Ooops, I was trying to get to my magazines through the my account link at the top of the screen. If I use the blue MyLibrary bar on the right hand side of the screen, I can view the magazine online just like yesterday.

"More of this and will BPL books in the future be available as digital download as well as print?"

Yeah, I'm really liking this Zinio format over a more traditional e-book (say PDF) format... this could be sweet for books (presuming not super long books)

Yes, we are planning to release a digital version of the Packrafting Book. Assuming that goes well -- all books in the future too, including the revised ed. of Lightweight Backpacking and Camping in the works.

Ok, so on my Linux box at home I wasn't able to read it online at first. I kept getting Error Code:8 or something. On a whim I disabled AdBlock Plus for Zinio, and voila, it works now.

So if you're getting an error similar to that and have ABP enabled, you might try turning it off.

Adam

I'm really excited to see there is a way to download to my laptop hard drive and read the magazine offline. I have a business trip on Monday and will take full advantage of this. The Zinio viewer tool I downloaded is very nice, I can print articles, make annotations/highlight and there's even a feature to send a free copy to a friend. I've just tested this and it seemed to work but haven't validated that it was recieved. Overall I'm really impressed and pleased with this development.
I noticed my 'online library' also includes a copy of Cycling World 2005 - must be a freebie?

I was delighted to receive the e-mail and link. As soon as I can sort out the technical issues with the reader I'll be even happier (it insists on installing itself to the C drive, where I have very little space, and I can't seem to find a way to tell it not to... something for me to work on over the weekend) and settle down to read the content. PDF would have been preferable to me, but doubtless there are sound reasons for going with the chosen format even if it does entail yet another piece of software. Nonetheless, what I've seen so far looks pretty good.

Jon,
For space planning on your hard drive, the Zinio viewer required about 56MB and the BPL magazine was just shy of 10MB.

Edited by mark_b on 04/18/2008 18:54:01 MDT.

I really, really, really did NOT need to read an article about poo digging while eating my dinner. I realize the target audience is men and that while I have an iron clad stomach....but did it NEED to be so graphic? The article could have been a bit clipped and still gotten the point home. It went into 'locker room' style and pretty much turned me off.

And "vaginal wipes"? How about calling them what the manufacturer calls them? "Feminine wipes". You want to find them, that is what you ask for. After all, there is more to a ladies bits than her "v".

But don't worry, I am sure I will survive. Just was NOT impressed at all with that article.

I checked out the online reader and on my iMac 18" and it was wonderfully archaic. Lack of fine control (text too large or too small). I'll stick to paper as my BPL magazines reside at a place of honour beside my Backpacker mags (almost complete first 3 years). Too many proprietry file formats that have bit the dust for me.

Don't take me for an old fuddie. I normally print a hard copy and to pdf and save electronically anything important. Less important goes to pdf only (killing fewer trees).

Iain

Edited by scouteriain on 04/18/2008 19:17:52 MDT.

I felt the same way when I tried the online reader. Interestingly though, when I tried the offline reader it was much better. While the controls are the same it was much clearer at 100% meaning a could read a full page at a time.

I agree with above sentiments that PDF is a good format for online reading. It's nice having a search feature which zinio lacks. Still it was a good read and in my opinion better than printing and shipping the hard copies around.

By accident I deleted my access to the entire issue, can I get it back (resent)? If not it was my own fault.

Nia,
The Zinio reader does have a search feature, it's in the upper right hand corner. The Zinio search tool doesn't have as many features as the Adobe pdf reader but it works.

>> Ryan, are ya'll hiking it over to the publisher and horse packing it back? What could possible take that it long to show up in our mailboxes?

Carl:

I am emailing an electronic copy to the printer and packing several pallets of magazines back.

My pack weight coming back is heavier, hence, I'm going slower.

Thanks BPL!

It was my time to re-up my online subscription earlier this month, so I bit the bullet and added the print version. I was pleasantly surprised yesterday when I got an email linking to an electronic version. I had no idea what a good time I had chosen make the move - full color, first electronic offering - excellent. I enjoyed the reader, right down to the digitized page turning. It really whetted my appetite for the hard copy.

I also enjoyed the new material and found it did a have a voice all its own, more narrative than much of what I've found on the website. Uber-endurance hikes with dog, super-duper light in Virginia, and extra-uncomfortable impacted bowels! Great read and great to hear that the wealth will be spread to the online users.

Edited by dsmontgomery on 04/18/2008 22:04:48 MDT.

Great work on the electronic version Ryan! I downloaded the ZinioReader for U3 and was able to save, view, and transport the electronic magazine copy on my USB key. Works great!

Also really enjoying the content. I, for one, found Dave Swinehart's article to be very entertaining, colorful, and an appropriately unabridged version of 'epic' events. He and Mike Clelland! should coauthor something for you (although I am guessing they did from the pictures)!

Can't wait for the hard copy. Let me know if you need help wrangling that mule train! :P

On the third attempt the "custom installation" option appeared (instead of being greyed out) and I was able to save the reader to my E drive. Still not sure where it's saving the actual magazine issues to (despite uninstalling the program yesterday when I came to reinstall it and download the magazine I was told that issue nine was already in my library) which might cause space issues later, but things are moving forwards at least. The reader works well enough and I've been enjoying the articles (which display quite clearly on my computer.)

Bit of a surprise to see a magazine for 2008 with an ad for "GOLITE'S NEW 2007 PACKS" though ;)

Ryan - Great issue and I definitely appreciate you making it available to the online members.
Ron

I'm a premium member and print subscriber, but no email link in my inbox yet.

This was my first time reading an issue of BPL Magazine, and I really enjoyed it. I subscribe to Backpacker Magazine also, and I'm less-than-impressed with their content. It seems to be less and less about backpacking and more about dayhiking, stories about criminals finding redemption, and maybe one article about actual backpacking. Don't even get me started on their gear "reviews". Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't consider canoes backpacking gear...

I'm still not crazy about bikepacking or packrafting, but I found all the artices interesting. And, as a bonus, the authors talk about gear. Using gear, gear lists, mini gear reviews, etc. I like it so far; keep up the good work!

BPL,
Diana's post reminded me - I recently stumbled upon some of the very first issues of Backpacker magazine from the early 70's, and what a different magazine it used to be! Huge, beautiful pictures, in-depth analytical articles, simple layout, a few ads. It was beautiful and reminded me of BPL magazine. I only hope that in your progression, you all don't follow their path of over-commercialization - I'll gladly pay $25 a year to read a publication that keeps the focus on backpacking rather than gear manufacturers. Gear has its place but only as a means of enjoying the outdoors; it's not an end in itself. I think that BPL has, so far, been tasteful in its ad placement and hope you continue your good judgement.

Forget light backpacking, in my opinion, BPL has become THE publication for serious outdoor enthusiasts. Keep the content strong and you will have a following.