Re: manuals

> As is always the case, printed manuals do get out of date (usually
> just after printing them). Most things are common between the third
> and fourth editions, but the fundamental problem remains.
> 
> Personally, I find the printed manuals very useful when I'm first
> trying to understand a new batch of code; I end up going to the
> references quite a bit, and the paper's much easier on the eyes. On a
> day-to-day basis, the versions included in the system are more
> reliable.

I've given some thought to this.  There's an online print-on-demand
company called lulu.  You send them a PDF of the interior and a
PDF of the cover and they'll handle ordering, printing and shipping.
I've used them for a couple of small personal projects, and I've
thought they might be a good way to get 4th edition manuals printed.
I ran a quick check on their current pricing and a 600 page book
would run $16.53 assuming no one made any profit on it.  This is
for a perfect bound paperback.  Other bindings are available.
You can even arrange for them to get it listed on amazon.

What I'd envision is the same two-book structure we've seen all
along in paperback.  Periodically, we could release a new sub-edition
and at the same time release an addendum containing all the changes
between the previous one and the new one.  A 30 page addendum
would run about $5.

As I have dealt with them before, I'd be willing to set it up.
I don't have time to get into editing or any other quality
control.  But if VN gives permission, we get the cover artwork
and copyright page set up, and if I can get all the fonts sorted
out, then I'd be willing to make them available.

It's a thought anyway.

BLS