Author Topic: New Fictional Book (Z4CK), hacker uses Zaurus  (Read 8003 times)

Stubear

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New Fictional Book (Z4CK), hacker uses Zaurus
« Reply #15 on: September 22, 2004, 11:48:46 am »
I want to buy a copy but the only version available for purchase is pdf and basically I'm not happy with any of the pdf viewers available for the C760.

Are there any plans to offer other formats for purchase? Plucker format would be good as it's my favorite and works well with opie-reader.

Stu
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Omicron

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« Reply #16 on: September 22, 2004, 12:03:18 pm »
Quote
I want to buy a copy but the only version available for purchase is pdf and basically I'm not happy with any of the pdf viewers available for the C760.

Are there any plans to offer other formats for purchase? Plucker format would be good as it's my favorite and works well with opie-reader.

Stu


Also, how about a discount for us ZUG users. ?

I am being cheap, but honestly, if the free part was exactly half...that is gonna be a pretty short book.  

Also, the US Dollar is pretty much in the crapper so for th price it is the same (in US) for a discount paperback...and personallly I like having a book on my shelf.

I say all this as a very interested (but admittedly cheap....hey don't criticize...my cheapness feeds the "Deals Forum" On ZUG on a regular basis) reader who really wants the second half.  Excellent job on the first half.

I agree with above poster as well...purchase of second half needs to be in all the formats of the free version.

Great Job on the book.
« Last Edit: September 22, 2004, 12:06:07 pm by Omicron »
"You Shall Not Pass"    
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z4ck

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« Reply #17 on: September 22, 2004, 05:32:00 pm »
Quote
I want to buy a copy but the only version available for purchase is pdf and basically I'm not happy with any of the pdf viewers available for the C760.

Are there any plans to offer other formats for purchase? Plucker format would be good as it's my favorite and works well with opie-reader.

Stu

Stu, the book is available in Plucker format, has been for a couple of weeks now. I was asked for this in plucker and palm doc versions, so I decided a full plucker version was a good idea.  If you look in the free downloads section you'll find it there.   Download, and see what you think.

Hmm, cheaper for the ZUG? I know there is problems with the dollar at the moment, but I think the price as an E-book is fair.    I don't think you should look at this as a cost per page, there are another 7 chapters in the second half of Z4CK, its whether you think the rest of the story is worth paying the money for.   It's kind of like Shareware.   I provided the first half free as I wanted people to have a proper chance of knowing whether they like the book or not.   I am however looking for ways to reduce the paperback cost in the states, and getting it out cheaper there.    

If anyone who bought the PDF decides to buy a paperback, this will be discounted.

Any other thoughts on the cost of the PDF?  Does anyone else think it is too expensive?
 
Cheers,

Kev

Omicron

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« Reply #18 on: September 22, 2004, 07:14:49 pm »
It's not really THAT expensive...I mean it's just 2 GBP......and it is very good.  

My only real issue is that it seems kinda short....and I am always looking for better deal....just in my nature.

I mean it is still cheaper than your average US paperback at a cost of little less than $4 USD....

I think it is that we all think in terms of our own currency and I imagine I look at this the same way YOU would look at it if it cost 4 GBP.  I hope that makes some sense.

Don't sweat it, it is a fair price for a great product.  I never owned an Ebook before so I think I am really comparing this inappropriately to a paperback.

I just always try to swing better deals for my buddies here at ZUG (and of course for myself  )

If no else is complaining, then it is just me being cheap.

Can't say it enough...great job on the book.
"You Shall Not Pass"    
....Gandalf, Lord Of The Rings
--------------------------------------------------------------
C-860 (Cacko), 3x4gb MD  
DLINK 660W, 1GB SD,  
Upgraded Archos AV320 w/80GB HDD
Pocketop and Targus IR keyboards
Favorite Deal Site: SaveCity.net (pretty cool, good deals daily on one page)

Stubear

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« Reply #19 on: September 22, 2004, 08:33:59 pm »
Quote
Stu, the book is available in Plucker format, has been for a couple of weeks now. I was asked for this in plucker and palm doc versions, so I decided a full plucker version was a good idea.  If you look in the free downloads section you'll find it there.   Download, and see what you think.
<snip>
Any other thoughts on the cost of the PDF?  Does anyone else think it is too expensive?
 
Cheers,

Kev
I already got the first half - hence my desire to get the whole thing

I can't see any links to the full plucker version on the "Buy Z4CK" page - just the pdf version. I'll take the punt and buy it anyway, in the hope that more info will be available as to the location of the full plucker version.

As for the price of the ebook, 2 pound is fine by me. When you've been living in Japan where the price of English paperbacks cost between US$15 and US$25, 2 pound for an ebook is a great bargain.

Stu

For thos of you wondering, Kevin supplies a link to the plucker version with the purchasing info. go forth and purchase  
« Last Edit: September 22, 2004, 09:18:56 pm by Stubear »
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tapjpa

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« Reply #20 on: September 22, 2004, 08:58:00 pm »
When you buy the book you will see a link to download the plucker version as well as the pdf.
As for the price, it was a great read as far as I'm concerned, and well worth the $4 usd.

Nice job Kev!

z4ck

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« Reply #21 on: September 23, 2004, 04:56:21 am »
Cheers all, glad your enjoying it.

I was toying with the idea of writing a second in the series, got a title (which I won't mention as it may give away the ending to the first book)....wouldn't want to do that.

However, if I decide to go with this I'd be looking for volunteers to comment, and provide feedb4ck.   To hopefully make it better than the first.

The book would fill in a 30 year gap between the start and the end if the first book.

Cheers,

Kev


------------
Z4CK - A Novel about hacking and murder
http://www.z4ck.org

offroadgeek

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New Fictional Book (Z4CK), hacker uses Zaurus
« Reply #22 on: September 23, 2004, 12:33:52 pm »
Quote
I am however looking for ways to reduce the paperback cost in the states, and getting it out cheaper there.
If you need someone in the states to help you out with that, feel free to drop me a line.  I have a couple contacts with publishing companies (of linux books) because of my work in the local LUG.
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z4ck

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« Reply #23 on: September 23, 2004, 06:47:09 pm »
Cheers, I might just take you up on that offer.

ag0ny

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« Reply #24 on: September 24, 2004, 04:09:23 am »
The site is still down? I really would like to get the book.

z4ck

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« Reply #25 on: September 24, 2004, 06:33:57 am »
Yep, the site is down.  I'm at work at the moment, so I can't get home to fix the problem until around 1.30pm today....sorry, its damn annoying.

I'm going to look at site redirection, so this doesn't happen again.

In the meantime, you can download the first half of the book from

http://z4ck.dyndns.org/Z4CK-first-half.pdf

Thanks for your patience.

As soon as its back I'll post again.

Cheers,

Kev

ag0ny

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« Reply #26 on: September 24, 2004, 09:25:25 am »
Thanks for the link! I already read the first 2 chapters. I really enjoyed them!

I wonder if i can get the paperback here in Germany also?

Omicron

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« Reply #27 on: September 24, 2004, 03:06:12 pm »
If anyone has been following my posts in thi thread, you know I am always looking for a "better deal", even when it came to Z4CK.  

Kev was very nice in defending his price and even asking if others felt the same (which says alot considering we are only talking about 2GBP)...but it appeared I was the only cheap one around  

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I decided to make the massive investment (  ) and buy the second half of the book.

So you're probably saying:  "Who cares?"

My point is: If a cheap guy like me is willing to plunk down approx 4USD this book, that is saying something about the value and quality of Kev's work.  

I cannot recommend his book highly enough.  And the fact that the main character is a Z user, makes it all the more interesting...but the books stands on firm ground even if the main character used a Palm (but not if he used Windows CE  LOL )

Anyway, if you have never read an ebook (this was my first) get the OPIEReader and download the first half (which is free) and see for yourself.  It costs nothing to try it out.

When I snagged the first half free I figured I would never read it (much like my other books), but within a couple of chapters I was firmly hooked...so much so that I not only bought my first electronic-only book (which to a materialist like me pretty much means I bought nothing tangable), I actually feel that I got MORE than my money's worth....I never-ever thought I would buy an Ebook.....so all I can say is , if it was worth the money to (a cheap bastard like) me, it should easily be worth it's weight in gold to others.  

But try the first half and see....you've nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Not too mention tht by buying direct I am sure it helps Kev out alot more than some fraction of a percent he will get in paperback sales.  It's always nice to help one of our own.

Disclaimer: I have no affliation with the Z4CK, except as a satisfied customer.

WWW.Z4CK.ORG
« Last Edit: September 24, 2004, 03:10:17 pm by Omicron »
"You Shall Not Pass"    
....Gandalf, Lord Of The Rings
--------------------------------------------------------------
C-860 (Cacko), 3x4gb MD  
DLINK 660W, 1GB SD,  
Upgraded Archos AV320 w/80GB HDD
Pocketop and Targus IR keyboards
Favorite Deal Site: SaveCity.net (pretty cool, good deals daily on one page)

smammon

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« Reply #28 on: September 24, 2004, 06:12:39 pm »
Something I wish book publishers would do is give you access to electronic formats when you purchase the dead tree version.   I have read a bunch of ebooks, though I still prefer the paper.  I often lament not having the text of my latest diversion handy on my PDA when waiting / riding / standing in line etc.

BTW - Just started chapter 2 looks great so far - I'm already planning to purchase the rest.
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tapjpa

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« Reply #29 on: September 24, 2004, 06:56:46 pm »
Glad to see you came around Omicron  

This is a great book! Lets all pitch in and make this a best seller for Kev!

smammon - I would agree with you. I wish publishers would start creating more eBooks.
I would much rather carry my Z around with a dozen or so PDFs instead of a dozen "dead tree" books.

Jim