Firstly, good call on waiting for the news on Titan Dave. It's good to try to be ahead of others sometimes. I really can't wait to see what they discover about that fascinating moon. You would think that its thick shrouded atmosphere must be hiding something! And let's not forget that even if the initial news shows nothing, that we still have a lot to learn about these other worlds, something that is happening with our very own planet - there are still being things discovered about mother nature that will keep on surprising us for years to come (eg. discovery of life existing in the far reaches of the earth, living in what we may think as impossible conditions for life, yet there it is!)
Secondly, I just received my first AS&T subscription yesterday. The articles look great and some of them are reprints of articles from the regular S&T, which is ok since they did say it would be about 40% Australian content (or was it the other way around?). Anyway, my only gripe with this subscription is that there is not much saving to be had. I got the two year subscription which equates to roughly 20% discount off the shelf price. Better than nothing I suppose and hopefully, with a growing readership, they may decide to drop the price a little. Compare that saving to my fiance's computer magazine subscription, which has a 40% saving. We just can't escape the expense factor in this hobby of ours!
And lastly, in regards to Gordon's post about S&S I just have to say that I too was one of those bitter subscribers but once people know the full story of what went on behind the scenes over at S&S headquarters, they should be a little more understanding. Those ex-esubscribers are missing out on what is becoming an even better magazine. Before S&S ran into problems, I never had a late issue. S&T is a great magazine too which I also subscribe to, but we really need to support our Australian magazine so that it can continue to grow and improve. Despite all the
past problems S&S is still a great magazine and though I have griped about it's lateness, I will still support it because if everyone started becoming ex-subs, then we will have no aussie mag to be proud of at all. So Gordon, you were good to point out that though these people were frustrated, that these frustrations were felt by "others in the past".
Now for the disclaimer! Please don't take my above rant as a lashing out on you Gordon, I'm just pointing out that though S&S may have run into problems in the past, that other people shouldn't hold that against them because they have now been delivering a better looking magazine filled with 100% Australian content. I'm not saying anything personally directed to you at all so I hope you don't take my post the wrong way.
Vermin, I really hope you enjoy your S&S subscription. I remember the first time I got my subscription as an 18th birthday present from a friend. It was also the same time my other friends bought me my first telescope so the two pressies went well together. I have enjoyed the subscription ever since and I reckon I'll be a lifetime subscriber. Unless they do something weird to the mag like make it full of news items and getting rid of equipment reviews....
But that won't ever happen....right?