Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday Mathematica!
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg90104] Re: [mg90051] Re: [mg89996] Re: Happy Birthday Mathematica!
- From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz at mimuw.edu.pl>
- Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:34:44 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <g3nh81$dl$1@smc.vnet.net> <g3t70t$inb$1@smc.vnet.net> <200806260840.EAA20783@smc.vnet.net> <200806271017.GAA24214@smc.vnet.net>
I certianly have no objection to the existence of a printed version of "The Mathematica Book", even if it is 11000 pages long. What is important to me (since I definitely have no use for such a monstrosity) is that I should not be required to subsidize other people's preferences in this respect. I may of course be wrong, but judging by the posts in the MathGroup, I doubt many people would wish to pay for such a book (it certainly won't be free) if they had a choice. In view of that, I don't think it would be a very wise of WRI to print a large number of copies and hope that enough buyers will be found later. The only sensible approach would be to allow those who want a printed copy to custom order it, and pay for the full cost of printing, binding and sending themselves. Given that an electronic version already exists I can see no great problems in making suitable arrangements right away; in fact WRI could even sell license the right to print "The Mathematica Book" on demand basis to Kinko's. This seems to me an ideal solution to which I can't see how anyone could object. Andrzej Kozlowski On 27 Jun 2008, at 19:17, Murray Eisenberg wrote: > Have you noticed the subtle (?) propaganda against a printed Version 6 > of "The Mathematica Book" that appears in "Mathematica: The > Scrapbook" at > > wolfram.com/company/scrapbook/page09.html ? > > Click the next to last image there to see it enlarged on the right, > with > legend, "Stephen Wolfram's Mathematica Book grows and grows...(almost > beyond printability...)" > > (Actually, somewhere on the WRI site I also saw a stack of copies of > the > Version 5 book showing how tall the pile would have to be for a > printed > copy of a Version 6 book; but I cannot find that again now.) > > So what about a compromise (he said, only half in jest)? "The > Mathematica Book, Version 6" but an e-book for the Kindle? It would > still be electronic (thereby satisfying the anti-print folks among > Wolframites) yet readable in bed, in a non-wired cafe, in the bathtub, > ... (thereby satisfying those of us who still like to read away from a > computer). > > > AES wrote: >> In article <g3t70t$inb$1 at smc.vnet.net>, Nazdrovje <nazdrovje at gmail.com >> > >> wrote: >> >>> I think I started in 1993. Must have been either 1.2 or 2.0 on the >>> Mac. Probably 1.2. I'm such a nerd that I can't imagine working >>> without it (or choosing a job which wouldn't require it). Had the >>> manuals on my bedside table for a decade. >> >> <sarcasm mode on> >> >> "Had the manuals on my bedside table for a decade." >> >> Manuals?!? Manuals on a bedside table?!? >> >> Why in the world would anyone do that? >> >> Next thing you know people will be wanting to read >> manuals on a plane flight. Or on a porch, or in a cafe, >> or in a clinic waiting room. >> >> How times have changed. >> >> <sarcasm mode off> > > -- > Murray Eisenberg murray at math.umass.edu > Mathematics & Statistics Dept. > Lederle Graduate Research Tower phone 413 549-1020 (H) > University of Massachusetts 413 545-2859 (W) > 710 North Pleasant Street fax 413 545-1801 > Amherst, MA 01003-9305 > >
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- Re: Happy Birthday Mathematica!
- From: AES <siegman@stanford.edu>
- Re: Re: Happy Birthday Mathematica!
- From: Murray Eisenberg <murray@math.umass.edu>
- Re: Happy Birthday Mathematica!