Book Comments
- Thread starter Muhammad
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Gary
New member
Muhammad,
I downloaded this yesterday and haven't quite finished the whole text, but I wanted get you some feedback in case you were thinking of publishing this in the short term:
- Visuals. Your text is thorough, but some pictures and charts would really improve the reader experiance and add value.
- Editing support. If your really serious about taking this to a publisher, you really need to get a qualified technical writer and editor to go over it with you. Our firm publishes technical manuals all the time for various clients. Its amazing the amount work that needs to be done with formatting, structure, etc. when the engineers (like myself) are "done" with it. Really does make a difference. Send me an email if you need more info on this.
- Good effort !
Thanks,
Gary
I downloaded this yesterday and haven't quite finished the whole text, but I wanted get you some feedback in case you were thinking of publishing this in the short term:
- Visuals. Your text is thorough, but some pictures and charts would really improve the reader experiance and add value.
- Editing support. If your really serious about taking this to a publisher, you really need to get a qualified technical writer and editor to go over it with you. Our firm publishes technical manuals all the time for various clients. Its amazing the amount work that needs to be done with formatting, structure, etc. when the engineers (like myself) are "done" with it. Really does make a difference. Send me an email if you need more info on this.
- Good effort !
Thanks,
Gary
OP
<font color=blue>Any plans yet for the print version?</font color=blue>
---
Not that I can say right now. I think soon I might post an update on that, though.
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Not that I can say right now. I think soon I might post an update on that, though.
OP
Thanks, Gary. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
JOR_EL
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2001
- Messages
- 242
- Tractor
- JD4700 HST w/mods. SUPERBABY
Hi Everyone,
Some thoughts on "formats":
I have literally thousands of books and magazines, ... love to read, and do so for hours nearly every day.
I downloaded the Compact Tractor Book on Feb. 28th, but have not even looked at it yet (although I've spent hundreds-of-hours on TBN over the last year-and-a-half /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif ).
Why the disparity in commitment?
I knew I wanted anything put-together by Muhammad that was based on info gleaned from TBN. And so I got it. But, having it secured, I have spent my computer-time reading/posting on sites of interest where keeping-up takes nearly all the time I am willing to spend sitting chained to a screen. I don't "like" the computer. It is a terrific tool, making many things possible, and I am grateful for its existence, but the experience it offers is very different from reading a book.
I don't have a laptop (hope-to-someday, ...that Mac Titanium is amazing!), which is a better substitute for a computer than for a book, anyway.
A "book" to me, is NOT a computer-file or a CD. It is the thing I pick-up and take to the couch or chair-by-the-window/in-the-yard, the bed (or, yes, the john /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif ), stick-in my backpack, throw in the car or boat, pack on the bike, etc. It is "instant-on" whenever I pick-it-up, underlinable/highlightable, "pic-nic"-able, beach-able, camp-able, motel-able, etc. (and NON- "power-dependent"!) /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
It accompanies me while I soak up the outdoors, pet-the-cat, listen to the wind, the surf, and the birds, enjoy the sun, "wait" for various appointments, and generally "go-about" my life. And it doesn't give me serious "theft" worries to-deal-with, just because it's with me. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
When I am "at" a computer, no matter how interested I may be in the purpose-of-the-moment, I always have a vague, nagging, "need-to-get-this-finished-and-get-back-to-real-life" feeling. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
I never have the same feeling when I'm reading a book! The book is something that I "do" along-with or in-between (in other words, in-ADDITION-to) "real life". The computer is something I spend-time-at INSTEAD-of "real life".
Maybe I'm different than most. But I'm sure that if I had the Compact Tractor BOOK, instead of the Compact Tractor "FILE"(burned-to-CD), I would have spent many a pleasant-and-rewarding hour with it by now.(...somehow even calling such-a-thing "a book" rubs me the wrong way /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif ).
"Different strokes for different folks", but I think there are plenty of people out there with similar feelings, to ensure that a "hard-copy" version of Muhammad's work would be well received.
These comments are intended as further encouragement in-that-direction!
/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Larry
Some thoughts on "formats":
I have literally thousands of books and magazines, ... love to read, and do so for hours nearly every day.
I downloaded the Compact Tractor Book on Feb. 28th, but have not even looked at it yet (although I've spent hundreds-of-hours on TBN over the last year-and-a-half /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif ).
Why the disparity in commitment?
I knew I wanted anything put-together by Muhammad that was based on info gleaned from TBN. And so I got it. But, having it secured, I have spent my computer-time reading/posting on sites of interest where keeping-up takes nearly all the time I am willing to spend sitting chained to a screen. I don't "like" the computer. It is a terrific tool, making many things possible, and I am grateful for its existence, but the experience it offers is very different from reading a book.
I don't have a laptop (hope-to-someday, ...that Mac Titanium is amazing!), which is a better substitute for a computer than for a book, anyway.
A "book" to me, is NOT a computer-file or a CD. It is the thing I pick-up and take to the couch or chair-by-the-window/in-the-yard, the bed (or, yes, the john /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif ), stick-in my backpack, throw in the car or boat, pack on the bike, etc. It is "instant-on" whenever I pick-it-up, underlinable/highlightable, "pic-nic"-able, beach-able, camp-able, motel-able, etc. (and NON- "power-dependent"!) /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
It accompanies me while I soak up the outdoors, pet-the-cat, listen to the wind, the surf, and the birds, enjoy the sun, "wait" for various appointments, and generally "go-about" my life. And it doesn't give me serious "theft" worries to-deal-with, just because it's with me. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
When I am "at" a computer, no matter how interested I may be in the purpose-of-the-moment, I always have a vague, nagging, "need-to-get-this-finished-and-get-back-to-real-life" feeling. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
I never have the same feeling when I'm reading a book! The book is something that I "do" along-with or in-between (in other words, in-ADDITION-to) "real life". The computer is something I spend-time-at INSTEAD-of "real life".
Maybe I'm different than most. But I'm sure that if I had the Compact Tractor BOOK, instead of the Compact Tractor "FILE"(burned-to-CD), I would have spent many a pleasant-and-rewarding hour with it by now.(...somehow even calling such-a-thing "a book" rubs me the wrong way /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif ).
"Different strokes for different folks", but I think there are plenty of people out there with similar feelings, to ensure that a "hard-copy" version of Muhammad's work would be well received.
These comments are intended as further encouragement in-that-direction!
/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Larry
Bird
Rest in Peace
Larry, I agree with your comments about books vs. computers. In this particular case, I just printed the whole book out, put it in a 3-ring binder, then sat in my recliner to read it.
Bird
Bird
glennmac
Veteran Member
Larry,
Very well said. I agree 100%. As much as I like TBN, admire Muhammad's work and would like to read his book, I have no interested in "reading" a "book" on a computer. So, I havent bought it because I know I wouldnt read it on the computer.
Printing it out is possible and practical, but it is unaesthetic. Books have have a look and feel that appeals to my senses. Leather, pebbled pages, illustrations, dogears, dust--all of these are part of the visual and sensory experience that a sterile computer cannot duplicate. Monks in the Middle Ages would devote their entire lives to copying, illustrating and beautifying manuscripts and books. I collect and own thousands of 19th century, and some 18th century, books. Computer files and 3-ring binders--ugh!
I'm old and in the minority, and Muhammad and his cyberbrethren will ultimately prevail, I know. But I do think a print version would be a sensible economic decision for an author, since I am sure every tractor dealer in the English-speaking world would stock the book.
Don't ask why I am typing at this computer instead of reading my original Frankenstein.
Very well said. I agree 100%. As much as I like TBN, admire Muhammad's work and would like to read his book, I have no interested in "reading" a "book" on a computer. So, I havent bought it because I know I wouldnt read it on the computer.
Printing it out is possible and practical, but it is unaesthetic. Books have have a look and feel that appeals to my senses. Leather, pebbled pages, illustrations, dogears, dust--all of these are part of the visual and sensory experience that a sterile computer cannot duplicate. Monks in the Middle Ages would devote their entire lives to copying, illustrating and beautifying manuscripts and books. I collect and own thousands of 19th century, and some 18th century, books. Computer files and 3-ring binders--ugh!
I'm old and in the minority, and Muhammad and his cyberbrethren will ultimately prevail, I know. But I do think a print version would be a sensible economic decision for an author, since I am sure every tractor dealer in the English-speaking world would stock the book.
Don't ask why I am typing at this computer instead of reading my original Frankenstein.
JOR_EL
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2001
- Messages
- 242
- Tractor
- JD4700 HST w/mods. SUPERBABY
GlenMac,
Your collection sounds fascinating, ...I'm envious /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
My stuff is mostly non-fiction, oriented around my interests.
[[[I'm old and in the minority, and Muhammad and his cyberbrethren will ultimately prevail, I know.]]]
I don't mind their "prevailing", so long as books and their appreciators survive. I'm confident that this will be the case, ...there are a lot of us out here.
I'm reminded that there was a short time (at the beginning of the "age of plastics") when many were convinced that the wooden boats I love were things of the past. Now they are appreciated by a great many people who gave boats little thought when they were ALL wooden, and therefore not quite the "esoteric works-of-art" that many see them as today.
You can't be "better" at something, if the "something" you do is not the same "something" ...that's being different, not better!
Hopefully there's plenty of room for the things that we all prefer!! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Larry
Your collection sounds fascinating, ...I'm envious /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
My stuff is mostly non-fiction, oriented around my interests.
[[[I'm old and in the minority, and Muhammad and his cyberbrethren will ultimately prevail, I know.]]]
I don't mind their "prevailing", so long as books and their appreciators survive. I'm confident that this will be the case, ...there are a lot of us out here.
I'm reminded that there was a short time (at the beginning of the "age of plastics") when many were convinced that the wooden boats I love were things of the past. Now they are appreciated by a great many people who gave boats little thought when they were ALL wooden, and therefore not quite the "esoteric works-of-art" that many see them as today.
You can't be "better" at something, if the "something" you do is not the same "something" ...that's being different, not better!
Hopefully there's plenty of room for the things that we all prefer!! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Larry
cowboydoc
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2000
- Messages
- 6,725
- Tractor
- JD 8320 MFWD, JD 6415 MFWD, FEL, and cab, John Deere MFWD 4600, John Deere 4020, John Deere 4430, John Deere 455 mower, Deutz, and Gehl 4610 perkins skidsteer
Even though I liked the book and printed it out to read it I too would much prefer a bound version. This is the only book that I ever bought in a computer version and probably wouldn't have bought this one but I felt it was worth it to support Muhammad and the site. But I also know the flip side of this as far as getting something published is an absolute nightmare!!! Not to mention it is also costly and you also lose your control of it and a significant amount of the proceeds. So I certainly understand why Muhammad did the book the way that he did and his reluctance to have it published in a hard copy version.
RobS
Super Member
<font color=blue>I'm old and in the minority</font color=blue>
I don't consider myself old and I suspect we're the majority in wanting a printed book. Everytime I run the highlighter across my computer screen it just gets harder to read /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
I did buy the "book" for various reasons. One was to experience a virtual book. I'll likely not buy another for all the reasons previously listed /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I don't consider myself old and I suspect we're the majority in wanting a printed book. Everytime I run the highlighter across my computer screen it just gets harder to read /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
I did buy the "book" for various reasons. One was to experience a virtual book. I'll likely not buy another for all the reasons previously listed /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
