The Vent and Rant Thread - Page 777

badgoodDeb · 08-23-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Here you go, Deb. Actually I'm glad you asked, I found some authors that the metadata was messed up on. So if you see any duplicate listings, that's why.

Thank you!! I share you passion for Dorothy Gilman, and have most of those already. I have a few in some of the other series --- and now I have a HUGE list of titles to look for! Wheeeee!!

devilsadvocate · 08-23-2010, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

All I know is I haven't been so pleased with a company's customer service since the days when CompUSA was still a brick and morter store.

CompUSA lives on as a brick-and-mortar store yet again; TigerDirect bought them out and is renaming a few of their facilities to reflect this. Conversely, they also bought the Circuit City name, but that will remain an online entity.

And yes, that is seriously cool of Amazon to do that.

DMcCunney · 08-23-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilsadvocate

No no no, I'm sorry if you (or anyone else) got the impression that this was a protectionist rant because that's not what I meant. Of course everything is offshored these days, it's the only way to stay competitive price-wise (I expect a backlash any minute now but that's a story for another day).

I didn't see your post as a protectionist rant. I was simply pointing out that the issue wasn't a simple one.

Quote:

Prices still came down in the tech field pretty much across the board as a result of China getting the manufacturing aspect of the business; these same gadgets we as a society have started taking for granted would have cost a mint before offshoring became the rule and not the exception (and might have stayed that way depending on precisely where the offshoring ended up).

Not just the tech field, and the process has been going on for a long time. Ask the International Ladies Garment Workers Union about the exodus of clothing manufacture from the US. And it's happening elsewhere, too.

General Motors spun off it's Delphi Automotive division as a separate company in 1997. In 2005, Delphi's CEO declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize struggling US operations. Part of the motive was accounting irregularities that led to the departure of the CFO and other corporate officers, but the largest part was probably labor costs.

Delphi is an independent manufacturer selling parts to auto companies. The auto makers are all trying to reduce costs, and pressuring suppliers for lower prices. Delphi, as a result of union contracts signed in better times, had workers making $60/hour in wages and benefits, and was competing with foreign suppliers whose labor costs were perhaps $10/hour.

It sent shock waves through the industry (and provoked howls of outrage from the United Auto Workers), and had some analysts betting GM might be next to do that, for similar reasons.

The US automakers are struggling to survive in part because they can't afford the salary and benefits costs committed to when times were better. (GM has two workers retired and collecting pensions for every one currently on the job and contributing to the pension fund, and the rest of the US auto industry isn't much better off.)

Quote:

Then of course offshoring, economies of scale, blah-de-blah-blah, we all know how the rest goes. Prices came down and that explains the majority of the personal-device market proliferation; we don't have a squillion cell phones in the U.S. because they built more but because they cost the consumer less (at least up-front). As a result of prices coming down, however, demand has come up, and production has ramped up accordingly.

Offshoring is only part of that equation. Semi-conductor electronics is a good example of a capital intensive business and economies of scale.

The biggest single component of the cost of an electronic widget is debt service on the financing you got to build the factory that makes it. Things like wafer fabs for chips are fantastically expensive and getting more so. As chips get smaller and process geometries shrink, the gear needed to make them gets exponentially more expensive. More and more, we're seeing electronics outfits going "fabless", and developing designs they contract with someone else to make because owning their own manufacturing capacity is simply too great an expense. Intel, IBM, and Texas Instruments are still big enough to have their own fabs, but even they are doing joint ventures for cost reasons.

The more you make of a widget, the lower the allocated share of overhead you can charge to it, and the cheaper you can price it. This happens regardless of where you actually make it, and offshoring tends to happen later.

Quote:

Probability dictates that there will be more manufacturing problems as a result but you're right: the public won't tolerate a higher price unless they get what they perceive to be a better deal.

Sure, but it doesn't even mean there will be manufacturing problems. Manufacturing may be spot on, but you've designed to make it cheap. I'm an old time Palm OS user. I've seen lots of complaints over the years about problems with Palm PDAs. No surprise: they're flimsy, because building them robust jacks up the cost to a level the consumer doesn't want to pay.

Quote:

That better deal is usually an order of magnitude more than the increase in price would reflect, which brings me back to my original point: We expect the retailer/manufacturer to be liable for everything today, even if we do it. If you and I each buy the same hard drive and mine dies right after the warranty runs out, does that mean the retailer/manufacturer is at fault? If that's the case, I see capitalism taking a big hit in courtrooms all over the country. Sure, it's nice when a company takes one for the team and give you a new one, but that's up to the retailer; if you've already gotten what you paid for, you don't get to expect a do-over.

I have similar concerns.

Quote:

The problem isn't always the product; many times, it's us.

Yes. I get awfully tempted to suggest that some people railing about "greedy corporations" look in a mirror. Wanting something that takes a significant effort on someone else's part free or really cheap is just as much a matter of greed as a company's effort to improve its profit margin.

(Some of the wishful thinking I've seen on ebook pricing comes to mind.)

Quote:

Everyone has a price. If Brand X is slightly more than Brand Y but the difference is in product name only, we'll consider Brand X. If it's twice as high, probably not. Furthermore, it all hinges on what we as individuals perceive as necessity versus discretionary, or as I like to say: Need a car, want a Corvette.

Mac desktops are a good example: Somewhere between 10% - 15% of the desktop market thought they were paying for something better, and technically they may have been right, but were they "right" enough to justify a 50% price difference? The hardware is the same, the OS is mostly open-source. You and I can do (and have done) that for not only less than an Apple but less than anything at Wal-Mart. We got more (to us, anyway) but paid less. So no, it should never be just about price, unless price is the only difference.

Value is what the customer thinks it is. Yep, you and I can and have done the same sorts of things people do with a Mac for much less. But we know how to, and we have the technical skills. Most of the market for Macs doesn't and doesn't. They want what a Mac can do for the "out of the box", not to build the box, and will pay extra for it. For that matter, I know techs who can do it themselves but adore Macs, because they have other uses for their time, and will trade the extra money to save the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

For Amazon, this is all enlightened self interest.

Completely agreed. In addition, like I said they'll most likely get the defective Kindle back, fix it, and sell it as a refurb, which would be something like a 90% profit margin.

Possibly, if it's easily repairable. But they'll count it as a win regardless, because they keep the customer happy.
______
Dennis

phenomshel · 08-24-2010, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Thank you!! I share you passion for Dorothy Gilman, and have most of those already. I have a few in some of the other series --- and now I have a HUGE list of titles to look for! Wheeeee!!

I"m glad it helped you! Yeah, Dorothy Gilman is the BEST.

Now for the vent and rant part. I'm trying to figure out how to join multiple XHTML files, with the eventual goal of turning them into an ebook. Calibre lists XHTML as an input file, but until I can get ONE file out of the 390 I currently have (each page of the book is one XHTML file), calibre won't have anything to do with it. According to Kovid, in the calibre thread, you can make an .opf file to "join" HTML files together and feed that to calibre and it'll read them in order for you (I've done this, but the ones I've used already had the .opf file in the folder). What no one seems to know (and I have now spent HOURS on Google looking for this), is A. Will the same trick work with XHTML files? and B. If so, how the heck do you make an .opf file? Is it just a text file with the extension .opf?

kindlekitten · 08-24-2010, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

I"m glad it helped you! Yeah, Dorothy Gilman is the BEST.

Now for the vent and rant part. I'm trying to figure out how to join multiple XHTML files, with the eventual goal of turning them into an ebook. Calibre lists XHTML as an input file, but until I can get ONE file out of the 390 I currently have (each page of the book is one XHTML file), calibre won't have anything to do with it. According to Kovid, in the calibre thread, you can make an .opf file to "join" HTML files together and feed that to calibre and it'll read them in order for you (I've done this, but the ones I've used already had the .opf file in the folder). What no one seems to know (and I have now spent HOURS on Google looking for this), is A. Will the same trick work with XHTML files? and B. If so, how the heck do you make an .opf file? Is it just a text file with the extension .opf?

uhhhhhhh PM Kovid

phenomshel · 08-24-2010, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

uhhhhhhh PM Kovid

Well, I would, except in that same thread I referenced, he said he already spent half his life explaining the .opf file part, and wished someone would write a FAQ about it so he wouldn't have to. After that, I'm justifiably hesitant to bother him.

recluse · 08-24-2010, 02:29 AM

Why don't you ask that uber-geek you're married to?
That kind of drivel sounds like it's right up his alley.

*BIG HUG*

phenomshel · 08-24-2010, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recluse

Why don't you ask that uber-geek you're married to?
That kind of drivel sounds like it's right up his alley.

*BIG HUG*

I did.

recluse · 08-24-2010, 02:44 AM

That figures.
I always knew that gibberish they spout really didn't mean anything.

Wish I could help, but apparently I'm a Luddite (traditional/lapsed).

Sorry, Shel!

EowynCarter · 08-24-2010, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Manufacturers brought prices down by offshoring, and they know that if you wanted something badly enough in the first place, you'll be back for another one if something happens to the first one so, like every other manufacturing concern, they have no vested interest in making their products bulletproof

Nope, replacing product cost money. So they do have some interest at their product being solid.
People might 'go for other one", but that is most likely to be an other manufacturer, if they feel the product died prematurely.

dreams · 08-24-2010, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

I"m glad it helped you! Yeah, Dorothy Gilman is the BEST.

Now for the vent and rant part. I'm trying to figure out how to join multiple XHTML files, with the eventual goal of turning them into an ebook. Calibre lists XHTML as an input file, but until I can get ONE file out of the 390 I currently have (each page of the book is one XHTML file), calibre won't have anything to do with it. According to Kovid, in the calibre thread, you can make an .opf file to "join" HTML files together and feed that to calibre and it'll read them in order for you (I've done this, but the ones I've used already had the .opf file in the folder). What no one seems to know (and I have now spent HOURS on Google looking for this), is A. Will the same trick work with XHTML files? and B. If so, how the heck do you make an .opf file? Is it just a text file with the extension .opf?

Shell, would some of the information in this help?

Sweetpea · 08-24-2010, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Is it just a text file with the extension .opf?

Yes

It's actually rather simple at that!

Here's an example of the metadata.opf I use to create my epub and mobi books:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://www.idpf.org/2007/opf" version="2.0" unique-identifier="bookid">
	<metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:opf="http://www.idpf.org/2007/opf">
		<dc:identifier id="bookid">[Book ID]</dc:identifier>
		<dc:title>[Book Title]</dc:title>
		<dc:creator opf:file-as="[Author]" opf:role="aut">[Author]</dc:creator>
		<dc:creator opf:file-as="[Author 2]" opf:role="aut">[Author]</dc:creator>
		<dc:language>en</dc:language>
		<dc:subject>[subject]</dc:subject>
		<meta name="cover" content="cover" />
	</metadata>
	<manifest>
		<item id="ncx" href="toc.ncx" media-type="application/x-dtbncx+xml"/>
		<item id="stylesheetMain" href="content/styles/main.css" media-type="text/css" />
		<item id="stylesheetTOC" href="content/styles/toc.css" media-type="text/css" />

		<item id="cover" href="content/images/cover.jpg" media-type="image/jpeg" />
		<item id="html-cover" href="content/cover.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" />

		<item id="titlepage" href="content/title.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" />
		<item id="toc" href="content/toc.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml"/>
		<item id="text" href="content/text.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" />

		<item id="image_1" href="content/images/[image-name].jpg" media-type="image/jpeg" />
	</manifest>
	<spine toc="ncx">
		<itemref idref="html-cover" linear="no" />
		<itemref idref="titlepage" />
		<itemref idref="toc" />
		<itemref idref="text" />
	</spine>
	<guide>
		<reference type="cover" title="Cover Image" href="content/cover.html" />
		<reference type="title-page" title="Title page" href="content/title.html"/>
		<reference type="toc" title="Table of Contents" href="content/toc.html" />
	</guide>
</package>

Now, your XHTML files go to the "<manifest>" part. (<item id="titlepage" href="content/title.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" /> for example).

The HREF is the location of the file, relative to where you put the .OPF file. Id must be unique.

The <spine> is where you add them all together, in order. Actually the same as a real paper (or leather or any other material!) spine works. I'm not sure if epub uses the <guide>, but that's what you'll see in mobipocket books.

And XHTML is the same as HTML.

phenomshel · 08-24-2010, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Yes

It's actually rather simple at that!

Here's an example of the metadata.opf I use to create my epub and mobi books:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://www.idpf.org/2007/opf" version="2.0" unique-identifier="bookid">
    <metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:opf="http://www.idpf.org/2007/opf">
        <dc:identifier id="bookid">[Book ID]</dc:identifier>
        <dc:title>[Book Title]</dc:title>
        <dc:creator opf:file-as="[Author]" opf:role="aut">[Author]</dc:creator>
        <dc:creator opf:file-as="[Author 2]" opf:role="aut">[Author]</dc:creator>
        <dc:language>en</dc:language>
        <dc:subject>[subject]</dc:subject>
        <meta name="cover" content="cover" />
    </metadata>
    <manifest>
        <item id="ncx" href="toc.ncx" media-type="application/x-dtbncx+xml"/>
        <item id="stylesheetMain" href="content/styles/main.css" media-type="text/css" />
        <item id="stylesheetTOC" href="content/styles/toc.css" media-type="text/css" />

        <item id="cover" href="content/images/cover.jpg" media-type="image/jpeg" />
        <item id="html-cover" href="content/cover.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" />

        <item id="titlepage" href="content/title.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" />
        <item id="toc" href="content/toc.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml"/>
        <item id="text" href="content/text.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" />

        <item id="image_1" href="content/images/[image-name].jpg" media-type="image/jpeg" />
    </manifest>
    <spine toc="ncx">
        <itemref idref="html-cover" linear="no" />
        <itemref idref="titlepage" />
        <itemref idref="toc" />
        <itemref idref="text" />
    </spine>
    <guide>
        <reference type="cover" title="Cover Image" href="content/cover.html" />
        <reference type="title-page" title="Title page" href="content/title.html"/>
        <reference type="toc" title="Table of Contents" href="content/toc.html" />
    </guide>
</package>

Now, your XHTML files go to the "<manifest>" part. (<item id="titlepage" href="content/title.html" media-type="application/xhtml+xml" /> for example).

The HREF is the location of the file, relative to where you put the .OPF file. Id must be unique.

The <spine> is where you add them all together, in order. Actually the same as a real paper (or leather or any other material!) spine works. I'm not sure if epub uses the <guide>, but that's what you'll see in mobipocket books.

And XHTML is the same as HTML.

I do appreciate the help.
So in the <manifest> part I would need to list all 390 xhtml files?

Sweetpea · 08-24-2010, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

I do appreciate the help.
So in the <manifest> part I would need to list all 390 xhtml files?

Yep.

You might want to install Mobipocket Creator. It will allow you to select the files and it will make the OPF for you... It might need some tweaking, but it'll give you a headstart.

WT Sharpe · 08-24-2010, 10:50 AM

The reason why automobile manufacturing plants in the U.S. are closing is because of greedy workers and their unions. If they would learn to economize and live on $37.50 a week wages like the Chinese do, the big car makers wouldn't be so quick to relocate their plants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/bu...l/29honda.html

But I suppose that even if they agreed to that, the workers would soon be demanding the $26 a day wages earned by autoworkers in Mexico.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-0...-26-a-day.html

[/sarcasm]

In a global economy, there's no competing with slave wages. There's the problem manufacturing workers face. I have no idea as to a solution.

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08-24-2010, 02:29 AM	#11647
recluse Banned Posts: 3,724 Karma: 535488 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: the Mortuary Device: Kindle 2	Why don't you ask that uber-geek you're married to? That kind of drivel sounds like it's right up his alley. BIG HUG

08-24-2010, 02:44 AM	#11649
recluse Banned Posts: 3,724 Karma: 535488 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: the Mortuary Device: Kindle 2	That figures. I always knew that gibberish they spout really didn't mean anything. Wish I could help, but apparently I'm a Luddite (traditional/lapsed). Sorry, Shel!

08-24-2010, 10:50 AM	#11655
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	The reason why automobile manufacturing plants in the U.S. are closing is because of greedy workers and their unions. If they would learn to economize and live on $37.50 a week wages like the Chinese do, the big car makers wouldn't be so quick to relocate their plants. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/bu...l/29honda.html But I suppose that even if they agreed to that, the workers would soon be demanding the $26 a day wages earned by autoworkers in Mexico. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-0...-26-a-day.html [/sarcasm] In a global economy, there's no competing with slave wages. There's the problem manufacturing workers face. I have no idea as to a solution.