Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!amdcad!sun!pitstop!sundc!seismo!uunet!amgraf!huver
From: huver@amgraf.UUCP (Huver)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: RE: New Amiga RKM available in bookstores
Message-ID: <227@amgraf.UUCP>
Date: 9 Mar 89 07:16:30 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Amgraf Inc.,  Kansas City
Lines: 52

In article <6142@cbmvax.UUCP>, bryce@cbmvax.UUCP (Bryce Nesbitt) writes:
> The first volume of the new ROM Kernel Manual set is now available!
> The book is titled "ROM Kernel Reference Manual: Includes & Autodocs".
>   [rest of the article deleted]

I jsut saw this one tonight, and have some comments to make:

1. About 80% of the contents is exactly autodocs/includes, the rest consists
   of IFF docs, and very brief (1 or 2 pages) intros.

2. The paper quality is VERY VERY BAD.  My normal printer papers are better
   than what Addison-Wesley used.

   And they list $32.95 for it.  True, consider one gets the 1.3 Native
   Developer Updates for $20, and the IFF disk (if there is one), then prints
   everything out, the cost would be higher.  But for $32.95 + tax, I expect
   it be printed on decent quality paper.

3. The worst is that it is again printed in 8.5x11 format, with two original
   autodoc pages reduced and fitted sidways, and the whole thing glued together
   without any punch holes; no way to keep it lay opened flat on any desk.

   Nowhere else have I read any reference manuals printed this way.  It
   practically kills the usefulness of the book, where did the common sense
   in layout editing go?

   Speaking of which, I can't find any effort of layout editing at all.  The
   intro pages are printed upright, so is the EA '85 IFF paper; all the
   autodocs, includes, and IFF docs that Carolyn wrote remain fitted sideways.
   It looks like someone got hold of all computer print-outs and just put them
   together in sequence, that's it.  No consideration was given as to how a
   human reader is to use the printed information.

   Of course there's the desire of reducing the volume size, but something
   as fundamental as how a manual is supposed to be used (note it is not a
   BOOK that one reads on commuter trains, but a MANUAL that one uses to get
   some work done) cannot be arbitrarily thrown away.

   Why not use the smaller size 3-ring binder format, print pages upright
   (like the Manx, Lattice, SCO Xenix manuals), but split into one volume for
   Libraries, and another for Devices + IFF, if all-in-one makes the thing
   too thick?  To save money, the binders need not be included, let us buy
   our own binders.

The contents no doubt are useful information, and the effort of creating and
providing everything is also to be appreciated; but the poor final execution
really wipes all that out.  I thought CATS hired an editor to correct the
errors made in the old edition, what happened?  Did she have no say about
this at all?

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-huver	uunet!amgraf!huver