Test It Out: Early Access Book Programs (Linux Journal) [LWN.net]

Linux Journal takes a look at some beta book programs. "I've been working with technical books for quite a while now, as a reader, a reviewer and an author. I've also been working with Linux and other free software for a long time. Often, I've wondered how publishers could take advantage of the testing that software receives as it goes through alpha and beta cycles. Recently, several publishers have begun to take advantage of that testing cycle for their books. Here, I take a look at how they're doing. I'm not involved in any of these books, so what follows is completely an outsider's view."

to post comments

really, think of the trees

Posted Apr 26, 2006 5:01 UTC (Wed) by b7j0c (guest, #27559) [Link] (1 responses)

its bad enough that many of these publishers churn out pointless doorstops for every point release of many popular tools, but to publish two or more "betas" prior to the final version is a deplorable waste. some of the publishers adopting this model will provide electronic versions, yet many of these refuse to go full-on into electronic publishing.

really, think of the trees

Posted Apr 26, 2006 16:38 UTC (Wed) by pate (guest, #10) [Link]

Actually all of the beta/early access programs I've seen use PDF (in one case password protected PDF) to distribute their beta copies, and to provide a final copy (unless you also choose to buy the paper copy).