog of 2000AD but never saved it. It's now worth more than an iPad. And that's the point. No one is going to want to buy that copy of Popular Mechanics September 2012 off your iPad in 30 years time and even if they did they can't. It's against the Apple terms of service.
A paper magazine will never never run out of battery
Well duh, you may say. Until you are on a long trip and your iPad does run out of juice and you are sitting on the train with a very expensive dinner mat.