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Ask HN: What to do with old computer books?

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Re: Ask HN: What to do with old computer books?

#61
post #8

> I can't really see there's much demand for Java 1.3, or Dreamweaver 4 You'd be surprised. Go to "sell back your books" and install the app, scan in the bar code or QR, and find out. They might offer you a small amount of money. They also take some non-technical books, btw. They send you a prepaid shipping label, too.

The Peach Press Dreamweaver 4 book is listed on Sell your books at £0.46. I’m surprised it’s worth that much, the postage and packing would be far more.

On the one I cited, you supply the box and pack it. They pay the postage.

Re: Ask HN: What to do with old computer books?

#62

> I can't really see there's much demand for Java 1.3, or Dreamweaver 4 You'd be surprised. Go to "sell back your books" and install the app, scan in the bar code or QR, and find out. They might offer you a small amount of money. They also take some non-technical books, btw. They send you a prepaid shipping label, too.

[dead]

Re: Ask HN: What to do with old computer books?

#66

download a digital copy from the web. throw out the paper. I did a clean out a couple of years back of cassettes, books, CDs, and vinyl LPs and replaced them with digital copies. I also threw out the IKEA Billy bookcase they had been stored in.

I did this with my CDs and books while making room for a nursery. But I regret getting rid of the hard-cover SICP. I have a PDF, but would like the book again and it no longer exists in hard cover.

Re: Ask HN: What to do with old computer books?

#67

> I can't really see there's much demand for Java 1.3, or Dreamweaver 4. Designate one bookshelf as your "memory shelf". Keep the books on the languages you learned the most from or that remind you of your best (or most horrible) projects, and place them on that shelf. Display it prominently, and it will be become a conversation starter for every nerd that comes to your home. "OMG, I haven't thought about Dreamweaver…

Books are so heavy. If you move often, they can be a real burden, especially if they are no longer used. If you keep them as a conversation starter, try this alternative method. https://youtu.be/UqLTU9uFlPA?list=PLsgvviE9c9fBEPvopDnHcYhyN... .

This is amazing, jokes so timeless they could have been written yesterday.

Re: Ask HN: What to do with old computer books?

#68
Java books are still useful if they were considered good while current. Many good programming books remain useful even as the language evolves and the syntax diverges. Dreamweaver 4 can be useful to someone to understand the concepts of design. Browsers will still mostly happily render old code. I'd give them to a library if they are willing to accept them or list them on a site like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for your locale.

C, C++, Linux, Unix, and Cisco books are eternal. They may not teach you secure ways of doing things, but they are eternal. NetWare may be obsolete. ;)

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