Alright, I've mostly kept silent on my opinion on this matter up until now because this is something that purely comes down to preference. If all other factors were removed and I had a choice of reading manga out of a physical book or reading it on a computer screen, I would probably go for the physical book. However, I would have never subscribed to the print version of Shonen Jump (although I did buy a few issues several years ago), whereas the moment I heard about Alpha, I immediately wanted to know where to give Viz my money.
First reason is simple: digital is cheaper. I don't think I need to elaborate on that one.
Second, I have limited space to keep printed copies. I have a bookshelf in my room already full from all the manga I've collected since high school. In order to collect very much more, I would have to either find more storage, or get rid of things from my current collection. Plus, I'm probably going to be moving very soon, and I don't want to have more things to take with me.
So although there is a lot of resistance to digital, for me personally it works a lot better than print. Again though, this is an issue that is purely a matter of preference, so I'm not saying it's bad to prefer print.
1. digital is cheaper??? how is $.99/week cheaper than $4.99/month???
2. I have lots of them not on the shelf in my room, they are in the basement. But I will go to them and read them page by page sometime for refreshing my precious memories and time I spent with them.
I'm not saying online is bad. just the decision without asking your customers' permission, and they don't even bother printing anymore, that's harsh and coldhearted
Submitted by FrankyCenaur on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 18:22
Technically, if you sign up for a year at a time, it's only like $2.50 for a month of chapters, and you get way more than you used to in the paper format, so it is cheaper for more content.
I understand your- and everyone's- issue with not having it in paper. Sadly it's just the way the world is going right now.
We should be extremely grateful that Viz is still releasing the graphic novels. If something happened with that, then I'd throw a huge fit.
Submitted by ErikoKorie on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 19:01
^Exactly as FrankyCenaur said, I pay yearly, which makes it cheaper.
@willozsy: "ask customer's permission"? "Harsh and cold-hearted"? Wow, where do I even begin...
A company typically is not going to be able to individually ask everyone who buys their product what their opinion is. Furthermore, not everyone is going to be of the same opinion, so no matter which route they take, someone's not going to like it. Welcome to the business world.
Also, publisher's don't need permission from readers to choose a new format. They do what they feel is necessary to survive in a declining manga market. (Yes, it is declining, both in the US and in Japan.) I don't see how it's "harsh and cold." They're not forcing you to buy their product. If you don't like it, you have the choice to not read it.
Finally, good for you that you happen to have room for all the print issues. I don't, so if you were trying to make a counter arguement (and actually, I wasn't even trying to argue for digital vs. print in the first place...) it's irrelevant, because as I said in my initial post, it all comes down to pure preference.
So, you like print? That's fine and dandy. I like digital, and there's no reason to call someone's reasons for liking digital "a joke." Doing so is border-line on bashing, and while I personally don't care if you bash and flame me, Viz doesn't really appreciate that on their site. So my last bit of advice: watch what you say. ^_^
Submitted by MiriHakaime on Mon, 04/30/2012 - 21:26
I wish that they could have given us a choice. Something like checking a little box on your subscription card saying whether you want print issues or digital ones. I personally am not going to renew my subscription when this runs out. I never even got the last issue in the mail, I had to go buy it at Walmart. I'm searching my room right now because I'm not even sure if I got the March issue!
I already miss the smell..... T_T (And yes, I actually just cried a little there.)
Besides the wonderful scent, my favorite thing about the print issues was that their batteries don't die. I just got real internet last year (not dialup). So I'm glad I can at least rant here a bit.
So yeah, I hate it too. T_T
Submitted by azureflames on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 13:20
I hate digital manga think about the other people who don't have internet, credit/Paypal ect
I'm not allowed to buy online.so when i herd about SJ alpha that mad me mad so i bought all of the 2012 issues and protected them.think about this what if the power cuts off and you cant read sj,digital manga is also glossy,and is not the same as the print.you cant take them to school,its hard trying to draw your fav manga chars.I wouldn't mind paying $5.00 for SJ. SJ was the first forum of manga i ever seen, i want it back :O darn you digital world >:O.
i love sj alpha its just like it is in japan. it comes out every week i love the digital format the only thing i dont like about it is i can only keep it each issue a year.
I prefer the print because I can always go back and re-read them all I want years later. I also liked that we received something in the mail in every magazine, now it's what 4 times a year and even then they still are taking forever to send them eventhough I have been a loyal customer since the very beginning. I hope things change.
well this is a business...and they probably identified that sjalpha was a better investment than printing (all the paper and ink) plus all the shipping and handling to each and every subscriber...
Nothing is quite like reading things physically in your hand...but it would be nice to be able to read manga on my kindle (the ebook reader not the tablet) in the future. Reading on a screen is a bit strenuous on these eyes sometimes.
At this point I'm just grateful that I can still read my favorite mangas =D
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Alright, I've mostly kept
Alright, I've mostly kept silent on my opinion on this matter up until now because this is something that purely comes down to preference. If all other factors were removed and I had a choice of reading manga out of a physical book or reading it on a computer screen, I would probably go for the physical book. However, I would have never subscribed to the print version of Shonen Jump (although I did buy a few issues several years ago), whereas the moment I heard about Alpha, I immediately wanted to know where to give Viz my money.
First reason is simple: digital is cheaper. I don't think I need to elaborate on that one.
Second, I have limited space to keep printed copies. I have a bookshelf in my room already full from all the manga I've collected since high school. In order to collect very much more, I would have to either find more storage, or get rid of things from my current collection. Plus, I'm probably going to be moving very soon, and I don't want to have more things to take with me.
So although there is a lot of resistance to digital, for me personally it works a lot better than print. Again though, this is an issue that is purely a matter of preference, so I'm not saying it's bad to prefer print.
what a joke
1. digital is cheaper??? how is $.99/week cheaper than $4.99/month???
2. I have lots of them not on the shelf in my room, they are in the basement. But I will go to them and read them page by page sometime for refreshing my precious memories and time I spent with them.
I'm not saying online is bad. just the decision without asking your customers' permission, and they don't even bother printing anymore, that's harsh and coldhearted
Technically, if you sign up
Technically, if you sign up for a year at a time, it's only like $2.50 for a month of chapters, and you get way more than you used to in the paper format, so it is cheaper for more content.
I understand your- and everyone's- issue with not having it in paper. Sadly it's just the way the world is going right now.
We should be extremely grateful that Viz is still releasing the graphic novels. If something happened with that, then I'd throw a huge fit.
^Exactly as FrankyCenaur said
^Exactly as FrankyCenaur said, I pay yearly, which makes it cheaper.
@willozsy: "ask customer's permission"? "Harsh and cold-hearted"? Wow, where do I even begin...
A company typically is not going to be able to individually ask everyone who buys their product what their opinion is. Furthermore, not everyone is going to be of the same opinion, so no matter which route they take, someone's not going to like it. Welcome to the business world.
Also, publisher's don't need permission from readers to choose a new format. They do what they feel is necessary to survive in a declining manga market. (Yes, it is declining, both in the US and in Japan.) I don't see how it's "harsh and cold." They're not forcing you to buy their product. If you don't like it, you have the choice to not read it.
Finally, good for you that you happen to have room for all the print issues. I don't, so if you were trying to make a counter arguement (and actually, I wasn't even trying to argue for digital vs. print in the first place...) it's irrelevant, because as I said in my initial post, it all comes down to pure preference.
So, you like print? That's fine and dandy. I like digital, and there's no reason to call someone's reasons for liking digital "a joke." Doing so is border-line on bashing, and while I personally don't care if you bash and flame me, Viz doesn't really appreciate that on their site. So my last bit of advice: watch what you say. ^_^
What About A Choice?
I wish that they could have given us a choice. Something like checking a little box on your subscription card saying whether you want print issues or digital ones. I personally am not going to renew my subscription when this runs out. I never even got the last issue in the mail, I had to go buy it at Walmart. I'm searching my room right now because I'm not even sure if I got the March issue!
I already miss the smell..... T_T (And yes, I actually just cried a little there.)
Besides the wonderful scent, my favorite thing about the print issues was that their batteries don't die. I just got real internet last year (not dialup). So I'm glad I can at least rant here a bit.
So yeah, I hate it too. T_T
Print
I really want print to and would it really be that hard to give us the option of paying a little more to get mailed a print issue?
we need print back
I hate digital manga think about the other people who don't have internet, credit/Paypal ect
I'm not allowed to buy online.so when i herd about SJ alpha that mad me mad so i bought all of the 2012 issues and protected them.think about this what if the power cuts off and you cant read sj,digital manga is also glossy,and is not the same as the print.you cant take them to school,its hard trying to draw your fav manga chars.I wouldn't mind paying $5.00 for SJ. SJ was the first forum of manga i ever seen, i want it back :O darn you digital world >:O.
SJ alpha
i love sj alpha its just like it is in japan. it comes out every week i love the digital format the only thing i dont like about it is i can only keep it each issue a year.
I prefer the print
I prefer the print because I can always go back and re-read them all I want years later. I also liked that we received something in the mail in every magazine, now it's what 4 times a year and even then they still are taking forever to send them eventhough I have been a loyal customer since the very beginning. I hope things change.
Its all about the green sometimes
well this is a business...and they probably identified that sjalpha was a better investment than printing (all the paper and ink) plus all the shipping and handling to each and every subscriber...
Nothing is quite like reading things physically in your hand...but it would be nice to be able to read manga on my kindle (the ebook reader not the tablet) in the future. Reading on a screen is a bit strenuous on these eyes sometimes.
At this point I'm just grateful that I can still read my favorite mangas =D