Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

[TuNnL]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

The new Advertiser site, previously discussed, is almost unusable to me. Though I understand that usability is subjective. But even the flat numbers tell enough of the story:

• Starbulletin.com homepage: 148 elements, 680kb, 6.61 seconds.
• Honoluluadvertiser.com homepage: 136 elements, 1.46MB, 13.37 seconds.

And today is a relatively "light" day for the Advertiser. I took them off my daily morning bookmarks one day when their homepage took nearly 30 seconds to load over 3MB -- three megabytes, people -- of stuff. That's insane. I don't even think the CNN homepage ever breaks 1MB, and it's a hell of a lot easier to read and tells me a hell of a lot more.

I agree that this is irritating. And it’s not just the homepage that takes forever. But the Advertiser does do one thing that almost makes up for their sluggish web site: they almost always have their main content elements up by 1 a.m. The Star-Bulletin, on the other hand, drags their feet in this regard. I have never seen them beat the Advertiser to the punch, and at least once or twice it has them until sun-up to have their stories online!

♪ Yesterday’s news is yesterday’s blues. ♫

[leashlaws]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

My husband does the Advertiser crossword during his lunch break and on
Sundays the Star-Bulletin. I have a crazy set in way of which sections I read and in what order on Sunday from both papers. It's very strange and has to be that way with lots of coffee after the first cup or so spiked up with Bailey's.
It's irritating when more often than not the Star-Bulletin comes really late
in the morning for one reason or another and it ruins my rhythm and order!

Like I said in my first post, I'm a newspaper nut and always have been so
hence my weirdness about the paper(s), gotta have them!

[scrivener]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

I'm always conflicted about this for a few reasons. First, the Advertiser is a Gannett paper and I dislike that organization. However, it does run the NYT crossword puzzle (albeit months behind the NYT's schedule) and that's the only daily puzzle if, like me, one only has time for one puzzle per day. The Bulletin has more local writing, at least the last time I checked, and I know some very nice people who write for it. I also have a weekly gig in the Bulletin, so of course I'm biased in its favor. Sundays, it's both papers or only the Bulletin because of the Sunday NYT crossword puzzle, and because it's a dollar less expensive.

It's really a day-by-day decision, to be honest. I never know what I'm getting until I get to the register or to the vending machines.

[pzarquon]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

I usually read Star-Bulletin.com and have Google Alerts for a couple topics on the Advertiser's site (because I can't stand waiting for their website).

The new Advertiser site, previously discussed, is almost unusable to me. Though I understand that usability is subjective. But even the flat numbers tell enough of the story:

• Starbulletin.com homepage: 148 elements, 680kb, 6.61 seconds.
• Honoluluadvertiser.com homepage: 136 elements, 1.46MB, 13.37 seconds.

And today is a relatively "light" day for the Advertiser. I took them off my daily morning bookmarks one day when their homepage took nearly 30 seconds to load over 3MB -- three megabytes, people -- of stuff. That's insane. I don't even think the CNN homepage ever breaks 1MB, and it's a hell of a lot easier to read and tells me a hell of a lot more.

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

The Monday "Midweek" gets skimmed but the Friday one goes straight to recycle.

Waitaminit...it comes out on Monday and Friday, but is called "MIDweek?" Is that a "Hawaiian-time" sorta thing?

[Nords]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

We cancelled our Star-Bulletin & Advertiser subscriptions years ago. (However I agree that the Advertiser's newer printing presses make the Midweek's printing presses, especially color photos, look like crap.) I usually read Star-Bulletin.com and have Google Alerts for a couple topics on the Advertiser's site (because I can't stand waiting for their website).

I'm trying to think of a reason that we care to continue receiving the Midweek. The Monday "Midweek" gets skimmed but the Friday one goes straight to recycle.

[cynsaligia]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

yay, starbulletin!!! love it, esp starbulletin.com!

[anapuni808]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

I get both and unavoidably so MidWeek too. I'm just a paper nut and have this need to read papers wherever I am - I've said this in another thread. I am
getting annoyed with the Star-Bulletin however with the paragraph of a story
and then when it "continues" on another page it starts with the same information all over again, waste of time/space.

Star-Bulletin gives you a "story summary" at the head of some articles - i just look at it as a way to decide if I want to read the whole story or skip on to something else.

[leashlaws]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

Sorry you got all hinky, I think they have great photographers. Somehow
I get that HI Luxury magazine delivered and it is really nice.

[lavagal]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

I get both and unavoidably so MidWeek too. I'm just a paper nut and have this need to read papers wherever I am - I've said this in another thread. I am
getting annoyed with the Star-Bulletin however with the paragraph of a story
and then when it "continues" on another page it starts with the same information all over again, waste of time/space. Their pictures always stink too, no resolution, bad color you'd think they'd have it down. I also like their
food section better. MidWeek makes your hands dirty so I really don't like to
deal with that and their "food" section is nothing but advertising with articles of little substance.

Let's separate the photographers from the print production when it comes to the Star-Bulletin and MidWeek. Their photography is great, and you can see the photos online. The magazines that company puts out are quite stunning, too.

[leashlaws]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

I get both and unavoidably so MidWeek too. I'm just a paper nut and have this need to read papers wherever I am - I've said this in another thread. I am
getting annoyed with the Star-Bulletin however with the paragraph of a story
and then when it "continues" on another page it starts with the same information all over again, waste of time/space. Their pictures always stink too, no resolution, bad color you'd think they'd have it down. I also like their
food section better. MidWeek makes your hands dirty so I really don't like to
deal with that and their "food" section is nothing but advertising with articles of little substance.

[helen]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

For the dailies it is the Honolulu Star Bulletin, mainly because it's an afternoon paper and that's when I have time to read it.

Sunday on the other hand it's the Honolulu Advertiser.

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Hawaii's News Papers Which do you Prefer

Since I generally have to go by their websites (as I'm off-island), I prefer the Star-Bulletin. When I'm on O`ahu, I tend to read the Advertiser, as that's what the folks I stay with get.

[mordakine]

Advertiser or Bulletin,

Midweek or Weekly

I have been here awhile and I have my preferences.

What are yours? Why....?

A Free Press is the hallmark of a free society, but a quality Press is the mark of a society I want to live in.