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Subscription or Website : Both Have Good and Bad PointsMar 17 '02 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Make your decision based on what works best for you. I am subscribed to quite a few magazines at this point; I have actually lost count. Somewhere around ten I imagine. (And that is not counting the magazines my children receive in the mail.) If I look inside myself I would probably have to admit that I am a magazine junkie; I have a hard time *not* subscribing when I see a good deal. I have at times gone to websites to check out a magazine before I subscribe, however. And I have found that regular snail mail subscriptions and website viewing of magazines both have good and bad points to consider. Snail Mail Subscriptions Positives First, I have often found it is easier to read a hard copy than to read online; especially if it is a long article or story. With hard copy, you can always come back to it later if you get tied up with something else. While this is also possible online, it can be more difficult to "mark the spot" you left at, so to speak. Next, when you have a hard copy of a magazine you have the ability to keep it forever. You can go back to it any time you want to, without worrying that it might have been deleted. (Unless, of course, you live with people who throw your magazines away.) Negatives Magazine subscriptions can get expensive, depending on the cost of the magazine you subscribe to and how many magazines you subscribe to. If you are an addict like me, this amount adds up quickly. Space. Magazines take up space. If you decide to retain them, you have to find a reasonable place to keep them. And if you decide to throw them away when you are done with them, you have to consider space in the trash can. Web Site Viewing of Magazines Positives First, the obvious one. Unless you print many pages from the site, you don't have to worry about where to store them. It is quick and easy to read online, and there is no mess to clean up afterwards. Little to not cost, depending on the online magazine you are interested in. I have found some that charge a nominal fee. Most are free, however. This can be a great way to view magazines if you don't have the money to pay for the subscription. You miss out by not having a hard copy, but finances are important, too. Negatives Maybe this is a "me" thing, but I often have trouble following along in a very long online article. I get distracted. Maybe my eyes get tired looking at a computer screen for too long. At any rate, I have found it is always easier to read someone in hard copy rather than online. Referring back to a specific article can be a nightmare, unless you are very, very good at organizing your favorite places. Or even knowing at the time you read an article that you will want to go back to it in the future. And sometimes, when you do go back, the article is no longer accessible to you. That is incredibly frustrating in my opinion. Bottom Line It really boils down to personal opinion. I don't think there is any way to say that subscription magazines or online viewing of magazines is entirely better than the other; both have their good and bad points. If you are uncertain about what you want to do, give both a try. You may find you love one way and hate the other. Or, you may find you want to mix-and-match; view some online and subscribe to others.  |
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by Freak369
by dlstewart
by gaelkm
