Sorry to hear that, Warren

Warren:

Sorry to hear a 20% font size increase and some changes to refresh the layout have totally ruined things to the degree you can't read MRH any longer.

When we first debuted MRH in 2009, we got a number of emails from modelers who told us they loved paper and hated digital, and they could never see themselves reading MRH, ever. Even being free wasn't good enough for them.

The point seems to be you can't please everyone. Our philosophy has always been to make the content as accessible as possible. We were expecting a 30% increase in unique website visits in January. Instead with the Jan issue, we've seen a 67% increase in unique web visits - over 200% larger growth than expected! From a pure business sense, this change has caused the largest single growth month we've ever had, making it a smashing success.

Clearly, you are among the handful who disagrees with this change. While we never like to see anyone leave in a huff, we thank you for your interest while you were here and wish you well.

Want a little cheese with that?

With all the help and information previously posted on displaying and reading the new Gen2 formats, I'm surprised that you are having problems. You didn't mention what type of equipment you are using, or which version of the mag you are downloading. Joe has gone out of his way in providing outstanding support for finding the right combinations for your situation and your equipment.  Simply whining about the font being SLIGHTLY larger than you think it should be or not liking the layout of the magazine does little to help you.  So I politely suggest you either provide the information needed to help you solve your problem, or grab some cheddar on the way out the door!!!

Maybe I'm missing something,

Maybe I'm missing something, but isn't the landscape edition pretty much just like the old one?

Yup...

In fact, the embedded version of the landscape edition is so close to what was that it's not even worth talking about, let alone posting a whining rant over.

I just downloaded it, the

I just downloaded it, the format looks fine to me  on my PC, using 24in LED screen

Landscape version

Other than the 20% larger font size, a taller nav bar on the bottom and a 24% wider middle margin to allow for a portrait version gutter, the Gen2 Landscape version is identical to the old Gen1 landscape version.

Also, we checked the image size in Ken Patterson's column from December and compared it to January and the images are 4% larger in the January issue. 

The one major improvement of Gen2 over Gen1 is the image quality. You can now zoom in up to 200% in the standard edition landscape format and the images are still sharp and clear.

We have received many emails and (at Amherst) personal thanks for increasing the font size slightly. Most of our readers are older, and the larger font size has received many thanks.

Okay, if you hate the larger font size, then just think of this as your sacrifice to the hobby so that many of your fellow modelers can now enjoy the magazine more.

P.S. If you want to get picky, you could shrink the page size down by 20%, and it will look a lot closer to the old text size. (wink)

Satisfaction ...

Well "you can please all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot please all the people all the time." (did I quote that correctly?)

Nevertheless, I am exceedingly happy with the Gen2 version. Joe deserves much praise for his accomplishment. Pulling the rabbit out of the hat with the revamped landscape version was fantastic.

Joe, I gave up trying to make

Joe, I gave up trying to make everybody happy a long time ago. Today I would settle for my wife  but even that's not easy! So keep up the good work and do not worry. There will always be people that just love to be not happy about something.

Just an excuse!

Warren,  It's just an excuse.  Change happens all the time and if you don't accept change, you will be left behind. It's too bad as Joe said to leave in a huff, but maybe you were not meant for the digital age.  FWI, I am currently reading MRH on an antiquated PC that is 10 years old running Windows XP with a 19" CRT monitor that weighs a ton!  And I can read it fine online, off line, PDF you name it.  Warren, if you can post on this site, then you too can read it!  If not, It's time to move on.

P.S. I hate whiners. 

MRH, keep up the Great work, Love the E-Zine and everything else about this site.  Blows the competition right off the tracks!

Sorry If i sound harsh about this but PEOPLE, GET OVER IT!  THIS IS A FREE MAGAZINE TO US!  SHUT UP, READ, AND ENJOY IT!  

I am not defending the O.P.

I am not defending the O.P. nor am I agreeing with him. So do not attack me.

But the O.P. never said that he couldn't get it to work, he said he didn't like the way it looked.

Don't Understand

Seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face. He is going to miss a lot of good info.

It's too bad...

Looking at Warren's THREE posts since becoming a member 4 years and 3 weeks ago, it's obvious that Warren only visits the forum to complain or rant about change.  If he would stop long enough to open and read the threads where MRH has addressed the issues, the CHANGES he seems to have the biggest problem with, he would see that there is no reason for his frustration, no reason to have a rant and then take his trains to play elsewhere.

If Warren would only read what's here in the forum he would know that there is a landscape version that still meets his needs, is very readable on a laptop, does not have twice as many pages...but Warren hasn't read the forum it seems.

The funny thing is, Warren thinks he is hurting MRH by going away in a huff.  Warren might even have a couple of other members who have gone off in a huff with him, to keep him company.  Meanwhile the other 79,997, (98, 99...) of us are happily reading MRH, happily viewing MRH advertisers ads and in many cases buying MRH advertisers products.  Were not going anywhere, the advertisers are not going anywhere, and MRH, will continue to grow evolve and improve, just like MRH has done from the start.  It's sad Warren but it's just you and those couple of other members, who will really be missing out.

I am not sure what Warren's problem is

but I have no problem reading Gen2. It sounds as though Warren may not have his settings correct and as Kevin said he needs to use the forum to determine what is wrong. At 65 years young I don't think I am going to be reading MRH on my iPhone very often, but I will probably buy the iPad Mini so I can have it with me in the train room. I can't thank Joe, and everyone else working on the magazine, enough for the wonderful magazine they produce. Keep up the great work and make whatever changes you feel are necessary and I will be with you.

Glenn

Long thread

Seems like everyone has had their say and the thread is sinking into finger-pointing.

He Thought Gen2 Was Bad?

But the O.P. never said that he couldn't get it to work, he said he didn't like the way it looked.

Apparently he's never seen the digital version of MR. He'd do what Oedipus did after finding out Jocasta was his mother.

I let my MR subscription lapse in part  because dead tree publications really take up too much space and are heavy (try lifting a box full of about 100 mags). I decided to try out the digital version. OK. Here's the first thing Kalmbach needs to learn: Just putting what essentially are images of hardcopy publications on a computer screen is really not the way to go. They're too busy. It may be appropriate for paper, but paper's a fairly expensive commodity. Computer memory is vastly cheaper in comparison and is far more flexible as a medium than paper.

I'll live with it, but I won't be renewing next year.

Mike

Let's stop the foolishness, please.

Folks,

Let's stop the foolishness, please.  Life's too short to carry on like children arguing over who's bike is the best.  One, or some, don't like Gen 2 while others are content with it.  Fine.

I believe those responsible for the change have worked very hard to deliver the best possible content available to those of us who wish to access it.  No, it may not be free to advertisers.  However, it is at "no charge" to readers/subscribers.

Both sides have expressed their feelings under freedom of speech rights.   Let's be thankful for that aspect.  Now, let's get back to the original idea and intent of model railroading.

Thank You.

MRH - please lock this thread

My take

1. Some people are never happy. Even when its free!

2. "New" is not to be feared

3. As a previous poster wrote, resisting change just leaves you behind

4. I understand and appreciate nostalgia (those who model 1950's railroads for instance) but you can take it only so far. That is especially true in expecting others to remain static with you while the rest of the world marches on.

5. MRH is probably the best example I know of for correctly merging new and old media.

Just MY $0.04 (inflation)

Lock the thread!

Lock this thread as it is getting out of hand and offensive language is not needed.

Landscape version

I use the landscape option (thanks Joe) and I can't tell the difference from the old version. I just hope it continues to be offered.

willie

Thread locked