Digital World - Less means more?

I've come to realize that most magazines are leaning towards digital or paperless formats to distribute their content. I find this inevitable because of reasons of economics, enviroment and trends, but I also find this a tinge disappointing. In this digital age, I still prefer magazines.

Sometimes, there is nothing better than to reach and hold a magazine and just flick through it. It's kind of relaxing and I like the look of printed materials. Sometimes, they come with vouchers/coupons/etc where I can just rip out.

The paperless format means I have to view the content on the computer / netbook / laptop / pda / smartphone, take your pick, but it's all about the interface.

On a computer, your generally looking at it either on the web or on pdf files. The former requires a boot up, using the mouse and staring at a screen, just to read a magazine. You can print it out, but then who would want to wait and most home users don't usually have laser printers yet.

On a laptop you can usually get past the boot up with the resume mode, but then, I find that laptops nowadays get uncomfortably hot. Usually because, while they are doing something passive like reading or browsing, most users like to run something in the background, disk defrag, scanners etc.

A netbook tends to have smaller screens that are okay for a quick type here and there, but for reading for long periods, it can be tiresome. I also find using the trackpad more of a means to an end, rather than a pleasurable experience.

A smartphone or a pda is the most convenient way to grab information, but the display area is too small to leisurely peruse something.

Many advantages such as search and interactive features are nice, but nothing beats the flick of a magazine.