Rails - Mar 2006 - o''reilly''s arrogance

although basically hopeful of the company''s ''rough
cuts'' venture, i am
insulted by the fact that o''reilly''s safari service offers
important material
to its regular subscribers only if they pay extra for it.
o''reilly''s material
on ajax is a good example: all of the introductory coverage is available only 
as pricey ''rough cuts''. as for the
''opportunity'' which o''reilly offers to its
customers to make  contributions/corrections to its ''rough
cuts'', there comes
to mind microsoft, the old ibm, and other studies in arrogance, who in effect 
charge people for the ''opportunity'' to do their alpha/beta
work.

thanks,

tom arnall
north spit, ca

although basically hopeful of the company''s ''rough
cuts'' venture, i am
insulted by the fact that o''reilly''s safari service offers
important material
to its regular subscribers only if they pay extra for it.
o''reilly''s material
on ajax is a good example: all of the introductory coverage is available only 
as pricey ''rough cuts''. as for the
''opportunity'' which o''reilly offers to its
customers to make  contributions/corrections to its ''rough
cuts'', there comes
to mind microsoft, the old ibm, and other studies in arrogance, who in effect 
charge people for the ''opportunity'' to do their alpha/beta
work.

thanks,

tom arnall
north spit, ca

On Mar 1, 2006, at 4:38 PM, tom arnall wrote:
> although basically hopeful of the company''s ''rough
cuts'' venture, i am
> insulted by the fact that o''reilly''s safari service
offers
> important material
> to its regular subscribers only if they pay extra for it.  
> o''reilly''s material
> on ajax is a good example: all of the introductory coverage is  
> available only
> as pricey ''rough cuts''. as for the
''opportunity'' which o''reilly
> offers to its
> customers to make  contributions/corrections to its ''rough
cuts'',
> there comes
> to mind microsoft, the old ibm, and other studies in arrogance, who  
> in effect
> charge people for the ''opportunity'' to do their
alpha/beta work.

Well, I think I''ll leap to their defense here (if for no other reason  
than we do the same with our Beta Books).

We view it very much as a win-win situation. Yes, we get money  
earlier than we otherwise would. But at the same time, a community  
that is easger to get this information gets it many, many months  
before the regular publishing cycle would. Yes, the readers help find  
bugs in the books. But, atthe same time, the readers also get to  
steer the book, telling the author what they want to see as the book  
evolves. AWDwR was greatly influenced by early feedback, and I think  
its a better book (and the vommunity has a better resource) because  
of it.

I can''t speak to ORA''s pricing, but we don''t charge
any extra for
early access.


Regards


Dave