> (yeah, yeah, Charlie's only got one monitor :P). That's the first problem to overcome, too. I reach for Ben's book before the CF Docs partly because I can keep both open at once without one covering up the other. Before I used a digital version of help regularly, I'd have to go to two monitors, too...yes, I've only got one...but with two...one open all the time with all my coding examples, CF-Talk wisdom, Ben's book, all integrated into a context-sensitive help system...sounds like a dream to me!
> What about public demand? How much public demand was there for the printed version of the Bible before Guttenberg brought out the first one? > I find it difficult to sit and read a book on a computer monitor The problem is that we're just using the digital version of information in the same manner we've always used printed information...why do we develop search systems for clients? Why not just tell users to print out everything and bind it into a book for reference? > again...yet :) That's the key...yet...the printed version is prized only because we're still trying to use digital information within the same paradigm as printed information...and that's truly the pits... I want to be able to easily access context-sensitive information from the CF Docs, Ben's and other authors' books, CF-Talk messages, my own saved coding examples, info from web sources, etc....all within the same presentation structure. Not search CF-Talk, thumb through Ben's books, search the CF Docs, etc...that's ridiculous into today's digital age. We need a common publishing format that automatically integrates itself into a common presentation format for the sake of those who put the knowledge to work, not those who provide the knowledge. Those who think of ways to help someone more effectively drive a nail sell more hammers. And, Charlie, as soon as I can clear some desk space, I'm getting a second monitor! It's time to think outside the box... Rick -----Original Message----- From: Charlie Griefer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 11:21 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Ordering WACK from Amazon Michael pretty much already answered that. If nothing else, a book on the shelf adds credibility to the language/technology. Seen any books on Zope on the shelves at your local Barnes & Noble? Know many people who use Zope? (Zope's been around almost as long as CF, btw...certainly as long as ASP (if not longer)) What about public demand? I think based on the few responses so far, most would prefer printed text. I find it difficult to sit and read a book on a computer monitor (or worse, a PDA). If I need a reference, I'd much rather reach for the book I need and look in the index to find what I'm after rather than open another browser window (or reader window application), alt-tab back and forth between that, my code, the browser that's outputting my page(s) (yeah, yeah, Charlie's only got one monitor :P). Is there any value in electronic publishing? Sure. I'm not saying there isn't. Biggest value would be the ability to update as patches and upgrades are made public. Look at Hal's CFC book. There's little doubt that the changes between MX 6 and MX 6.1 have significantly hurt the overall value of that book. That doesn't mean that there can't be an electronic delivery of errata and updates (many authors of tech books -do- maintain web pages such as these to complement the paper books). Just doesn't seem to me that the +'s outweight the -'s (yet) of the totally digital delivery of a book. again...yet :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:200018 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
