NEW FORMAT

Your new format ABSOLUTELY SUCKS !!! I liked the old format where EACH PAGE occupied the FULL SCREEN. It was like reading a print version of a magazine. The new format is like reading a greeting card. I am 60 years old with 60 YEAR OLD EYES. You did NOT do me any favors. I guess I will have to give MODEL RAILROADER magazine another look.

I love the new format!

I also think the new format is great. Much easier to read and navigate. I am quickly approaching age 61 so the excuse of being old and not liking the change to the new format holds no water.

I am getting tired of the silly complaints made about the new format. What amazes me is the threats of "I guess I will have to give MODEL RAILROADER magazine another look."  Go PAY for a subscription and then try and enjoy their digital edition. Of course, you will still read MRH because is has great content and it is FREE. 

Joe, please continue to move forward with future changes and upgrades. You have a clear vision of the future of publishing and the great success of MRH shows your thinking is right on. 

Re: New Format

I will have to agree with pvalnz on this one, the new format is a long way from being a step forward. On my admittedly old Mac with a 17" monitor, the old format yielded a single page 8-1/2" wide on my screen at 53.1%, while the new is only slightly bigger at 9-3/4" wide for two pages (at 60.7%). This means that a single page is significantly smaller at 4-7/8" wide, or slightly larger than half the size of the old format, making the text that much harder to read.

It also looks like MRH Hobbyist is not available for iPads, which I would say is a major issue. Most likely, this is due to using Adobe Flash which is not supported by iPads or iPhones. My wife also just told me that the latest upgrades to her Samsung tablets using the Android operating system have eliminated support for Adobe Flash as well. It seems like this means that a large portion of the potential reader's market is now left out in the cold.

Also, the publishers need to remember that MRH exists for those who have chosen Model Railroading for a hobby, not personal computing. If upgrading to a new format means upgrading to a new computer (which in my case it would), then that also means whatever amount of money I must spend on a new computer system just to read the articles and see the ads in MRH, is the same amount that I can't spend on the products of those MRH advertisers. I'm sure a lot of other model railroaders are in the same boat, especially given the current state of the economy..

Joe, please do not lock me out of reading MRH (or even make it more difficult to access) just so that you can say to your advertisers that MRH uses only the latest and greatest web software & technology to reach it's readership.

Bill in FtL

Works on my IPad

just fine. 

Love new Format

Gary,

Could not agree more Works like a dream on my iPad as well as on my desktop.

Joe please keep moving forward the new mag is great.

A young 64 yr old

Trevor

Re: Works on my iPad

Hi Geared Steam,

That's good to know, I was going by what was written on the "downloads" page, which must be misleading. Are you viewing the new format, and if so, which download option did you choose?

When I went to download it on my old Mac, I kept getting a message to upgrade to the latest Adobe Flash player which isn't available for my operating system, and as far as I know, isn't available for iPads either. In order to upgrade anything I need a newer OS, and anything over OS 10.4.11 requires Intel processors (mine is a powerPC).

Bill in FtL

This is getting tiresome...

I cannot believe some of the comments that I've been reading regarding the new MRH format.  I understand that some will not like anything new, that there will be issues about viewing on various platforms, and that you simply can't please everyone all of the time. But the tone of some readers is completely beyond the pale, especially when they have absolutely no skin in this game.  There is absolutely no reason to get so overwrought.

To Bill in FL above:  I have no issues opening the new version on my iPad, even without buying the $5 reader app that Joe has recommended.  I also have no issues with my iPhone, although the text is too small for me to read comfortably.  Maybe you have a problem with one of your settings.

I'm sure Joe was anticipating a lot of reaction when they launched the new version, but I'm not so sure he was anticipating the level of angst that's being displayed.  I think we need to read some of the other threads where Joe and the rest of the staff are offering suggestions to folks having problems, and just show some maturity and patience instead of acting like a bunch of ungrateful whining children.

Jerry

Tiresome...

Well said Jerry.

YES, considering Joe and team have already launched a landscape version to address the perceived problems that this latest batch of whiners are bleating about, it has become beyond tiresome.

To pvalns above, yes, why don't you go give Moldy Railroader another look?  MRH will still be here providing some of the best content available when you get tired of pushing cars around with Cody in his office, LOL!

Honestly, 60 years old?  My 15 year old displays more maturity.

The new format is a giant

The new format is a giant step backwards. I am very disappointed. Readability and vibrancy has taken a big hit. My life is not centered around a smartphone. Issue 35 proves you cannot be all things to all people. Please please return to your old format.

Albert Johnson

@ Al - Ebuilder

Have you seen this - just posted late yesterday:

https://forum.mrhmag.com/magazine-feedback-was-ezines-891776

(above appears about middle of third page of the thread, in case you don't see the specific comment # 87190 - it is titled: "Okay, the trial Landscape version is now ready again"

You can download a newer version that Joe Fugate has created that seems to solve problems others have complained about:

http://00200530.pdl.pscdn.net/002/00530/MRH13-01/35.MRH13-01-Jan2013-L.pdf

This is, I believe, temporary, so the download will be slower for now. Joe has put a great deal of effort in trying to make everybody happy.

Keep up the good work...

Skip Flash

Bill,

I don't think you need flash to download the MRH:

Just click on the " other copy options"-button on the magazine-page and you will come to the alternative download page. Then you can save the version(s) you want on your computer or directely on your iPad by ig the app GoodReader.

I have quit the "copy to my computer" a while back. I find it more convinient to download the other way, as I copy different versions for my different divices, Android smartphone, iPad and PCs.

Hope this helps. Joe Fugate and others around here usually find a way around problems that work. So don't give up MRH on the first try. This is a great site!

Food for thought

I like the new format and do not mind the double page format.  I do however dislike the lack of page numbers.  I often read part of the magazine and then come back on a different day so having the page number to skip to the correct spot is helpful.  Also for noting articles I am interested in rereading sometime later.  I can understand the removal of a page number for reducing your efforts but after the fact they are handy.

Food for thought!

Moderator Note: Rather than have two separate threads with the title "New Format" we moved this post into the other thread and killed Fred's separate thread.

Going forward

Given that those used to the old landscape orientation seem to need a lot of handholding to get caught up with the new orientation - and given that we've figured out an easy way to do both orientations from one master, then we will be offering two orientations: portrait and landscape.

Landscape is for those who want something that fills big monitors and who don't want to fiddle with any settings to get facing pages.

Portrait is for those who use smartphones or mini-tablets to read the magazine, or who just prefer a portrait orientation to a landscape one.

When we send out this week's email blast announciing the availability of the Embedded Edition, we will now offer your choice - landscape or portrait orientation. If you don't know, we will default to the landscape orientation for the moment.

But plans are to make the download become device savvy - and it will default to the best oirentation for your device - which you can override if you prefer the other orientation.

Simple solution to the page numbers

There's a simple solution to the page numbers problem.

PAGE NUMBERS IN ADOBE READER

In Adobe Reader, use "Read Mode" and then when you hover over the document, the page number pops up at the bottom. See this screen capture:

PAGE NUMBERS IN THE ONLINE EDITION

In the online edition, just look at the top left part of the window for the page number - or look at the URL - both places give you a page number. See this screen capture:

SUMMARY: PAGE NUMBER DEPENDS ON YOUR DISPLAY FORMAT, IT'S NOT A CONSTANT ANY LONGER

The page number is still there, it's just in your display device's reader now, not in the doc. Take 2 min to retrain yourself to look in your device reader for the page number and you have what you seek. Piece of cake.

NOTE:

Notice in these two illustrations, the page numbers for the same article are different because the format is different - as we move to make MRH more "device savvy" so it adjusts the pages to fit the device, page numbers will vary, depending on the device. So we CANNOT hard-code page numbers in the document - you MUST learn to reference page numbers either on your device, or it you use multiple devices, use some other location reference like 6th entry in the TOC, 3rd photo.

One thing we can do to make referencing content easier and more device independent going forward is we can start numbering sections like Bruce Petrarca did in his DCC column this issue. Then you can say Jan DCC column, section 9.2.

Re: Skip Flash

Hi KnuT,

While I don't have an iPad (yet), I am considering one, plus a friend of mine has one, so I am interested in how MRH might can be loaded to an iPad. Does it work with the regular Mac desktop download option, or does it need a special version?

I looked at the page you suggested, but the only mention of an iPad was for a version for the Kindle, which stated it was specifically NOT for the iPad. I would like to try this out on my buddy's iPad perhaps as early as this Tuesday evening, if I can get some direction on which version to try. I know that my iPhone doesn't like webpages that use Adobe Flash, so I think the iPad may be similar. 

Bill in FtL

iPad and iPhone help

Under our Help menu> Questions and Answers, we have a section dedicated to iPads and iPhones.

Here's a direct link:

mrhmag.com/help/ipad-ipod

I have a question which I believe applies to both versions

In either version is it possible to get the printed page to "fit the screen" like in some videos?  I like the print to be bigger for my tired old eyes but it seems I have to choose from smaller in the middle of the screen and bigger that requires sliding the print around to read it-very annoying (to me at least!!)  Is there any way to do that?

I don't mind the new format but think the page turning and the bulging center is a little hokey.  I guess I'm used to my Kindle!

Thanks,

Peter

For those who prefer the old landscape format online

For those who prefer the old landscape format online ...

http://publ.com/fcEE9ao

I will admit that I am not fond of the new format

I also feel that many websites "upgrade' their formats when it is not needed and it is a step backwards.  They wait until you get real used to the last "new upgrade" then they change it up again!  The "new upgrade" seldom is widely accepted but EVERYONE using it has to adjust to the new version.  I will not threaten leaving or anything but the 3/4 page view is a step back.  Most people like and WANT a wider view.  Having a 3/4 view is a way for the website to put advertisements on the sides up and down the pages.  In fact TMZ does it now and it is such a pain in the as*s.  So I am guessing that the next step on here will be to have advertisements up and down both sides and that was the ONLY real reason for the "New Upgrade'  Just my guess.  It is not the biggest deal, I am just commenting since it was brought up.

Nope, not to get more real estate for ads

The thought that the portrait version is to allow for more ad real estate is not true. It's to provide a version that reads well on small mobile screens.

If you don't like the portrait format, then don't use it. Stick with the original landscape format, which we've also made available.

Hay People lets remember one big thing

Before you start complaining or continue remember The MRH E-Zine is Free so if that's not good enough for you I suggest you go find a Bowling ally in your area, they sell this thing called a Crying towel and they only cost a dollar or so. Remember nobody said you had to read this E-Zine nor is anybody holding a gun to your head so if you can't accept the fact that Joe and his team has been bending over backward to make the E-Zine work on every device and you still can't figure out how to make it work then head down to your nearest Hobby Town and Buy a copy of Model Railroader and get 10 times the adds and 20% of the information offered on MRH. All this winning from all the haters out there is really getting tiresome. Dan