How About a Digital Cookbook Magazine?

[Smart Cook]

Would you subscribe to a digital cookbook magazine? Help me in this survey. My friend is a small magazine publisher and she has decided to shift to a digital magazine format due to escalating publishing costs and environmental issues on saving our trees. By subscribing to a digital cookbook magazine,you will see the photos and recipes on your computer screen as clearly as if you are actually flipping through the magazine pages. Plus you will get your magazine issue instantly by just downloading the file on your hard drive or a flash disk instead of waiting for weeks for an actual printed copy to be delivered to you. Subscription cost is also much lower. Her concern is if readers are really ready to shift to a digital format.

I want to help her decide. Can you please answer the question, "Would You subscribe to a digital cookbook magazine?"

[Liketobake]

For me it probably depends on the cost...

[NOCHEF&JUSTLOVESFOOD.YUM]

Probably not. I surf the many pages of the web, find one I like, try it, and save it to a file or not.

[Satine]

IMHO it seems like a good idea but honestly if i'm on the net already i'll just browse whatever's in my head at the time & downloading vs stuff that's just there already, ...they'd have to be really original articles/ topics (at least titles) to compete. the nice thing about a magazine or books is that they give you away from the monitor time & life can slow down a bit.
i appreciate the environmental angle however if i were paying for a digital subscription i'd hope for an actual video clip demonstration or something, music, unique features like this... not just pictures & text. good luck! :)

[NOCHEF&JUSTLOVESFOOD.YUM]

I think that Satine has a good point. I subscribe to the online version of :
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/

AND, I also subscribe to the magazine. The online version gives me video, newest projects and tips. The magazine I use to read quietly at home in a peaceful moment. Then I cut out the ones I like and put them in plastic sleeves in a 3 ring binder.

Maybe an "oustside the box" look at this situation would yield URL gold . :)

[Smart Cook]

Thank you guys for your candid answers. Will share these with her.

[heavyG]

Would it be subscription, or advertising based?

G.

[Smart Cook]

Both, I guess. She's planning to set subscription at $19.95 for 12 issues.

[chef21]

would be a good idea but then again you have the worldwide web

[inthekitchen]

Yeah, not a bad idea but I would definitely have to agree with everyone else and say that the Internet's there which probably has its fair share of food newsletters and websites.