Technical Books aren't worthwhile on the Kindle - Page 2

pilotbob · 03-05-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectrum

Does anybody read tech books from beginning to end? I read only sections of interest to me mostly on computer screens.

I do. Although some chapters I skim if it doesn't apply to what I am/will be doing. After an initial reading then yes, you do more random accesses than serial access.

BOb

pagansoul · 03-05-2009, 11:22 AM

They want you to buy the Kindle version because it is cheaper then go back and buy the book version to have what you discovered the K-version was missing. That's how they get you to buy so many versions of a movie or CD. Mix it with different extras call it something else, Special Edition, Director Edition, Big Box Edition, with better graphics, sound, editing, extra minutes, VHS, CD tape, DVD, HD, Blu-ray, Laserdisc, Complete Collection, thin version, extra features, a toy, Collecters Edition, Autographed copy, translated by...it will never stop.

scotty1024 · 03-05-2009, 11:24 AM

I'm currently using my Kindle 2 to prepare a training class at work based upon a couple technical books as the Text Books. I find the ability to search and then clip and annotate into a file I can transfer to my Mac invaluable. Using the Kindle 2 to help prepare the classes has boosted my productivity.

Maybe you are still exhibiting 'two dimensional thinking' as Spock said in Wrath of Khan? :-)

Nate the great · 03-05-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

I'm currently using my Kindle 2 to prepare a training class at work based upon a couple technical books as the Text Books. I find the ability to search and then clip and annotate into a file I can transfer to my Mac invaluable. Using the Kindle 2 to help prepare the classes has boosted my productivity.

I can do all that on my laptop with the PDF. I can also convert the PDF to Mobipocket and have abilities similar to the Kindle by using Mobipocket Reader on any number of mobile devices. My HP Jornada 720 would be great. Heck, I could even stick with the PDF and still have abilities similar to the Kindle if I used my NEC MobilePro 900c.

kirwoodd · 03-05-2009, 12:04 PM

First to answer your question: As pagansoul said, they want you to buy both. Also, I think that they don't REALLY care about the kindle version or they would price it appropriately.

BUT, to respond to your issue...
I have not purchased a technical book in the last 5 years. Why would I when its going to stale by the time I read it? It takes months to write, edit, print and distribute a book. BUT, I can go online and find what I need from an expert and the answer is based on TODAYs technology, not last years. So I guess that I don't mind that technical books suck on the kindle.

radleyp · 03-05-2009, 12:23 PM

Nate, for me (and I also use the K1, though I now can use the K2 as well since my wife just got one) it's all about the excellent reading experience and the convenience. I have bought several converted pdf-type books from the Kindle store, and they are as good as the print versions (the one I have on astronomy has charts and diagrams), but if I send a pdf to Amazon for conversion, it often comes out garbled.

Daithi · 03-05-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirwoodd

First to answer your question: As pagansoul said, they want you to buy both. Also, I think that they don't REALLY care about the kindle version or they would price it appropriately.

BUT, to respond to your issue...
I have not purchased a technical book in the last 5 years. Why would I when its going to stale by the time I read it? It takes months to write, edit, print and distribute a book. BUT, I can go online and find what I need from an expert and the answer is based on TODAYs technology, not last years. So I guess that I don't mind that technical books suck on the kindle.

I'd love to be able to use my Kindle for storing technical books. I have technical books for Javascript, SQL, ASP, XSLT, etc. where I often need to look up some syntax or a code snippet and the search function of the Kindle would be great. Usually I use the internet for this function but it also returns old information, irrelavent information, too detailed information, not detailed enough information, etc. Sometimes a book is a better provider of information than a Google search.

TallMomof2 · 03-05-2009, 01:01 PM

The zoom function has made reading technical material much better. I would still like a larger screen but I'm able to read okay on either the K1 or the K2.

scotty1024 · 03-06-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I can do all that on my laptop with the PDF. I can also convert the PDF to Mobipocket and have abilities similar to the Kindle by using Mobipocket Reader on any number of mobile devices. My HP Jornada 720 would be great. Heck, I could even stick with the PDF and still have abilities similar to the Kindle if I used my NEC MobilePro 900c.

Yes you can do all that on your laptop if you have a PDF.

One of the big Kindle break throughs for me has been Amazon's ability to get a fantastic collection of hard books. Yes they have light frothy stuff in there but over half their collection is actual hard knowledge.

kirwoodd · 03-06-2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I'd love to be able to use my Kindle for storing technical books. I have technical books for Javascript, SQL, ASP, XSLT, etc. where I often need to look up some syntax or a code snippet and the search function of the Kindle would be great. Usually I use the internet for this function but it also returns old information, irrelavent information, too detailed information, not detailed enough information, etc. Sometimes a book is a better provider of information than a Google search.

Good points Daithi, but I look at it from the other side. The book (kindle or otherwise) is static. So when I read a good scifi book, I LIKE the book to be static, its a story after all. But a technical book is not a story, it is in fact someones opinion, unless its a reference book.

Take for example the O'Reilly "cookbook" series. I used to love those for the reasons you state. But if you use the internet, you get more up to date and peer reviewed answers. For example if someone writes a tutorial on the Factory pattern in Java, you can bet that there will be discussion in the comments offering alternatives or saying that this is a good tutorial. But when you read the book, its static and you have no peer review.

As an aside...
The one thing that I like about the Amazon book reviews is reading the reviews that are 3 stars or lower. Its a form of "peer" review. I don't care too much about why you liked it, I want to know whats WRONG with the book. I think that peer review and the wisdom of crowds is a powerful force that I hope the publishing industry can harness.

Nate the great · 03-06-2009, 08:51 AM

Interesting discussion.

I guess it boils down to utility. I found a title where the paper copy has a multiple increase in utility for a faction increase in cost (when compared to the Kindle Edition). Several people have pointed out that there are many titles where this is not the case. Y'all are right, those titles are worth getting on your Kindle.

Of course, it would be better if you could get those titles off your Kindle (I still prefer LCD to Eink, but that's another discussion.)

daffy4u · 03-06-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

(I still prefer LCD to Eink, but that's another discussion.)

Really!? Even for pleasure reading or just your technical stuff?

Nate the great · 03-06-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Really!? Even for pleasure reading or just your technical stuff?

Yep .

KewlKid38 · 03-07-2009, 06:20 PM

I'm just checking in once more on this issue. Book + PDF + Cd > Kindle or ebook version.

what I do now is I simply take the pdf and load it on the computers that I use. This is usually my work laptop and my personal workhorse laptop. The CD is loaded to if they're practise test or something and I never read the book it spends most of it's life in the bookshelf.

After reading these books for a while they all contain a if I lose this CD section. I've bought used books and got the practise code and examples from downloading them from the web. This is the practise most WROX books take and some other books as well SAMS will give you the pdf and the sample code from the web.

So for me to recieve the download and place that on just my ebook reader. Decide if I want the sample code or the value added extra's is the best course of action for me. I usually only install it if it's for an Exam or something.

Someone also posted above that no one really reads these books from cover to cover. And that's true as well. PDF on a pc has full word search. I really haven't had a problem. The ebook reader is for portablity and the idea that I don't need to make a bunch of copies and get disappointed when the manual I'm looking for is no where to be found on the pc I happen to be sitting in front of attempting to code.

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03-05-2009, 11:22 AM	#17
pagansoul Fanatic Posts: 509 Karma: 1098204 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Earth Device: iPhone5, iPad Gen3, Kobo, Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7	They want you to buy the Kindle version because it is cheaper then go back and buy the book version to have what you discovered the K-version was missing. That's how they get you to buy so many versions of a movie or CD. Mix it with different extras call it something else, Special Edition, Director Edition, Big Box Edition, with better graphics, sound, editing, extra minutes, VHS, CD tape, DVD, HD, Blu-ray, Laserdisc, Complete Collection, thin version, extra features, a toy, Collecters Edition, Autographed copy, translated by...it will never stop.

03-05-2009, 11:24 AM	#18
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	I'm currently using my Kindle 2 to prepare a training class at work based upon a couple technical books as the Text Books. I find the ability to search and then clip and annotate into a file I can transfer to my Mac invaluable. Using the Kindle 2 to help prepare the classes has boosted my productivity. Maybe you are still exhibiting 'two dimensional thinking' as Spock said in Wrath of Khan? :-)

03-05-2009, 12:04 PM	#20
kirwoodd Member Posts: 12 Karma: 100 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: kindle 2	First to answer your question: As pagansoul said, they want you to buy both. Also, I think that they don't REALLY care about the kindle version or they would price it appropriately. BUT, to respond to your issue... I have not purchased a technical book in the last 5 years. Why would I when its going to stale by the time I read it? It takes months to write, edit, print and distribute a book. BUT, I can go online and find what I need from an expert and the answer is based on TODAYs technology, not last years. So I guess that I don't mind that technical books suck on the kindle.

03-05-2009, 12:23 PM	#21
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	Nate, for me (and I also use the K1, though I now can use the K2 as well since my wife just got one) it's all about the excellent reading experience and the convenience. I have bought several converted pdf-type books from the Kindle store, and they are as good as the print versions (the one I have on astronomy has charts and diagrams), but if I send a pdf to Amazon for conversion, it often comes out garbled.

03-05-2009, 01:01 PM	#23
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	The zoom function has made reading technical material much better. I would still like a larger screen but I'm able to read okay on either the K1 or the K2.

03-06-2009, 08:51 AM	#26
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Interesting discussion. I guess it boils down to utility. I found a title where the paper copy has a multiple increase in utility for a faction increase in cost (when compared to the Kindle Edition). Several people have pointed out that there are many titles where this is not the case. Y'all are right, those titles are worth getting on your Kindle. Of course, it would be better if you could get those titles off your Kindle (I still prefer LCD to Eink, but that's another discussion.)

03-07-2009, 06:20 PM	#29
KewlKid38 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 20 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: iRex iliad	I'm just checking in once more on this issue. Book + PDF + Cd > Kindle or ebook version. what I do now is I simply take the pdf and load it on the computers that I use. This is usually my work laptop and my personal workhorse laptop. The CD is loaded to if they're practise test or something and I never read the book it spends most of it's life in the bookshelf. After reading these books for a while they all contain a if I lose this CD section. I've bought used books and got the practise code and examples from downloading them from the web. This is the practise most WROX books take and some other books as well SAMS will give you the pdf and the sample code from the web. So for me to recieve the download and place that on just my ebook reader. Decide if I want the sample code or the value added extra's is the best course of action for me. I usually only install it if it's for an Exam or something. Someone also posted above that no one really reads these books from cover to cover. And that's true as well. PDF on a pc has full word search. I really haven't had a problem. The ebook reader is for portablity and the idea that I don't need to make a bunch of copies and get disappointed when the manual I'm looking for is no where to be found on the pc I happen to be sitting in front of attempting to code.