Quote:
Originally Posted by wyndslash
in terms of textbook prices, i think most are just rip-offs. they keep coming out with new editions every year, and they're all the same content. they just switch the chapters around and update the examples, but that's all. our profs usually just tell us to stick with the old edition unless a significant amount of time has passed enough that the amount of new content becomes substantial.
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You make a good point. I forgot to mention that you even pay those prices for the Xth edition.
It's wonderful that your professors have this common sense, I wish that all professors would stick with a book for about a decade unless there are substantial changes in the content of the book and the field (for example for microbiology).
The prices are not the only problem though, I have bought this book (but then the international paperback-edition):
http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-E...0282504&sr=1-1
When I read the inside of my hand often is a tiny bit sweaty while it rests on the book, to my surprise the ink of this book smeared.
Come on guys, if one pays €100 for the fourth edition of a book one expects
at the very least a solid cover, non-glossy pages and nonsmearing ink.
If the prices would be reasonable I would buy all the obligatory books and download the recommended books, I think that that would be fair. With these prices I prefer to download as many as I can, i simply can't afford to buy all the books I need to read even though I do not spend my money on too much luxury.