Matthew, Thanks for your comments on APWJ (Edn 2).
Lulu has been tinkering with the quality of its papers recently. I've specified the standard paper, though there is a much cheaper pulp grade coming into vogue. I've had much praise for a hardback title which Undead Tree publishes via Lulu, which looks most attractive on its decidedly creamy paper. It's a retro topic and the photos look authentically sepia! I guess Lulu has some knowledge of its customer base and knows they go mostly for this "arty" paper. But you're right that this is not usual for a textbook, which usually sells for $40 or more -- and traditionally gets printed on very fine white paper to make it look like it's worth its cover price. For a short-run computer textbook, APWJ's price is bargain-basement. But no -- it's not the cheapest paper. Lulu's hardback books are all printed in the USA (somewhere in S Carolina I think) but the paperbacks are mostly printed in the client's own country (and maybe own USA state), which keeps down shipping costs. I can well believe the quality varies with the jobbing printer. The worst problem is curling covers. But I guess this is a problem unavoidable with POD simply because with large print runs the books sit around stacked up and have a chance to flatten out. No plans, as such, to publish more J materials via Lulu.com. But plenty of ideas. I'm thinking of trying out lie-flat bindings: better for a book intended to be consulted at the computer. Clifford Reiter's Lulu book on J and fractals comes in a lie-flat edition as an option. If enough people (say half-a-dozen) want a lie-flat edition of APWJ then I'll do one. I certainly will if someone volunteers to take delivery of the 1st (proof) copy and pronounce it ok. Because then I don't have to pay for it myself. And I can't promise it will have an ISBN because that adds to the overheads. Publication of JSoftware copyright materials (via Lulu or whatever) must be a decision for the firm itself. Lulu seems a good choice for the purpose if they do, and I can recommend it. But for 100+ books consider using Lightning Source, which has better links to the book trade. Dyalog uses Lulu for their set of APL manuals. One big advantage for a small software vendor not seeking to make money out of selling manuals is that they will handle the downloading of the e-book version for free, a facility which Dyalog avails itself of. Ian (for Undead Tree Publications) On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 1:22 PM, Matthew Brand <[email protected]> wrote: > I just got a copy of At Play With J. The typesetting and content > (based on a quick flick through) look excellent and I look forward to > reading it. I think it will improve my J techniques a lot as well as > providing interesting things to stimulate my mind whilst I am snowed > in (well, we are not quite snowed in here yet... but we are getting > there!). > > Is paper supposed to be so dark/yellow though, or is it low quality paper? > > Are there any plans to publish other things, such as the dictionary on > Lulu? I would definitely buy a copy if such was availible at the <£20 > mark (even on yellow paper :-) ). > > -- > John Coleman puts global "warming" into perspective: > http://climategate.tv/?p=719 > Professor Lindzen (http://www-eaps.mit.edu/faculty/lindzen.htm) on > global "warming": http://climategate.tv/?p=721 > John P. Costella Ph.D., neat colour coded analysis of the ClimateGate > emails: http://assassinationscience.com/climategate/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
