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First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

nytimes.com

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Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#41

Post by kleevr »

silencio wrote: post #40
yummyfajitas wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree with you: it's a scam. But we, the profs, don't have a lot of choice in the matter. Problem 1: we need to assign a text which is available to all students, and I can't guarantee availability of enough copies of the old editions. I'd love to use this book ( http://store.doverpublications.com/0486457710.html ) costing $20 for calc, but that brings up problem 2: I have to use the book the department a…

With problem 1, wouldn't the old edition still be cheaper than the new? Or would the publisher just stop publishing the older edition? Even with new editions I've come across situations where the bookstore was having an impossible time ordering enough to meet demand. And the second...I just guess I don't understand why new editions have to be adopted so quickly sometimes. I taught myself all sorts of subjects out of…

>And the second...

Several times in my experience the only difference between editions was that the publisher had changed the work problem (and maybe fixed some typos) for the sole purpose of making the students buy new books.

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#42

Post by silencio »

kleevr wrote: post #41
silencio wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With problem 1, wouldn't the old edition still be cheaper than the new? Or would the publisher just stop publishing the older edition? Even with new editions I've come across situations where the bookstore was having an impossible time ordering enough to meet demand. And the second...I just guess I don't understand why new editions have to be adopted so quickly sometimes. I taught myself all sorts of subjects out of…

>And the second... Several times in my experience the only difference between editions was that the publisher had changed the work problem (and maybe fixed some typos) for the sole purpose of making the students buy new books.

Right, that's what we're saying. Nothing fundamentally huge changes in most of these editions, so the students keep getting ripped off as they need to buy new editions and old editions become harder to sell.

I wonder what would happen if lots of students and faculty members from all over grouped together to refuse to buy such editions? In my dreams, but just to make a point to the publishers. I can only imagine how much of the cost of a new textbook is pure profit for the publishers and authors.

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#43

Post by yummyfajitas »

silencio wrote: post #40
yummyfajitas wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree with you: it's a scam. But we, the profs, don't have a lot of choice in the matter. Problem 1: we need to assign a text which is available to all students, and I can't guarantee availability of enough copies of the old editions. I'd love to use this book ( http://store.doverpublications.com/0486457710.html ) costing $20 for calc, but that brings up problem 2: I have to use the book the department a…

With problem 1, wouldn't the old edition still be cheaper than the new? Or would the publisher just stop publishing the older edition? Even with new editions I've come across situations where the bookstore was having an impossible time ordering enough to meet demand. And the second...I just guess I don't understand why new editions have to be adopted so quickly sometimes. I taught myself all sorts of subjects out of…

The publisher indeed stops publishing the old version. It would be cheaper for the students that can find an old copy, who knows if they will all be able to do so?

>So the department assigns a book, why do they have to assign it?

Do you want to buy a new book for calc 2 if you take it with somebody besides me? Or buy a new book if you switch sections?

Standardization makes sense, especially at the intro level. I'd prefer if they standardized on cheap calc books, but as I said, making that occur involves academic politics. Perhaps one day, when I've got clout...

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#44

Post by silencio »

yummyfajitas wrote: post #43
silencio wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With problem 1, wouldn't the old edition still be cheaper than the new? Or would the publisher just stop publishing the older edition? Even with new editions I've come across situations where the bookstore was having an impossible time ordering enough to meet demand. And the second...I just guess I don't understand why new editions have to be adopted so quickly sometimes. I taught myself all sorts of subjects out of…

The publisher indeed stops publishing the old version. It would be cheaper for the students that can find an old copy, who knows if they will all be able to do so? >So the department assigns a book, why do they have to assign it? Do you want to buy a new book for calc 2 if you take it with somebody besides me? Or buy a new book if you switch sections? Standardization makes sense, especially at the intro level. I'd pr…

Hmm, okay, now I'm hating them more and more.

>Do you want to buy a new book for calc 2 if you take it with somebody besides me? Or buy a new book if you switch sections?

Well, my idea was to standardize on cheaper books, not that it should be a free-for-all (for your reason precisely). It does involve academic politics and you'd run into the problem with having a lack of books in some cases. This sucks on all sides.

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#45

Post by subho26 »

h34t wrote: post #8

Create an account at gigapedia.org and you'll see the extent of books available online for free. It's amazing. It's become my new Amazon for checking out new stuff that I'm not sure if I want to buy. (All yee free market crusaders, don't worry -- I still have a regular truckload of books coming my way from Amazon -- as much as my budget allows.) How unfortunate that my budget can swallow much less than my brain!

for free book reading to get a idea about, then it makes sure to buy.

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#46

Post by subho26 »

h34t wrote: post #8

Create an account at gigapedia.org and you'll see the extent of books available online for free. It's amazing. It's become my new Amazon for checking out new stuff that I'm not sure if I want to buy. (All yee free market crusaders, don't worry -- I still have a regular truckload of books coming my way from Amazon -- as much as my budget allows.) How unfortunate that my budget can swallow much less than my brain!

for free book reading to get a idea about, then it makes sure to buy.

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#47

Post by bharani »

h34t wrote: post #8

Create an account at gigapedia.org and you'll see the extent of books available online for free. It's amazing. It's become my new Amazon for checking out new stuff that I'm not sure if I want to buy. (All yee free market crusaders, don't worry -- I still have a regular truckload of books coming my way from Amazon -- as much as my budget allows.) How unfortunate that my budget can swallow much less than my brain!

its very useful to students

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#48

Post by marcoplo »

h34t wrote: post #8

Create an account at gigapedia.org and you'll see the extent of books available online for free. It's amazing. It's become my new Amazon for checking out new stuff that I'm not sure if I want to buy. (All yee free market crusaders, don't worry -- I still have a regular truckload of books coming my way from Amazon -- as much as my budget allows.) How unfortunate that my budget can swallow much less than my brain!

it's good idea to help the others like that. if someone downloads a book from time to time will not affect the Amazon budget. Thank you very much dear friend.

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#49

Post by gargantua »

h34t wrote: post #8

Create an account at gigapedia.org and you'll see the extent of books available online for free. It's amazing. It's become my new Amazon for checking out new stuff that I'm not sure if I want to buy. (All yee free market crusaders, don't worry -- I still have a regular truckload of books coming my way from Amazon -- as much as my budget allows.) How unfortunate that my budget can swallow much less than my brain!

its good help for many students around the world.

Re: First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry.

#50

Post by mahmoudhawa »

h34t wrote: post #8

Create an account at gigapedia.org and you'll see the extent of books available online for free. It's amazing. It's become my new Amazon for checking out new stuff that I'm not sure if I want to buy. (All yee free market crusaders, don't worry -- I still have a regular truckload of books coming my way from Amazon -- as much as my budget allows.) How unfortunate that my budget can swallow much less than my brain!

ucan find books at http://downgate.blogspot.com
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