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Date:      Thu, 10 Sep 1998 16:36:27 -0700
From:      Graeme Tait <graeme@echidna.com>
To:        freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG
Cc:        info@boatbooks.com
Subject:   Re: PPP question..... With an Observation, etc., etc.
Message-ID:  <35F8627B.598C@echidna.com>
References:  <199809101527.IAA11510@pau-amma.whistle.com>

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David Wolfskill wrote:
> 
> >From: "Rocky Hurley" <kr4pz@cacs.net>
> >Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 21:43:03 -0500
> 
> [Massive elision -- dhw]
> 
> >....   I have searched and read, currently in
> >3 store bought books at this time trying to scratch every bit of info and
> >help I can. I was wondering why I never see any books on FreeBSD on the
> >store shelves but the same shelves 2 or more have books on Linux and one
> >on ATT and Solaris. Nothing on BSD....

> Although I don't know which bookstores you visited, it's likely that
> there is a degree of misunderstanding here.

<snip>


I have a couple of comments as a FreeBSD and UNIX beginner.


I periodically browse the computer sections of bookstores in the Princeton, 
NJ and NYC areas. I don't remember seeing "The Complete FreeBSD" on the 
shelves, except perhaps a single copy in one store.

It would be great if somehow Greg's book could receive better distribution in 
stores, as it would alert people to the existence of this OS, as well as help 
those who like to browse before plunking down $70.

I checked with Ingram (the world's biggest book distributor) and Cromland 
(one of the largest computer book distributors) and neither stocks "The 
Complete FreeBSD" - which is not going to help availability in stores. From a 
colleague who sells computer books and ordered me my copy, I know this book 
is something of an orphan in wholesale distribution. With a non-mainstream 
book like this, if it's not available from their primary distributors, many 
stores simply aren't going to carry it, nor will they want to special-order 
it. The fact that the CD-ROMs are bundled, but are replaced with new versions 
3-4 times a year creates an additional stocking problem if the store doesn't 
have full return privileges with the supplier.


I managed to do almost everything I needed to get FreeBSD up and running from 
the book alone, without asking questions on this list. I also acquired some 
general UNIX books. But without the specific and detailed information in "The 
Complete FreeBSD" (and to a lesser extent the FreeBSD website), I would have 
had a mighty tough time as a beginner, short of asking repeated questions 
here.

So I'm sympathetic to those who get impatient with questions asked here that 
are obviously answered in the book or on the FreeBSD website. But for the 
seriously impatient, rather than flame the questioner, I think it would be 
far more effective if you replied with a specific reference like "See chapter 
x of 'The Complete FreeBSD' [link to purchase info]" or "See [URL within 
FreeBSD site]", if you don't feel inclined to answer the question directly.


That said, there was one section of "The Complete FreeBSD" that left me dead 
in the water, and that was on setting up user PPP. I found the online 
information (which is quite differently written) far clearer and invaluable 
in this case. Given the large number of questions I see here, I'm not the 
only one who has trouble with PPP!


-- 
Graeme Tait - Echidna


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