@maximumsteve: There is a HUGE difference between a fiction writer like Cory Doctorow (who honestly kind of bugs me a little bit, but that is neither here nor there), and companies that write a textbook. Sadly, printing a book alone, much less coming up with the information to put inside of it, is incredibly expensive to do. When you can sell 3 million copies of something, it's a lot cheaper to print per unit than if you can only sell a few hundred thousand to college students. That's why Harry Potter books are much cheaper than the Econometrics book that you need for your 400 level class. That being said, I think that while textbooks are expensive for a reason, they could be a hell of a lot cheaper if they'd just go digital. But, you know, that would like, save money and be efficient. f**k that.
The best since Arthur C Clarke? Are you kidding? I have to admit, I like Cory Doctorow as a person and the work he does, but try as i might I just can't get into his books. They are just a little too........ silly. I also suspect his work will become heavily dated in a few years. But..each to their own. You're reading science fiction so I can't fault you on that :)
@Axim:Late response, I know, but I can't let your comment just go. Please invest some time in developing your reading comprehension skills. My point wasn't about semantics. It was a response to the actual and entire content of his post. You and I are not on the same level, so I am just going to leave it at that.
upsilonh24Jan 24, 2007
Cutting-Edge Books.... Just what the hell does that mean?
eambaboJan 24, 2007
@maximumsteve: There is a HUGE difference between a fiction writer like Cory Doctorow (who honestly kind of bugs me a little bit, but that is neither here nor there), and companies that write a textbook. Sadly, printing a book alone, much less coming up with the information to put inside of it, is incredibly expensive to do. When you can sell 3 million copies of something, it's a lot cheaper to print per unit than if you can only sell a few hundred thousand to college students. That's why Harry Potter books are much cheaper than the Econometrics book that you need for your 400 level class. That being said, I think that while textbooks are expensive for a reason, they could be a hell of a lot cheaper if they'd just go digital. But, you know, that would like, save money and be efficient. f**k that.
weirddaveJan 24, 2007
"If nobody bought books, there would be no books. Period."Not even bibles?
theotherguyJan 24, 2007
The best since Arthur C Clarke? Are you kidding? I have to admit, I like Cory Doctorow as a person and the work he does, but try as i might I just can't get into his books. They are just a little too........ silly. I also suspect his work will become heavily dated in a few years. But..each to their own. You're reading science fiction so I can't fault you on that :)
tripple_breveJan 24, 2007
Writers like Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross have proven that free downloads boost dead-tree format sales. End of story.
funkytacoJan 24, 2007
@nayrJust go to <a class="user" href="http://www.boingboing.net.">http://www.boingboing.net.</a> He contributes all the time.
bigbrother87Jan 24, 2007
Pretty cool. Check out GAM3R 7H30RY. Interesting page design on it.
weirddaveJan 24, 2007
@Axim:Late response, I know, but I can't let your comment just go. Please invest some time in developing your reading comprehension skills. My point wasn't about semantics. It was a response to the actual and entire content of his post. You and I are not on the same level, so I am just going to leave it at that.