To print or not to print? you’ve read, hence I have just remembered to finish 303 (now, where had I got to....) before starting 304 and deciding We had a number of replies to our editorial to respond before I forget that too!!” asking whether (given we’ve already temporar“If it’s paper then it goes in the ‘to be read’ ily shifted to online publication until it’s practiheap when a nice bookmark can be used so you cable and safe to return to paper printing) the know where you are - and can’t forget whether time had come to go all-electronic. In fact the you’ve read it or not because it’s still in that heap replies were solidly in favour of continuing as a and not ‘filed’ in the study!” paper magazine. Here are the points made... “I struggled to view the online version as I couldn’t get to view it properly on my computer. I could probably “As someone working in a record office I would be solve the problem given time, but instead I asked Alex to very reluctant to lose the paper edition as this will be send me it as a pdf file, which he kindly did.” available to and readable by researchers in 50 / 100 / “The main reason I prefer the paper version several hundred years. Who knows whether an electronic is because I usually read it in bed or, occasionally, in the lounge. However I can only read the electronic version will still work OK in a decade, let alone 50 years.” “Electronic is fine for short and simple. version on my desktop Mac in my office, which Paper is great for long and complicated... but I like isn’t that convenient. I have tried viewing on my iPad, but so far haven’t had any success. I guess I to make things long and complicated. Perhaps that’s because I’m 6’3” and worked in Whitehall.” could find a way of doing it, but it’s so much more convenient to just pick up a booklet, rather than go to “I read your editorial with a heavy heart. Now at an electronic device, switch it on then look for the the mature end of life, I cut my teeth volunteering in the file, open it and work out where you got up to last early 1980s (though I have been on the canals through time you were reading it. A physical bookmark is so holidays since I was 7) and have been an interested WRG much easier. So what I tend to do is to print it all reader ever since. I‘m a bit of a stick in the mud with regards the modern world and communications and living in out and then take it to read in bed, though in black an area up North for 18 years with very poor internet and and white, as colour printing is expensive at home.” mobile connections hasn‘t helped. I‘m also afraid if you do “Perhaps it is time for me to catch up with the times. go digital that I will lose the connection email to the link Or should we remember that ebooks had a bounce for their (I‘m poor at sorting my emails!!) - having Navvies to hand novelty, but people have gone back to enjoying actually is always helpful.” having the book in their hands to read?” “The big advantage of the electronic version, “In the work environment, we are told to of course, is that you can have colour on every take breaks from sitting in front of screens, and yet page. However commercial colour printing is now it seems that we are also being guided towards a lot cheaper than it was just a few years.” spending more time doing just that.” “I very much prefer reading text of any length from “One of life’s simple pleasures is curling up on the printed paper. To be honest I have only skimmed the sofa with a cup of coffee and reading the latest edition of electronic version because I hate reading from a computer Navvies. I find it rather difficult to curl up holding a mug, screen. When I worked in an office and was sent anything monitor, keyboard and mouse.” of any length, I would always print it, and many others did “Personally, I always feel that reading an electhe same. If you go back to printing, I’ll resume giving a tronic copy of a magazine on my computer is like decent donation to cover the costs.” ‘work’, whereas reading a printer copy is relaxation.” “Thanks for the sterling work keeping Nav“I do not own any goats. [See editorial, issue 304 vies going in these difficult times. For what it’s ...Ed] I am not, and have never been involved in their worth I prefer reading the paper version. We upkeep. Technology has many uses, but just because it can be found the ISSUU version tiresome with the neces- used for a particular task, doesn’t mean that it should be.” sity of changing ‘magnification’ and scrolling around - and how do you put your bookmark in Just a few comments: (1) we’re aware there when not reading it all in one sitting? We then were some issues with ISSUU asking people downloaded the PDF which we found better but for a sign-on, hopefully now sorted; (2) a still involves rather too much use of PageUp and PDF version is also available and (3) see the PageDown - and still no bookmark!” editorial on page 4 of this issue for more “It’s all too easy to forget whether (or which issue!) thoughts about the magazine. The Editor
Navvies: print or electronic?
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