Bo Sacks and The Last Magazine
March 24, 2007
My friend Bob Sacks, www.bosacks.com, has written an article/review (read it here) of yet another friend David Renard’s recent book called The Last Magazine. Bob warns at the end of his article “It’s never going to be the way it was. In fact, it’s not going to be the way it is.” Of course both Bob and David are great supporters of the e-paper future. I have no problem with that, my problem is not with the changes in the technology, but rather in the technology trying to imitate something we already have. Every day I hear that e-paper is going to look and feel like paper…but the question that I always ask, will be used in the same manner we use paper. One of the beauties of paper is that it is disposable. I can leave my newspaper on the train, on the plane, in the taxi…but I will never leave my laptop behind… well, at least I hope I will never leave my laptop behind. I am one of the early adapters of technology… I was, and still is, the one who rushes to buy the new stuff before it even celebrates its three months anniversary, but at the same time, I always appreciated the limits of the technology and the role it plays in my life. Will that change my look and love of the newspapers and magazines of today and tomorrow? Not a single bit, the joy of having multiple papers (especially from the UK) and tens of magazines all in the same room with me, still give me a high not any technological creation will ever change. Sorry folks, but I will continue to use the technology to spread the message. Remember, and remember well (Sorry Bob), don’t blame the medium if the message is not right.
Mr. Magazine 
I understand your reluctance and I am sympathetic with your reaction. I’m sure the lovers of the telegraph felt the same way at the latter end of the 19th century. There was something so charming and affectionate listening to the clatter, clatter of the dots and dashes as they sped by. Then of course, with those kinds of feelings perhaps AT&T should have stayed with the telegraph as their main source of income and sole business model.
Printed magazine will always have their place in society. And will remain a valuable, honored and respected way of communicating. It just will not be the only way, nor do I think will it be the predominate method of communicating information, otherwise known as content.
E-paper is a new technology. It will take time to perfect and achieve traction with the reading public, perhaps as much as five years. But you shouldn’t fear about leaving it behind. Some say it will be less expensive than dead trees technology to own.