Keep what you got

osfameron on 2005-04-09T20:48:29

MJD: I hope people will buy copies of the book to keep. MKP is nervous that having the book on the web site will hurt sales. I don't think it will, but I'd sure hate to be wrong.

I don't of course know how it will work. Partly because it's more convenient and meaningful to have a physical book, partly because I subscribed to the list and want to support it, I have ordered a copy and will be enthusiastically reading it once amazon.co.uk actually get hold of it. I wonder if this is because of the community aspects of Perl. For example, if a mass market book/album/film I wanted were freely and legally available online, would I download it for free, while paying for HOP because I want to support my club?

Re:

Aristotle on 2005-04-12T18:01:24

Depends. Would you spend money to acquire them in absence of a for-free alternative?

Re: Why do I want to buy HOP?

mr_bean on 2005-04-13T09:40:19
This will be the first perl book I have bought.
The fact that I have been able to learn as much
as I have about perl for free (as in free beer)
has been an important motivator to me.

I don't own a computer. I am waiting for the free
hardware movement to pass my way. I wouldn't be
interested if I were paying. I like hitchhiking
too. The fact that everyone is giving me these
gifts is great! And that I can beat the system by
freeloading is even more exciting.

Why will I now buy the book? I think the fact I
met Dominus at a conference and he helped me over
the Internet with a permutations and combinations
problem I had is relevant. The fact the book also
deals with permutations and combinations is not
as important as the idea that studying it will
make me a better programmer, I think.

I gave Brian Ingerson a birthday present at a
birthday party the Taipei Perl Mongers held for
him in Taipei. I guess for the same reason I want
to buy Dominus's book. I feel indebted to the
people in the perl community who have helped me
or whose software has supported my own efforts
with free software, I think. The face-to-face
interaction was relevant I think.

The fact I have an unused book token is also
relevant I think.