Comments on: Why Longbox Could Help Save the Industry http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/ Where fiction collides. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:09:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aaron http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-1045 Aaron Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:24:22 +0000 http://whatistechnoagain.com/?p=297#comment-1045 I started reading digital comics about eighteen months ago. Eventually, the guilt became too great, and I committed to a $70 a month pull list at my local comic store. I still download huge amounts of pirated back issues, but can sleep at night because I'm supporting creators and my local comic store. I spent more than $1,000 on comics last year, and it's all because of pirated digital comics. I started reading digital comics about eighteen months ago. Eventually, the guilt became too great, and I committed to a $70 a month pull list at my local comic store. I still download huge amounts of pirated back issues, but can sleep at night because I’m supporting creators and my local comic store. I spent more than $1,000 on comics last year, and it’s all because of pirated digital comics.

]]> By: SDCC09 Longbox panel | What Is Techno Again? http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-89 SDCC09 Longbox panel | What Is Techno Again? Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:19:02 +0000 http://whatistechnoagain.com/?p=297#comment-89 [...] receiving an engaged response to my in-depth take on the upcoming Longbox Digital Comics—focusing on the pros, cons, and the no small matter of [...] [...] receiving an engaged response to my in-depth take on the upcoming Longbox Digital Comics—focusing on the pros, cons, and the no small matter of [...]

]]> By: SDCC Day 1 Wrap-Up | What Is Techno Again? http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-88 SDCC Day 1 Wrap-Up | What Is Techno Again? Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:08:13 +0000 http://whatistechnoagain.com/?p=297#comment-88 [...] Hoseley’s Longbox Comics demonstration had me excited ever since he stumbled across my pros and cons and piracy-focused look at his creation. Afterwards, we chatted and he let me snap a great shot of him in front of the [...] [...] Hoseley’s Longbox Comics demonstration had me excited ever since he stumbled across my pros and cons and piracy-focused look at his creation. Afterwards, we chatted and he let me snap a great shot of him in front of the [...]

]]> By: WITA http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-41 WITA Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:33:33 +0000 http://whatistechnoagain.com/?p=297#comment-41 Hi, Nick! Good points. I believe Longbox is going to integrate CBR/CBZ formats, and by the sample screenshots it looks like the digital viewer could be very nice---wide and easier to see the pages like you would a print comic. <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview2.php?image=previews/longbox/LBX_Reader_QuickNav.jpg" rel="nofollow">Preview</a> That looks a lot better than any PDF comic I've read. I'd love to see something like that for Marvel and DC, but I doubt it would happen. At least not anytime soon. You know, I actually suggested something to someone on Twitter the other day who prefers print to digital. You could continue to buy your favorite comics in print, but you could also buy and read more comics than you normally would via Longbox and it's ninety-nine cent proposed price. I prefer print, but that just sounds damn good to me. After all, a lot of the review copies I receive are digital. It's a nice mix! Hi, Nick!

Good points. I believe Longbox is going to integrate CBR/CBZ formats, and by the sample screenshots it looks like the digital viewer could be very nice—wide and easier to see the pages like you would a print comic.

Preview

That looks a lot better than any PDF comic I’ve read.

I’d love to see something like that for Marvel and DC, but I doubt it would happen. At least not anytime soon.

You know, I actually suggested something to someone on Twitter the other day who prefers print to digital. You could continue to buy your favorite comics in print, but you could also buy and read more comics than you normally would via Longbox and it’s ninety-nine cent proposed price. I prefer print, but that just sounds damn good to me. After all, a lot of the review copies I receive are digital. It’s a nice mix!

]]> By: nick http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-39 nick Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:31:41 +0000 http://whatistechnoagain.com/?p=297#comment-39 A lot of good arguments for piracy in your piece, and I couldn't agree more. As far as Matt's comment goes, I wholy disagree. I love having comics on my computer -- so much easier to organize and access whenever I want. I haven't done any research on Longbox yet, so my following point may be invalid, but: None of these online comics solutions, from Marvel's digital comics to sites like Wowio (which I thought was cool for about 30 seconds), are going to compete with your standard, everyday pirated comics until the format is as appealing. Every time I see a comic in PDF format, or integrated into a standard webpage, I immediately lose any interest in reading it. CBR/CBZ is the absolute perfect format for reading comics on your computer and, right or wrong, it's available for free. Why would I pay Marvel for their shitty, web-hosted and ad-supported digital comics when the free, ethically-challenged option is, as stated, infinitely cheaper and simply better? I've written (probably poorly) a couple times about a free business model for releasing digital comics, which is absolutely the way to go for, at least, the Big Two. This is basically the standard television model (as you hinted at above): you offer your product essentially for free, because that's how it reaches the most people, and how you in turn make the most ad revenue. It just amazes me how far behind these companies continue to lag when it comes to this issue. A lot of good arguments for piracy in your piece, and I couldn’t agree more. As far as Matt’s comment goes, I wholy disagree. I love having comics on my computer — so much easier to organize and access whenever I want.

I haven’t done any research on Longbox yet, so my following point may be invalid, but: None of these online comics solutions, from Marvel’s digital comics to sites like Wowio (which I thought was cool for about 30 seconds), are going to compete with your standard, everyday pirated comics until the format is as appealing. Every time I see a comic in PDF format, or integrated into a standard webpage, I immediately lose any interest in reading it. CBR/CBZ is the absolute perfect format for reading comics on your computer and, right or wrong, it’s available for free. Why would I pay Marvel for their shitty, web-hosted and ad-supported digital comics when the free, ethically-challenged option is, as stated, infinitely cheaper and simply better?

I’ve written (probably poorly) a couple times about a free business model for releasing digital comics, which is absolutely the way to go for, at least, the Big Two. This is basically the standard television model (as you hinted at above): you offer your product essentially for free, because that’s how it reaches the most people, and how you in turn make the most ad revenue. It just amazes me how far behind these companies continue to lag when it comes to this issue.

]]> By: WITA http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-33 WITA Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:02:38 +0000 http://whatistechnoagain.com/?p=297#comment-33 Yeah, that's very true. But largely it depends on speed and quality. Those comics I gave you were "old" copies I had received, and often those come in low-res, watermarked images and it's a bit cumbersome to shift through them. A program that would effectively and clearly lay the pages out on your screen, with the tools to move around the pages quickly and easily, might change your mind somewhat. But yeah, nothing beats the feel of a comic in your hand. I still prefer hard review copies to digital preview ones. Yeah, that’s very true. But largely it depends on speed and quality. Those comics I gave you were “old” copies I had received, and often those come in low-res, watermarked images and it’s a bit cumbersome to shift through them. A program that would effectively and clearly lay the pages out on your screen, with the tools to move around the pages quickly and easily, might change your mind somewhat.

But yeah, nothing beats the feel of a comic in your hand. I still prefer hard review copies to digital preview ones.

]]> By: Matt http://whatistechnoagain.com/comics/why-longbox-could-help-save-the-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Matt Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:12:01 +0000 http://whatistechnoagain.com/?p=297#comment-31 I am a fan of how Longbox could save money on comics and have clearer launching pads for new readers, but the major flaw I see with the program is simple, they would be digital, and I can honestly say I'm less engaged and less motivated to read a digital comic. Without anything to physically grasp semi-consciously the comic feels less consequential. I still haven't read 90% of the comics you put on my computer. I am a fan of how Longbox could save money on comics and have clearer launching pads for new readers, but the major flaw I see with the program is simple, they would be digital, and I can honestly say I’m less engaged and less motivated to read a digital comic. Without anything to physically grasp semi-consciously the comic feels less consequential.

I still haven’t read 90% of the comics you put on my computer.

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