The app is a free download. Do it on the iPad and the host computer so your mags get downloaded to both.
When you shop tap on a mag icon and it gets you to the options.
Buy the issue.
Buy a subscription.
Get previous issues.
That's it, just choose and tap and give your vitals to the company and it's done. If you chose subscription you'll receive an email saying that an issue is being sent to your device. On the iPad you have to wait for the mag to download before turning the app off, it takes three to four minutes.
The best thing is showing Zinio off to non iPad owners and watching their faces...
Zinio is one of the reason I got my gf an iPad. She reads a few mags and it is just s waste of paper. Now she can get her mags every month and never throw away paper.