Author: Steven Schwartz
Date: 06:55:04 11/11/98
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On November 11, 1998 at 08:28:36, Thom Perry wrote: >On November 11, 1998 at 01:44:43, odell hall wrote: > >> >>On November 11, 1998 at 00:54:48, Howard Exner wrote: >> >>>Larry Kaufman has many articles in the written "Computer Chess Reports". >>>If you were not a subscriber to these written reports, which stopped a few >>>years back, it would be worth checking with ICD if they have any of these >>>issues left. They probably wouldn't cost too much. I recommend them to all. >> >> >> It is interesting that you bring this up, I was thinking the same thing >>earlier. I used to be a subscriber back in 94 for about six month's and abruptly >>got cut off from my issues when CCC went to the web, I didn't even get a refund! >>Actually I enjoyed the magazine better. > >I wholeheartedly agree! I sent ICD a very critical message when I got the >notice that the hardcopy magazine was going to the web with the offer of a >reduced subscription rate of $25 (supposedly a $40 value). I told them I didn't >think people would be interested in buying an electronic copy. They sent me >back a much nicer reply (than my message) stating their optimism based on the >initial response to their web offering. I was thinking of sending that nice >reply message back to them with a "I told you so!" and making them a >counteroffer that I would be willing to resubscribe to the hardcopy version of >the magazine. After all, you can't take the electronic version to the doctor's >office and play games on your miniature set while waiting for the doctor who is >late again for your appointment. The Computer Chess Reports always had its hard core of subscribers. Even though it did nicely, it was never a money making operation - just a very nice aside to our computer chess business. The biggest hassle was the typesetting and process of putting them all in envelopes and addressing them and bringing them to the post office all sorted in the very special way that the postal authorities demanded. When we put our web site up in August of 1996, we could not resist the temptation of ending the written CCR and beginning the web version. But even though we saved on the printing and postage of the paper version of CCR, we started to incur pretty big expenses to have someone come in to plan the layout, HTML every article, and babysit every malfunction and problem that popped up. The web version was no panacea. We anticipated that several long term subscribers that did not have Internet access would not be pleased with our decision, but we felt that the great majority would be much happier with the immediacy of having reviews as soon as they were written instead of months later, plus we envisioned a whole new crop of subscribers. Well, we were right about the not pleased subscribers, and we were also right about the immediacy, but we were wrong about the whole new crop. The subscribership to the new Web CCR remained steady. We did not lose many and we did not gain many. It was our hope that those without Internet access would eventually get it or access it from their local library, but once we made the jump to the web, the CCR could no longer ALSO be a paper publication. We were being dragged in too many directions already. About 8 months ago when we saw the incredible (and unexpected) success of the Computer-Chess Club, we decided to make the Web Computer Chess Reports free to all members. But we felt that we should wait until the current subscription was over for all subscribers before we would actually make the change. So, that brings us to today. I accept the "I told you so!" But I would not want to go back to the aggravation of doing a paper CCR again. We are so fully immersed in the Web, that we have practically forgotten what paper looks like. And for that doctor's office (or better yet, bathroom), I strongly recommend a nice compact laptop so you can read the Reports AND tell me "I told you so" while you are sitting there waiting for the doctor (or your hemorrhoids.):-))) - Steve (ICD/Your Move)
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