Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ukma!rutgers!att!ihlpf!bird
From: bird@ihlpf.ATT.COM (Walters)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: IIgs Books
Message-ID: <8057@ihlpf.ATT.COM>
Date: 25 Mar 89 04:38:53 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 82

Merlin 16+ has come in so it is time to start learning about my new
IIgs which means it is time to buy some books. The question is, "what
books?" I would like some advice from the people on the net. If you
would like to send me e-mail, I'll summerize to the net in a week or
so.

The (apparently) relevant  books listed by A2~Central are:

Apple

Programmer's Intro to the IIgs (w/disk)                     $32.95
Apple IIgs Toolbox Reference Vol I                          $26.95
Apple IIgs Toolbox Reference Vol II                         $26.95
                                                           --------
                                                            $86.85
Gookin/Davis

Mastering the IIgs Toolbox                                  $19.95
Adv Prog Tech for IIgs Toolbox                              $19.95
                                                           --------
                                                            $39.90
GS/OS, Prodos 16

Exploring Apple GS/OS and ProDOS 8  (Gary B. Little)        $21.95

This book is a must for me based on how great his book on ProDOS 8
was. Unfortunately, it is out of print and cannot be found anywhere. I
know, I looked and looked. Maybe this is it with GS/OS added for good
measure.


Technical References


Technical Introduction to the IIgs                           $9.95
Apple IIgs Firmware Reference                               $24.95
Apple IIgs Hardware Reference                               $24.95
Apple Numerics Reference (new edition)                      $29.95
Human Interface Guidelines                                  $14.95
Exploring the Apple IIgs (Gary B. Little)                   $22.95
Apple IIgs Tech Ref (Fischer)                               $19.95
                                                          ---------
                                                           $147.20

There is some redundancy in this last list, however, I'm sure I'll get
the Gary B. Little book because he is a really good writer and
presents things ever so well. Also, I've heard that the Tech Intro for
$9.95 is a waste of time, unfortunately, that is a drop in the bucket
of the total price of these books.


                                   Toolbox                 $86.85
                                   Toolbox                 $39.90
                                   GS/OS                   $21.95
                                   Tech Ref               $147.20
                                                         ---------
                                   Grand Total            $295.90


Obviously, I'm not going to order all of these right now (and still
stay married). Which ones do I *really* need? With regards to the
toolbox books, "do they reflect the latest ROMs?" If not, "are there
updates coming soon so I should wait a bit?"

These prices from A2~Central include shipping and there is no state
tax. Does anyone have a source that has better prices overall?

Finally, don't you just hate the hard bound Addison-Wesley books? You
can't lay them flat beside you computer and glance at them from time
to time. Noooo, you have to lay a brick on the damn things? I sent
Apple a letter asking them if they would consider having these things
published in ring binder format so corrections and updates could be
bought and inserted. (Like the tech notes. They have always been good,
however, the latest version tops them all! Hats off to the tech
writers at Apple. A job *really* well done!)

I further pointed out that we were not interested in willing these
books to our descendants so they do not have to last the ages, just be
usable now!
-- 
				Joe Walters att!ihlpf!bird   
				IHP 1F-240 (312) 416-5356