Too Many Mags!!!

wavelandscott (Scott) · #1 11-02-2006, 10:24 AM

Although I don't really mean it because I am a "reading junky" this week the postman brought me too many magazines.

Arriving at my humble abode this week were 4 Astronomy related magazines...

In order of their arrival...

Sky & Space
US Sky and Telescope
Nightsky
Australian Sky and Telescope

Yes, it is true that I have recently complained about the magazine "drought" of January however, this sudden "downpour" is a bit overwhelming...

So far I've read the Sky and Space cover to cover I tend to read them first in first out...but have skimmed through them all upon arrival.

Glad to say all look great...now, if only I can get a chance to read them all...

Times like this make me wish I had a "Fortress of Solitude" that I could retreat to for some heavy duty reading...

Happy Viewing!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #2 11-02-2006, 10:34 AM

I know what you mean. While not so much magazines (though there two in the lot) but a pile of astronomy and astrophotography and processing books ad CDs have turned up in the last fortnight. I don't know where to start. I wish I could be like da Vinci and be able to read and understand a different text with each eye.

astrojase · #3 11-02-2006, 11:47 AM

good point wavelandscott - three of the four mags you mentioned are essentially the same thing. SO, you are paying 3 times the amount for basically the same thing. Talk about double-dipping, lol, I mean triple-dipping!!!

two for the price of one is a good deal, but one for the price of three is HARSH...

wavelandscott (Scott) · #4 11-02-2006, 01:36 PM

Yes, there is some overlap amongst all of them but they all do have some differences too...

In all cases the subscriptions were gifts from different family members so I'm not out of pocket...

However, I still enjoy them all!

From the tone of some of your other posts astrojase, I think I detect a bit of "pointedness" toward the S&T publications...how come?

I enjoy all of the publications that I am a subscriber to when ever they show up in my mailbox and I am glad that they are all trying to service our hobby...I wish them all the success possible.

As a hobby we have a need for many voices to represent all of the different aspects of our hobby...just like there is no one "right" telescope, eyepiece, focuser etc. for people to use, I see there being room for the same multiple fits for magazines and things like websites too...there is no need to target one or another as better or worse...they are just trying to cover our hobby...

And I for one am glad they do...

While I am mentally drifting off topic here and I don't want to get a heated debate going (so please edit this out if needed moderators)...but I am curious...

I have lived in Australia for just over 5 years and I do adore it...my kids know no other life and I would be happy to live out my life in this "lucky" country...having said that, I continue to be struck by the odd 'Aussie" trait I see demonstrated again and again here that I did not notice back in the US...that is the "tall poppy syndrome"...

Maybe I am over generalising but, why do so many people in Australia have a need/compulsion to be critical of other's success. Don't get me wrong, I do think that we all should be somewhat humble in the way we live and I too take some relish in watching the mighty fall, but it seems to be a national past time to need to pull people down...why can't we celebrate everyone's success?

I'll climb down from my soapbox now...and apologies for drifting far afield from my stack of reading material...

iceman (Mike) · #5 11-02-2006, 03:16 PM

Jason your posts don't do anything for yourself or for S&S.. People will just shake their head at them, not side with you.

astrojase · #6 11-02-2006, 03:41 PM

Just stating the facts...

I love US S&T, fantastic magazine - I, like many, resent the fact that we have to pay twice for the same thing...that's all.

Whatever Mike! No bias here...just the bleeding obvious. Bring back US S&T!!! and good luck to AS&T...

I don't care if people side with my posts or not...just sharing AN opinion.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #7 11-02-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Jason your posts don't do anything for yourself or for S&S.. People will just shake their head at them, not side with you.

I actually had the same thought as our Martian member astrojase. S&S is not one of the three mags that are similar. Nigth Sky, S&T and AS&T share a lot of content. I once made the mistake of buying Night Sky on an impulse (thinking wow! another astro mag), only to later realise I'd seen most of the articles before in AS&T.

iceman (Mike) · #8 11-02-2006, 03:51 PM

I agree Steve, there is a lot of crossover content in the 3 mags, if you buy all 3.

However all i'm saying is that when it comes from an editor of S&S, it looks like it comes from a state of commercial competition rather than a genuine concern.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #9 11-02-2006, 03:56 PM

Oh. I did not realise the context.

astrojase · #10 11-02-2006, 03:58 PM

Mike is kinda right...but it is coming from a fan of astronomy magazines in general (astrojase) - If I was coming from that nasty magazine editor I would have posted as jdb...

Apologies if I have offended anyone.

astroron (Ron) · #11 11-02-2006, 06:12 PM

Nobody askes anyone to buy all three magazines, even though I prefer SKY&TEL above all the others, in fact I don't buy S&S,if you buy or subscribe to all three you should exspect overlapping.astroron

Greg Bryant · #12 11-02-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

Nobody askes anyone to buy all three magazines, even though I prefer SKY&TEL above all the others, in fact I don't buy S&S,if you buy or subscribe to all three you should exspect overlapping.astroron

Ron,

Absolutely - there's no compulsion to buy everything on the market (what about the Canadian and UK mags too - I could go beserk in a shop).

As I've said before in this forum, AS&T selects the most relevant articles from S&T, plus one or two from Night Sky, and adds them to the diverse lineup of articles written here. S&T is no longer available in newsagents here, but is available by subscription.

In fact, when S&T first looked into having an Australian edition a few years back, they approached me, and I worked with them. I got to see the # of readers that S&T had in Australia and NZ (subscription and shops). In just 12 months, AS&T already has many times that number. Clearly, for many people in Australia/NZ, AS&T is a preferred magazine, given that S&T was available in shops and via subscription.

But I still try to find time to read a lot of great mags from overseas that I subscribe to. The shelves are getting very heavy.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #13 11-02-2006, 07:06 PM

S&T and Astronomy are the international astro mags. If you have something important to say that belongs in an astro mag and you want max exposure, that is where you'd want it to go. If you want max Oz exposure as well as international you'd probably go for S&T, and hope AS&T will pick it up (which they should if you do a good job).

But my best wishes to the local mags, and good on S&S for giving it a go (I just picked up your Slivie issue) and AS&T for adapting one of the finest astro mags anywhere to better suit our end of the world.

Mick (Michael) · #14 11-02-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

Yes, there is some overlap amongst all of them but they all do have some differences too...

In all cases the subscriptions were gifts from different family members so I'm not out of pocket...

However, I still enjoy them all!

From the tone of some of your other posts astrojase, I think I detect a bit of "pointedness" toward the S&T publications...how come?

I enjoy all of the publications that I am a subscriber to when ever they show up in my mailbox and I am glad that they are all trying to service our hobby...I wish them all the success possible.

As a hobby we have a need for many voices to represent all of the different aspects of our hobby...just like there is no one "right" telescope, eyepiece, focuser etc. for people to use, I see there being room for the same multiple fits for magazines and things like websites too...there is no need to target one or another as better or worse...they are just trying to cover our hobby...

And I for one am glad they do...

While I am mentally drifting off topic here and I don't want to get a heated debate going (so please edit this out if needed moderators)...but I am curious...

I have lived in Australia for just over 5 years and I do adore it...my kids know no other life and I would be happy to live out my life in this "lucky" country...having said that, I continue to be struck by the odd 'Aussie" trait I see demonstrated again and again here that I did not notice back in the US...that is the "tall poppy syndrome"...

Maybe I am over generalising but, why do so many people in Australia have a need/compulsion to be critical of other's success. Don't get me wrong, I do think that we all should be somewhat humble in the way we live and I too take some relish in watching the mighty fall, but it seems to be a national past time to need to pull people down...why can't we celebrate everyone's success?

I'll climb down from my soapbox now...and apologies for drifting far afield from my stack of reading material...

Yes you are over generalising everyone does it including myself, I see it as "backing the underdog" not "tall poppy syndrome". I enjoy both mags S&S and AS&T both locals I reckon.

Peace

mickoking · #15 11-02-2006, 10:48 PM

I must admit I prefer Aussie S&T over the Original S&T. I know I maybe in the minority but I found the Original S&T a pompus and dry read, the Aussie version is streets ahead, more laid back and informal

I also really enjoy Sky and Space and it has improved over the last few years and is now a first class read

Also regarding tall poppy syndrome, it's as Aussie as a barbie and can of green death, We Aussies are humble people and dont like people blowing their own trumpets.

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #16 11-02-2006, 10:55 PM

I call it the tall gladdie syndrome, myself...