For most of my life reading the daily paper has been a morning ritual.
In my earlier days delivery was by a young kid pedaling a bike and earning a few extra bucks.
That youngster has been replaced by an adult and the bicycle by a car and holiday reminders (hints for tips) are inserted into the paper at the appropriate time of year.
But kid or adult, bike or car, the paper appeared daily with amazing regularity. And it was a joy to read.
Once the age of personal computers, tablets, and smartphones arrived, many of my friends switched to electronic versions of the news. But not me. In my know-it-all mind set I was aware that only a physical paper could satisfy a true reader.
The highlight of each day’s paper perusal, which I saved for last, was savoring the comics. I had checked my local paper’s website and couldn’t find comics anywhere on it. Someone told me there were lots of other websites that carried them. But that was an extra step in which I had no interest. Comics should be an integral part of the paper I was reading.
I also like to do the crossword puzzle, and I wanted pencil in hand to do it. The thought of marking up my screen did not appeal.
And I needed old papers around the house to protect furniture from tabletop projects, floors from paint drippings, and stuffing for packages sent. I couldn’t dismiss the image from an old newsroom-based Mary Tyler Moore show where yesterday’s paper lined the bottom of a bird cage.
Then economics became a factor. The cost of a physical paper subscription was significantly higher than that of a digital one. And I learned that online I could read a copy of the paper just as it appeared in print, solving my comics dilemma. But what about the crossword puzzle? That problem also was solvable as it’s possible to print the puzzle. An annoyance for sure, but one easily justified by the cost reduction in the subscription.
So I took a deep breath and became a digital paper reader. I missed the feel of the paper in my hand. But it wasn’t that bad.
There are minor problems. I had to get used to clicking on articles I wanted to peruse and, in deference to my old eyes, having to expand the type size when reading. But these are minor demands on me. More of a pain is at least once or twice a day, in the middle of reading an article and with my fingers nowhere near the touchscreen, the “newspaper” disappears, and I have to start again. I have no idea what triggers it. Another problem is when I take some action, and I haven’t been able to figure out what it is, a smartphone version becomes embedded on my iPad screen and there seems to be no way to get rid of it without shutting down and restarting the iPad. Still, I have learned to accept these minor irritants and now enjoy the electronic version of my daily paper.
A miracle happened on a Sunday some time ago. A full-fledged physical paper was lying in my driveway. I believed it was a mistake although I suppose it could have been a technique to remind me of what I was missing. I suspect the former because there was no attempt to entice me into the traditional camp.
I was delighted and for that day only I held a paper in my hand as I absorbed its content. And I did enjoy it. I noticed, though, when I’d read a story that began on page 1 and continued on page 8, I would have to turn several physical pages to complete it. Then I had to return to page 1 to move to the next article. On the iPad the gap is bridged automatically without removing my position on page 1.
After I finished my lucky excursion into the physical paper and had saved it for all those reasons mentioned earlier, I realized that, yes it’s fun, but I was astounded to note I had a slight preference for the electronic version, even with its problems.
Those Sunday papers continued to arrive. I called the publisher and was told that was now a part of my subscription and was assured it did not add to my cost. I found I wanted it to stop and did end it. Because even with it lying beside my chair, I didn’t open it.
Except for the comics!
A big advantage: With the physical papers gone, I have an excuse not to paint.
In my earlier days delivery was by a young kid pedaling a bike and earning a few extra bucks.
That youngster has been replaced by an adult and the bicycle by a car and holiday reminders (hints for tips) are inserted into the paper at the appropriate time of year.
But kid or adult, bike or car, the paper appeared daily with amazing regularity. And it was a joy to read.
Once the age of personal computers, tablets, and smartphones arrived, many of my friends switched to electronic versions of the news. But not me. In my know-it-all mind set I was aware that only a physical paper could satisfy a true reader.
The highlight of each day’s paper perusal, which I saved for last, was savoring the comics. I had checked my local paper’s website and couldn’t find comics anywhere on it. Someone told me there were lots of other websites that carried them. But that was an extra step in which I had no interest. Comics should be an integral part of the paper I was reading.
I also like to do the crossword puzzle, and I wanted pencil in hand to do it. The thought of marking up my screen did not appeal.
And I needed old papers around the house to protect furniture from tabletop projects, floors from paint drippings, and stuffing for packages sent. I couldn’t dismiss the image from an old newsroom-based Mary Tyler Moore show where yesterday’s paper lined the bottom of a bird cage.
Then economics became a factor. The cost of a physical paper subscription was significantly higher than that of a digital one. And I learned that online I could read a copy of the paper just as it appeared in print, solving my comics dilemma. But what about the crossword puzzle? That problem also was solvable as it’s possible to print the puzzle. An annoyance for sure, but one easily justified by the cost reduction in the subscription.
So I took a deep breath and became a digital paper reader. I missed the feel of the paper in my hand. But it wasn’t that bad.
There are minor problems. I had to get used to clicking on articles I wanted to peruse and, in deference to my old eyes, having to expand the type size when reading. But these are minor demands on me. More of a pain is at least once or twice a day, in the middle of reading an article and with my fingers nowhere near the touchscreen, the “newspaper” disappears, and I have to start again. I have no idea what triggers it. Another problem is when I take some action, and I haven’t been able to figure out what it is, a smartphone version becomes embedded on my iPad screen and there seems to be no way to get rid of it without shutting down and restarting the iPad. Still, I have learned to accept these minor irritants and now enjoy the electronic version of my daily paper.
A miracle happened on a Sunday some time ago. A full-fledged physical paper was lying in my driveway. I believed it was a mistake although I suppose it could have been a technique to remind me of what I was missing. I suspect the former because there was no attempt to entice me into the traditional camp.
I was delighted and for that day only I held a paper in my hand as I absorbed its content. And I did enjoy it. I noticed, though, when I’d read a story that began on page 1 and continued on page 8, I would have to turn several physical pages to complete it. Then I had to return to page 1 to move to the next article. On the iPad the gap is bridged automatically without removing my position on page 1.
After I finished my lucky excursion into the physical paper and had saved it for all those reasons mentioned earlier, I realized that, yes it’s fun, but I was astounded to note I had a slight preference for the electronic version, even with its problems.
Those Sunday papers continued to arrive. I called the publisher and was told that was now a part of my subscription and was assured it did not add to my cost. I found I wanted it to stop and did end it. Because even with it lying beside my chair, I didn’t open it.
Except for the comics!
A big advantage: With the physical papers gone, I have an excuse not to paint.
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