Comments on: O’Reilly wants to help with your computer book clutter http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:51:58 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rose http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44387 Rose Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:51:00 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44387 This is in response to the post by min hus on 10/20/2009. If you are a library patron or a student, gaining access to Safari Books Online via your local library, college or university is a good way to go. Just keep in mind that most public and academic libraries only offer a small sampling of the thousands of books, videos and personalized features available from Safari Books Online. While this access to Safari Books Online provides a taste of what Safari Books Online is all about, professionals and serious enthusiasts should check out the complete Safari Books Online service and experience. For those of you who want to access Safari Books Online's entire collection (more content), take a deep dive into more sophisticated technologies, and experience the rich suite of personalized features, we invite you to visit my.safaribooksonline.com/trial for a free trial. This is in response to the post by min hus on 10/20/2009. If you are a library patron or a student, gaining access to Safari Books Online via your local library, college or university is a good way to go. Just keep in mind that most public and academic libraries only offer a small sampling of the thousands of books, videos and personalized features available from Safari Books Online. While this access to Safari Books Online provides a taste of what Safari Books Online is all about, professionals and serious enthusiasts should check out the complete Safari Books Online service and experience. For those of you who want to access Safari Books Online’s entire collection (more content), take a deep dive into more sophisticated technologies, and experience the rich suite of personalized features, we invite you to visit my.safaribooksonline.com/trial for a free trial.

]]> By: Rose http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44386 Rose Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:47:04 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44386 This is in response to Loren’s post on 10/20/09. The economy has certainly put a crunch on our pocket books and people are trying to figure out creative ways to save money while maintaining access to resources like Safari Books Online. Unfortunately, pricing for the Safari Books Online library is structured on a per user basis and the user agreement strictly prohibits sharing accounts. Having said that, I’m certain that there is a subscription model that fits most budgets. And, there is no time commitment so you can cancel your individual subscription without penalty. In addition to individual subscriptions, Safari Books Online also offers subscriptions for enterprises and small workgroups. Organizations are typically open to purchasing Safari Books Online subscriptions for its employee base because it, among other things, reduces the costs associated with training and helps reduce errors and speed up research times. Sorry to ramble on – I just love Safari. For less than the cost of one book ($22.99 or $42.99 depending on the subscription level), you can have access to not just one book, but rather you can have access to thousands of books, videos and more from leading publishers like O’Reilly Media. You can also sign up for a free 10-day trial. You will need to enter your credit card information but your card won’t be charged unless you decide to continue your subscription. You will need to cancel before your 10-day trial is up though if you don’t want to continue. http://my.safaribooksonline.com/trial This is in response to Loren’s post on 10/20/09.
The economy has certainly put a crunch on our pocket books and people are trying to figure out creative ways to save money while maintaining access to resources like Safari Books Online. Unfortunately, pricing for the Safari Books Online library is structured on a per user basis and the user agreement strictly prohibits sharing accounts. Having said that, I’m certain that there is a subscription model that fits most budgets. And, there is no time commitment so you can cancel your individual subscription without penalty. In addition to individual subscriptions, Safari Books Online also offers subscriptions for enterprises and small workgroups. Organizations are typically open to purchasing Safari Books Online subscriptions for its employee base because it, among other things, reduces the costs associated with training and helps reduce errors and speed up research times. Sorry to ramble on – I just love Safari. For less than the cost of one book ($22.99 or $42.99 depending on the subscription level), you can have access to not just one book, but rather you can have access to thousands of books, videos and more from leading publishers like O’Reilly Media. You can also sign up for a free 10-day trial. You will need to enter your credit card information but your card won’t be charged unless you decide to continue your subscription. You will need to cancel before your 10-day trial is up though if you don’t want to continue. http://my.safaribooksonline.com/trial

]]> By: Don http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44385 Don Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:47:15 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44385 My professional membership with the ACM provides me with Safari, albeit not one that has -every- book available in the per-month subscription version of Safari. I've yet to figure out what the deciding factor is, but the majority of books are in there. At $99 a year it's not a bad alternative. Min hus is dead-on with regards to the academic options. If I connect to Safari from my work computer (I'm on a local campus) it automatically detects, based on my IP, that I'm under the site membership. My professional membership with the ACM provides me with Safari, albeit not one that has -every- book available in the per-month subscription version of Safari. I’ve yet to figure out what the deciding factor is, but the majority of books are in there. At $99 a year it’s not a bad alternative.

Min hus is dead-on with regards to the academic options. If I connect to Safari from my work computer (I’m on a local campus) it automatically detects, based on my IP, that I’m under the site membership.

]]> By: Sean http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44314 Sean Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:34:32 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44314 Many publishers, including Sybex and even Microsoft Press, include CDs with their books that include ebook or PDF versions of the book as well as bonus content like sample scripts. With many of O'Reilly's titles retailing for $50 or more, charging another $5.00 for the ebook is more exasperating than exciting. Many publishers, including Sybex and even Microsoft Press, include CDs with their books that include ebook or PDF versions of the book as well as bonus content like sample scripts. With many of O’Reilly’s titles retailing for $50 or more, charging another $5.00 for the ebook is more exasperating than exciting.

]]> By: Daily Review #8 | The Queue Blog http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44262 Daily Review #8 | The Queue Blog Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:59:05 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44262 [...] Unclutterer posted a tip on $4.99 versions of O’Reilly ebooks if you own the paper version. [...] [...] Unclutterer posted a tip on $4.99 versions of O’Reilly ebooks if you own the paper version. [...]

]]> By: Charlotte K http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44252 Charlotte K Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:34:13 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44252 If you are affiliated with an academic institution check your library first. Many univ. libraries offer Safari books. Don't pay for them if you are entitled to use them from a library. I have told our Univ IT staff where I work (in a library) many times that they don't have to buy these. They don't have a clue! Always check your libraries (public or otherwise) first! If you are affiliated with an academic institution check your library first. Many univ. libraries offer Safari books. Don’t pay for them if you are entitled to use them from a library. I have told our Univ IT staff where I work (in a library) many times that they don’t have to buy these. They don’t have a clue! Always check your libraries (public or otherwise) first!

]]> By: Daphne http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44247 Daphne Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:42:14 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44247 Just want to point out, politely, to Daniel Howard, that the copyright is held by the AUTHOR not the publisher. Most writers make very little money on books so it *is* important to protect their copyright. After all, without the writers, we'd have no books at all! Just want to point out, politely, to Daniel Howard, that the copyright is held by the AUTHOR not the publisher. Most writers make very little money on books so it *is* important to protect their copyright. After all, without the writers, we’d have no books at all!

]]> By: min hus http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44237 min hus Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:43:23 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44237 You may want to check and see what your library offers as well, especially academic libraries. In Ohio, almost every college and university provides access to Safari Tech Books to their faculty, staff and students, so access is free to me because they're already subscribing. You may want to check and see what your library offers as well, especially academic libraries. In Ohio, almost every college and university provides access to Safari Tech Books to their faculty, staff and students, so access is free to me because they’re already subscribing.

]]> By: Trevor Bramble http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44230 Trevor Bramble Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:12:05 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44230 I was thrilled to get that announcement too! I feel I should also point out that the Pragmatic guys http://pragprog.com/ have been doing this for awhile too, though now with such steep pricing (ex: Programming Ruby is offered to me for $10.01 after a $14.99 discount) and their ongoing support of digital releases is fantastic. I can see when any of my purchased books have an updated release and retrieve them. They do a great job and I've been happy to see their innovations spreading to O'Reilly and elsewhere. On the flipside, I was deeply disappointed to discover that my ebook purchase from Apress came with a password. I won't be buying from them again. I was thrilled to get that announcement too!

I feel I should also point out that the Pragmatic guys http://pragprog.com/ have been doing this for awhile too, though now with such steep pricing (ex: Programming Ruby is offered to me for $10.01 after a $14.99 discount) and their ongoing support of digital releases is fantastic. I can see when any of my purchased books have an updated release and retrieve them.

They do a great job and I’ve been happy to see their innovations spreading to O’Reilly and elsewhere.

On the flipside, I was deeply disappointed to discover that my ebook purchase from Apress came with a password. I won’t be buying from them again.

]]> By: PJ Doland http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44224 PJ Doland Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:36:29 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44224 @Daniel Howard- O'Reilly's three ebook formats are DRM-free. @Daniel Howard-

O’Reilly’s three ebook formats are DRM-free.

]]> By: Daniel Howard http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44220 Daniel Howard Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:21:45 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44220 I thought half the point of the Kindle is that you can't cut-and-paste text between it and your computer, thereby preserving the publishers' precious copy rights at your expense. Anyway, even if you could technically cut and paste from your eBook, my hunch is that visiting the web site to download the sample code would be quicker. I thought half the point of the Kindle is that you can’t cut-and-paste text between it and your computer, thereby preserving the publishers’ precious copy rights at your expense.

Anyway, even if you could technically cut and paste from your eBook, my hunch is that visiting the web site to download the sample code would be quicker.

]]> By: PJ Doland http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44216 PJ Doland Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:01:36 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44216 @L. - Many (and perhaps most?) of the books are available in a bundle that includes three formats (epub, mobi, and pdf). The PDF ones are exactly like the print editions, only searchable and with a well organized table of contents you can use to quickly navigate the document. I keep these versions on my laptop for quick reference. @L. -

Many (and perhaps most?) of the books are available in a bundle that includes three formats (epub, mobi, and pdf).

The PDF ones are exactly like the print editions, only searchable and with a well organized table of contents you can use to quickly navigate the document. I keep these versions on my laptop for quick reference.

]]> By: Krisha http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44215 Krisha Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:55:55 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44215 someone must have read my mind! just a few days ago, i was talking to a friend about wanting to be able to acquire ebooks at a discounted price after i'd already purchased the hard copy. this will allow me to free up valuable bookshelf space AND pass along books to others that might not be able to shell out the cash for them right away. someone must have read my mind! just a few days ago, i was talking to a friend about wanting to be able to acquire ebooks at a discounted price after i’d already purchased the hard copy. this will allow me to free up valuable bookshelf space AND pass along books to others that might not be able to shell out the cash for them right away.

]]> By: Loren http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44213 Loren Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:49:54 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44213 A friend of mine pays a fee and can access anything in the Safari library online. I don't know the price he pays exactly but he has an unlimited access to all of the books online. There is limited downloading, but if you can share the account and split the price this is a good option. (Especially if you can share a subscription amongst the members of a department.) A friend of mine pays a fee and can access anything in the Safari library online.
I don’t know the price he pays exactly but he has an unlimited access to all of the books online. There is limited downloading, but if you can share the account and split the price this is a good option.
(Especially if you can share a subscription amongst the members of a department.)

]]> By: L. http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44211 L. Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:32:03 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44211 I am not sure how this issue will vary among different ebook formats, but I recently chose to purchase a paper version of a book in O'Reilly's Missing Manual series *instead* of a Kindle version because the Kindle version was very problematic. The Kindle sample I downloaded was very difficult to navigate, because the ebook format doesn't take well to the text boxes, images, and notes seen throughout most computer manuals. And, sadly, there were even missing chunks of text in a few places, which of course made the information even more difficult to absorb. Finally, I find that I need to flip back and forth within this sort of manual a lot, and I can't navigate nearly as speedily within the Kindle. I have also had similar problems with a Kindle-based computer manual from a different vendor. Having to make this choice bummed me out, because computer manuals are just the sort of clutter I was hoping to cut down on when I purchased the Kindle. When buying new, the Kindle books are also cheaper. But in this case dead trees were still the better choice. (Don't get me wrong: I love the Kindle and it's worth every penny I paid for it. I use it for a lot of other stuff. Just not computer books.) I am not sure how this issue will vary among different ebook formats, but I recently chose to purchase a paper version of a book in O’Reilly’s Missing Manual series *instead* of a Kindle version because the Kindle version was very problematic. The Kindle sample I downloaded was very difficult to navigate, because the ebook format doesn’t take well to the text boxes, images, and notes seen throughout most computer manuals. And, sadly, there were even missing chunks of text in a few places, which of course made the information even more difficult to absorb. Finally, I find that I need to flip back and forth within this sort of manual a lot, and I can’t navigate nearly as speedily within the Kindle. I have also had similar problems with a Kindle-based computer manual from a different vendor.

Having to make this choice bummed me out, because computer manuals are just the sort of clutter I was hoping to cut down on when I purchased the Kindle. When buying new, the Kindle books are also cheaper. But in this case dead trees were still the better choice.

(Don’t get me wrong: I love the Kindle and it’s worth every penny I paid for it. I use it for a lot of other stuff. Just not computer books.)

]]> By: PJ Doland http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44207 PJ Doland Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:45:07 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44207 Nothing would prevent you from doing that. But I would tend to think that if there's too much abuse, we won't see more promotions like this in the future. Nothing would prevent you from doing that.

But I would tend to think that if there’s too much abuse, we won’t see more promotions like this in the future.

]]> By: Anita http://unclutterer.com/2009/10/20/oreilly-wants-to-help-with-your-computer-book-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-44205 Anita Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:18:45 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6918#comment-44205 This is a great idea. Question: anything preventing you from looking up the ISBN of any O'Reilly book (on isbndb.com or Amazon.com or wherever) and using this code on books you don't actually own? Not that I'm promoting such activity, of course... :P This is a great idea.

Question: anything preventing you from looking up the ISBN of any O’Reilly book (on isbndb.com or Amazon.com or wherever) and using this code on books you don’t actually own?

Not that I’m promoting such activity, of course… :P

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