From: Rob Sanheim <rsanheim@...>
Date: 2006-08-05T03:45:54+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby Cookbook

On 8/4/06, John Gabriele <jmg3000@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 8/4/06, Jim Morris <ml@e4net.com> wrote:
> >
> > Mike Douglas wrote:
> > > On 8/2/06, Dark Ambient <sambient@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> I think it would be a nice option if they offered this book as a PDF.
> > >> Safari at $20 a month just for one book is not a good pitch.
> > >
> > > Those who bought the book through Safari's Rough Cuts program get a
> > > PDF of the book. I checked a few days ago and they still had it listed
> > > as "rough cuts", so you might see be able to buy it.
> > >
> >
> > No its not available anymore as a rough cut, and I agree this book would be much more useful as a
> > PDF than a paper book IMHO. (Especially those of us with dual monitors!)
> >
> > I'll wait for a PDF book from another publisher I think, as O'Reilly seems to not like the PDF
> > format, maybe they should look at how well the pragmatic programmers are doing ;)
> >
>
> I just ordered my copy of the dead-tree version.
>
> Although a pdf might be nice for searching, since the cookbook is
> categorized I don't think it will be much of an issue. Also, I don't
> usually see pdf's with syntax highlighted code snippets, so I wouldn't
> get any benefit there from the printed version. (Note to publishers:
> you might sway me if the various source code listings in your digital
> versions were color syntax highlighted!)
>
> Also, since it's a cookbook, I'm guessing the snippets aren't too
> long, so I don't really mind retyping the ones I need.
>
> Besides, I prefer the quality typesetting of a real book to reading on
> my flat panel.
>
> The only (literal) pain in the neck is lugging that thing around with
> all my other "essential" books. :
> ---John

I also prefer the "look and feel" of a real book over a pdf.  However,
the amount of great references for ruby keeps growing, and I'm finding
the pragmatic's pdfs essential for quick searches when I don't want to
take the time to page thru a book or google it.  Not to mention when
I'm out with the laptop and don't have the hard copies available.

I don't know if any O'Reilly authors read this list, but maybe this
thread should be sent on to the authors of the Cookbook or someone
else at O'Reilly.  Seems they are missing what the market wants.
- Rob
-- 
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