I guess when speaking of manuals there is kind of a cachet that they have,
similar to old automobile manuals. Prop the book up beside the computer or
study it over a cup of coffee and the world seems a bit more comfortable I
am not a PDP person but I do remember lusting after an Apple II repair
manual that my local library had in perfect condition. Even though it hadn't
been booked out in years, they wouldn't sell it to me. Luckily I came across
the same manual, well a SAMS repair manual but you get the point, a short
time later at a Value Village for 2 bucks.
As for overpriced manuals, I would say that what is overpriced now will be
REALLY overpriced in a while. The alternative would be for each of us to
copy or scan all of the manuals we have and develop some sort of central
library or website with PDF downloads of everything. The general feeling
that I have is that there is a vast amount of hardware out there but only a
small pile of manuals. When I look at my basement computer room which is
about half-full of hardware and half-full of manuals and documents, I
consider the latter far more valuable than the former. For instance, in CPM
how do I get WUMP to load on my Kaypro? Stuff like that!
----- Original Message -----
From: "David V. Corbin" <dvcorbin_at_optonline.net>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 10:12 PM
Subject: RE: sigh - High Priced Manuals...
> Al,
>
> Sure is getting a bit pricey!
>
> But there are advantages to having an original rather than an on-line
copy,
> as I am sure you would agree. If not, we would all be running just
emulators
> for our classic hardware rather than having the actual machines with all
of
> the maintenance that implies.
>
> As many of you know I am in the process of getting a PDP-8 / ASR-33
project
> off the ground. I have been discussing the "value" of various items with
> different people, and the one thing we can all agree on is "How much are
you
> willing to pay, or are you willing to keep looking?" is the only accurate
> answer.
>
> So I guess even "smart" people will bid on items that have content which
is
> available for free...Or would you disagree, and say only fools would?
>
> David.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk-bounces_at_classiccmp.org
> [mailto:cctalk-bounces_at_classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Al Kossow
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 10:08 PM
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: sigh
>
>
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3583851295
>
> should I tell the other bidder's it's on line at
> www.bitsavers.org/pdf/harvard/MarkI_operMan_1946.pdf ?
>
> curiously, the copy I scanned had a number (1703) on the title page
> while his copy doesn't
>
>
Received on Sat Feb 07 2004 - 21:59:25 GMT