Columbus Dispatch eEdition Reviews

by Milleron

The prior Dispatch app was time tested and worked for everyone.
The new "improved" app is a disaster. It appears to have been introduced for no reason other than that some administrative wonk wanted a new one. Essentially every change is for the worse. I've literally found nothing that enhances reading or makes navigating the paper easier. Every facet of reading the daily paper is now less convenient and works more poorly. I gave it two stars only because, with increased effort and maddening frustration and with decreased enjoyment, it is, at least, still possible to get from page 1 to the end. ColumbusDispatcheEdition should make the Dispatch organization hang its collective head in shape -- so stupid!

by RL6027

ColumbusDispatcheEdition does allow me to effectively read the newspaper on my iPad. In the reader mode (that shows a page view on the left and the selected article on the right) there are some odd artifacts in the article. It doesn’t format the article well, which can lead to some confusion at times. Also, it always imbeds any photo or graphic at the end of the article and can treat the caption oddly. Keep improving!

by Cheap Whino

I like the e-edition of the dispatch. Provides me the convenience of electronic access but a familiar analog format. Even there I get a format that looks analogue but as I select articles the format changes to expand the article and make it easy to read. This is a 4.5 star rating. The Dispatch continues to tweak here and there to improve stability and if you select an article via a cont…page you don’t see the full article, just the part that was put on another e-page. Not a big deal but needs correct. I start my day as I have for many years, opening up the paper on my tablet though instead of reaching for the paper on the front porch. I will say that with the digital subscription I also get access to the mobile application and get breaking news throughout the day. Good value!

by Mxptlk1

This new version has had major and welcome improvements over the old app. Finally! I enjoy my daily reading without all those glitches it had previously. Very intuitive and reader-friendly.

by OlderthandirtRon

Well structured for easily navigating the paper. Only wish I could select and print to crossword puzzle without having to email it to myself, then printing from my desktop computer. Extra time and effort. Used to be able to do so, but programming must have changed weeks ago to prohibit such. Like to print the puzzle to work with. Otherwise, 5 stars.

by CantorJC

We subscribed to the printed Dispatch for well over 25 years. (Back when there were two newspapers, it was not our newspaper of choice.) Recently, we moved to Israel, so we have become an E-only family as far as Columbus newspapers go. I enjoy the daily paper on my Tel Aviv balcony, and the Dispatch is available way earlier than the today’s edition of the New York Times, which is significant and as much as we are now seven hours ahead of Columbus.

My only criticism is that when I get to the bottom of the page and swipe to the next page, I think it would be better if ColumbusDispatcheEdition would take me to the top of the next page rather than the bottom. Perhaps this will be a later update and how ColumbusDispatcheEdition functions.

by Billingtondrive

I love reading the Dispatch on my iPad every morning. It is so much easier for me to handle. I sit in my recliner with two small dogs so trying to hold up and turn pages of a large paper edition isn’t easy.
I was so disappointed when the e paper is not available for whatever technical reasons.
I hope you can solve whatever problems you are encountering. I really miss the e edition on my iPad.

by Erie Sailor

ColumbusDispatcheEdition is now much more IPhone friendly. Being able to click on an article and read the entire text in a phone friendly font is a big much needed feature.

by JLO-IP

is a huge plus. Font and display easier to read

Excellent coverage of here and now local news woven with national and international news when appropriate, and with “what can we do about it” articles.

by Knickfarms

I’ve read the dispatch for my who life. And the CJ before that. I used to deliver the paper to carriers. Whe I subscribed I paid for 13 weeks every 8 weeks. This went on for years. I will never subscribe again. I over paid for years. I do enjoy your new app. I can get by without it but would rather not.

by Arlene123456789

We enjoy reading the Columbus Dispatch on our iPads, using ColumbusDispatcheEdition . It’s easy to zoom in and out, navigate to sections or pages, or open articles in text view to email. And it’s very stable, a big improvement over the previous version, which failed occasionally.

by B J Stapleton

My husband and I really enjoy receiving the news paper on my phone instead of home delivery which we haven’t had in a long time. We can look back at other issues as needed and enjoy reading the paper instead of having it cause us to get the dark print on our hands.

by FayeinColumbus

This is such a nice change from the old app! I had to log in periodically to the old version. This version is much more user-friendly. The pages are easier to access. Much better, thank you for updating this!

by Avengerred

I was reluctant to eliminate my “paper” newspaper and go electronic, but I have found that being able to read it on my iPad is awesome, so much easier. Then I was like, oh no I can’t cut out recipes, but they’re easy to find. All in all, very pleased, sep with the cost savings from going all electronic, but still being able to access this awesome paper!

by DELSV

The new app is light years ahead of what it replaced. ColumbusDispatcheEdition ease of use is terrific allowing articles that are continued on other pages in the print version to appear as one complete article in the new app. Overall the navigating tools are well presented and easy to use.
My first thought upon using the new app was oh no, what did they do which quickly turned to wow, this is a great improvement. I am enjoying the Dispatch more than ever.

by Ohio Chaplain

Having extensively used the previous version of ColumbusDispatcheEdition , I was initially disconcerted by the total revamp and frustrated that it didn’t work “like usual”. However, I quickly got reoriented and this is definitely an improvement in many ways, particularly when reading on the smaller screen of a phone rather than a tablet, the latter being my usual choice. More options, more features, all in all an improvement.

by Davemar10

I have used the Electronic Version of the Dispatch ever since it was available. It has always been hard to work with. Sometimes I couldn’t download it. This version really works well. You can choose the section and page you want to read, or you can just browse as you would with the printer version. I can actually show someone not into iPads how to read an article in it. Finally you got it right. Thank you.

by JMichaelT

I used to get my news via a paper edition and read electronically. But in March I moved to Columbus, and converted to e-only news via this Columbus Dispatch app. I use a six year old iPad, and was worried it would not handle ColumbusDispatcheEdition , but it works great. I like the navigation, the layout and the ability to enlarge pictures or text for a faster read. It also works well on my laptop and I can read it on my phone - though a bit more challenging due to the screen size. All in all a very good app.

by Nincsen Nickname

There are numerous reasons why e-versions are better than paper. I’ve been reading the e-Dispatch for years. It is far from being perfect but then it takes time for e-newspapers to develop. My biggest gripe is that I feel that I went to an advertisement game and then occasionally a newspaper breaks out. It should be the other way around. Also, for me at least, the non-local coverage is totally unnecessary but I don’t blame the Dispatch for it. Not everyone reads the big national and international newspapers that report many events even days before the Dispatch does.

by Kilravock

The Columbus Dispatch is a valuable and important source of news about Columbus, Ohio, and the world. We are very lucky to still have a seven day newspaper for our area. Think of all the things we need to know that we would not know without the free press. A good newspaper allows you to access news any time at your convenience. I use the e-edition for both my cost and yet to support this newspaper.

by Jgrnwld

As typical with American companies, they ‘upgrade’ their app and make it much much worse. I’m sick of this but at the same time no longer surprised.

It’s now almost impossible to change the page. Everywhere you put your finger the article or ad you just touched takes over the screen.

This went from an ok app to a completely horrible impossible to use aggravating app.

by Higmister

This new format is absolutely terrible. It is not user friendly. It is not just a step back , it is ten steps back. It appears to me who developed this current format had no idea of what they were doing. The previous format was much better than this new one. I have been getting the on Dispatch on line for over 5 years. If this format isn’t fixed soon, I will mostly like cancel my subscription.

by J R..

Old news is better than no news. Would wish if it would have more late developing news , like the last couple OSU football games. Didn’t have any of the main stats til 2 days later. That seemed to happened after they moved the printing from Columbus to Indianapolis. Plus, not a big fan of the new format! But other than that, 2 thumbs up.

by Everything Already Tried

Am enjoying the newspaper. Have had a little problem learning the new format but am liking it more each day. Keep up the good work.

by 30 Year

E-edition100x better than the previous version. Faster, more intuitive. Better options and works again on mom's iPad 2! Only wish the page turn and section move arrows were further apart to avoid mistakes. Good job Dispatch!

by Tworthen

I’ve been a loyal Columbus Dispatch customer for 30+ years, always look forward to the special series reporting you do and everything about our local communities you report on. Dispatch reporters are top notice!!

by TommyBgoode

Reading the Dispatch on an iPad is easier than flipping pages and you can read the paper earlier than a hard copy delivery would be made.