BCM Back Issues Sale! One week only!

[HighTechRedneck]

We are running a special on back issues in the BCM Online Store for one week only!

All back issues are only $2.50 each plus shipping (shipping only applies to print editions)  That is half price on single issue prices!

This is one hot price so build your back issue library now.

[HighTechRedneck]

It was pointed out to me I didn't put the effective dates, just "one week only".  The sale is running Jan 19 -25.

[grantgoold]

How about the opportunity to purchase all those versions on a set of CD's based on year or main topic. I sure would love to have a copy of every issue but cannot fathom the storage nightmare. A large jump drive would be even better!

No offense to the paper copy guys. If this was an option I sure would like to see it happen!

Thanks

Grant

[trucktramp]

I too like the idea of all the back issues on a CD only because storing many years worth of paper copies could be tough.  How many different months back copies are available?

[HighTechRedneck]

That is a great idea and we wish it were possible.  Unfortunately when we took over there were no computer files (finished PDF or layout files) for anything prior to March 2008.

I looked into getting them professionally scanned and converted to PDF's with the text as text (rather than each page as a single image) and the cost would be extreme.  Getting them done as images only would be less (still a lot) an the pdf files sizes would be huge.

[grantgoold]

For a small fee , I can have a tech savy teenager sit in front of a good quality scanner all day long and scan the files? With some cool compression technology we may be able to make the files manageable by month.

Perhaps we could set up a system that allows the user to only select from a menu those editions that have information/topics they are interested in and then pay a small single fee for download of that specific file. Or perhaps some type of download key that would allow constant access but have the files stored on a secured server. The user could then print only the pages they need at that time.

Food for thought!

Thanks

Grant

[Jeremy]

Perhaps we could set up a system that allows the user to only select from a menu those editions that have information/topics they are interested in and then pay a small single fee for download of that specific file. Or perhaps some type of download key that would allow constant access but have the files stored on a secured server. The user could then print only the pages they need at that time.

This is the right sort of basis for a system that works for both publisher and reader. There are various ways of doing it, none of which involve rocket science - but it's not straight-forward either, and not something a publisher can undertake without a fair amount of planning and resources. Later this year my business will be launching a service aimed at small publishers that will offer a ready-made system for selling digital issues (both current and back-issues) without having all the hassles and complications of setting up and managing the technology themselves.

Essentially we start with a high-quality PDF of the magazine, with searchable text etc so readers can find articles and topics etc easily. Using our technology this PDF is converted into a Flash file, which can, if the publisher wishes, have 'extras' embedded into it - for instance, sound and video clips can be added to articles, plus web-links (great for advertisers etc), animations, ecommerce functionality or whatever else they can think of.

The customer buys the digital magazine and views it on their PC or (and this will be very big before long) their E-book reader of choice or even their Blackberry, mobile 'phone or some new device that hasn't been invented yet. The Flash format gives fast access and lots benefits over downloading a PDF, and has the added benefit for the publisher in being secure - the technology prevents the customer ripping-off the publisher by re-distributing their content.

The customer is given an on-line library of every magazine they have bought, which they can access at any time in the future. But, quite rightly, they also want to be able to download / save / print anything they've bought as well, so all these functions are built into the Flash viewer. For off-line use a PDF format is used again, but this 'offline' version incorporates a watermark on every page to prevent distribution.

Jeremy

[HighTechRedneck]

Last day of sale!  Come and get them while the price is hot!

[Eagle Andy]

I went on line to try to buy March of 09 when we had the centerfold and did not see it , Andy and Eileen wright . Can you tell me if I can get that one ? I would love to have one Thanks Andy