6 ms·

This is a very interesting case where the author claims the book is not free, provides it on a public webpage, and does not want to provide a PDF or ePub. I wou

This is a very interesting case where the author claims the book is not free, provides it on a public webpage, and does not want to provide a PDF or ePub. I would gladly be willing to pay for content, but I like to do most of my reading on a kindle. I am not willing to pay for a book if the author is trying to make it as difficult as possible to view his book (but at least the fonts are beautiful).

phren0logy 8y ago
Part of the justification (which you may or may not buy) is that it's not intended to be viewed as static content. Therefore, a PDF or eBook is not an appropriate medium.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- criddell 8y ago
  That makes sense to me but then I think the book needs a track changes feature. It might be there, but the site was loading slowly enough that I didn't really explore.
criddell 8y ago
Your Kindle has rudimentary web browser, you might be able to read it there.
chipotle_coyote 8y ago
Butterick has Strong Opinions™ about Kindle typography that led him to that position. I largely share those opinions, to be fair, although I think it's a bit of a quixotic enterprise for many books; offline is more important than beauty. (And, really, the Kindle could do most of these tricks if Amazon gave a rat's ass; Apple's iBooks can do nearly everything that any other WebKit browser can with regards to typography.) Having said that, though, this is a book that I'd argue is better in the browser than on the Kindle or as a PDF. I want to be able to read this with a code editor open, and the book side-by-side in a separate window. PDF books don't reflow, and in my experience Kindle just isn't particularly good for tech books.
- e12e 8y ago
  > I want to be able to read this with a code editor open, and the book side-by-side in a separate window. Like this? https://xkcd.com/1988/ https://xkcd.com/1988/
  - baldfat 8y ago
    I do it with two monitors like this: https://i.imgur.com/QZWIvNq.jpg https://i.imgur.com/QZWIvNq.jpg
    - PhasmaFelis 8y ago
      I'm a big fan of rotatable monitors. A 4x3 display rotated to portrait is fantastic for reading most PDFs, if you set Acrobat to Fullscreen and Single Page View. As a bonus, lots of offices have a closet full of old 4x3 Dell flat-panels somewhere, so there's no hassle with procurement.
  - chipotle_coyote 8y ago
    Only when the book is "Learn Docker in 24 Hours."
- timClicks 8y ago
  eBook reader typography - my experience is drawn from using a Kobo with various EPUB & PDF from multiple publishers - is almost always terrible. Among other things, code listings tend to be a mess. It's frustrating when technical publishers release digital versions of their works, and the code snippets (for example) turn out to be PNG files. That works great for a PDF intended to be printed on paper, but doesn't scale well to an ebook reader.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- oofoe 8y ago
  The biggest problem I have about not getting an offline copy is that he makes it clear that if the book does not perform to his expectations, then he will take it down. So, even if I pay for this wonderful book (and it /is/ wonderful!) and nobody else/not enough other people do... And then it's gone!
xrayspec 8y ago
"on a public webpage" = "as difficult as possible"? Also, author addresses these objections: https://beautifulracket.com/why-you-should-pay.html https://beautifulracket.com/why-you-should-pay.html

phren0logy 8y ago

Part of the justification (which you may or may not buy) is that it's not intended to be viewed as static content. Therefore, a PDF or eBook is not an appropriate medium.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
criddell 8y ago
That makes sense to me but then I think the book needs a track changes feature. It might be there, but the site was loading slowly enough that I didn't really explore.

criddell 8y ago

Your Kindle has rudimentary web browser, you might be able to read it there.

chipotle_coyote 8y ago

Butterick has Strong Opinions™ about Kindle typography that led him to that position. I largely share those opinions, to be fair, although I think it's a bit of a quixotic enterprise for many books; offline is more important than beauty. (And, really, the Kindle could do most of these tricks if Amazon gave a rat's ass; Apple's iBooks can do nearly everything that any other WebKit browser can with regards to typography.) Having said that, though, this is a book that I'd argue is better in the browser than on the Kindle or as a PDF. I want to be able to read this with a code editor open, and the book side-by-side in a separate window. PDF books don't reflow, and in my experience Kindle just isn't particularly good for tech books.

e12e 8y ago
> I want to be able to read this with a code editor open, and the book side-by-side in a separate window. Like this? https://xkcd.com/1988/ https://xkcd.com/1988/
- baldfat 8y ago
  I do it with two monitors like this: https://i.imgur.com/QZWIvNq.jpg https://i.imgur.com/QZWIvNq.jpg
  - PhasmaFelis 8y ago
    I'm a big fan of rotatable monitors. A 4x3 display rotated to portrait is fantastic for reading most PDFs, if you set Acrobat to Fullscreen and Single Page View. As a bonus, lots of offices have a closet full of old 4x3 Dell flat-panels somewhere, so there's no hassle with procurement.
- chipotle_coyote 8y ago
  Only when the book is "Learn Docker in 24 Hours."
timClicks 8y ago
eBook reader typography - my experience is drawn from using a Kobo with various EPUB & PDF from multiple publishers - is almost always terrible. Among other things, code listings tend to be a mess. It's frustrating when technical publishers release digital versions of their works, and the code snippets (for example) turn out to be PNG files. That works great for a PDF intended to be printed on paper, but doesn't scale well to an ebook reader.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
oofoe 8y ago
The biggest problem I have about not getting an offline copy is that he makes it clear that if the book does not perform to his expectations, then he will take it down. So, even if I pay for this wonderful book (and it /is/ wonderful!) and nobody else/not enough other people do... And then it's gone!

xrayspec 8y ago

"on a public webpage" = "as difficult as possible"? Also, author addresses these objections: https://beautifulracket.com/why-you-should-pay.html https://beautifulracket.com/why-you-should-pay.html