Asa Dotzler: Firefox and more

is it really called "firefox for dummies" ?

and

where can one purchase it?

oh ... indeed it is ... and Amazon.com is one answer to the 2nd question:

Amazon.com: Firefox For Dummies by Blake Ross
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471748994/

I'm not quite sure why, but in the RSS feed, that amazon code segment that you've got at the left there appears as kanji script. Very strange. Just so you know.

I have a hard time believing that the majority of IE users (Mom and Pop) will actually take the time to read a book on a new browser, as good as the book may be. If it is written as more of a reference, then I could see it as a great aide.

Beltzner-The Amazon code appears normally for me. No kanji for me.

I'll have to second Toms opinion; who on earth uninterested enough to stick with IE (Mom and Pop) will want to read a whole book about "some other Internet window they call Firefucks"? Hmm.. Well, somebody must have believed in the idea. I don't. But, by all means, do prove me wrong!

Hugo and Tom's comments remind me of something we used to hear a lot from analysts back in the earliest days of Firefox: "who on earth is going to download a new browser?" We don't hear much from them anymore ;)

Not read books? What rot! Consumers find books a lot easier and less stressful than a spyware ridden computer they don't understand. Having worked in a computer superstore I've found people are very open to reading computer books, as most read a book at night and have the time.

Even people who have not used Firefox are beginning to hear of it. I always ask people if they've heard about Firefox before I introduce it to them, and almost always they've heard 'of it' but were not certain what it was. This book will be a great aid to them.

I hope there is an extremely long section on Extensions and the various functionalities and flavores they already offer today......mouse gestures, favorite tags, keywords, statusbar weather report, mediaplayer integation, forum comment spellschecking etc etc etc.....probably those who dont read it are the dummies....how could they ever do without. IE7 looks like a perfect picture, until you use it....help! get me out of there....not wanting to slagging off the competition it really should have been called Firefox For IE Dummies.

You know what I really wish...

I wish that there was a heavily discounted 10-pack of this.

That way I could afford to give away copies.

Well, you can always ask Mr. Ross (nicely :p) to relicense the book's contents in GFDL or CC; with a cover-text clause for GFDL or a non-commercial clause for CC if he prefers...

(I do understand that this would involve complications with the book's publisher, but I still think its worth thinking...)

I sent several emails to you but you didn't reply any of them. Is your email address still working correctly?

For the record, I was never of the opinion that people wouldn't try a new browser. The difference here is that people need to shell out money to get this book. In trying a new browser (that's free), the feeling is, "well, what do I have to lose but all the infections and vulnerabilities of IE?". People feel a little different when money is involved, especially when it's involved with something about which they have no idea if it will be well spent.

Although I do think it's great for guys like us, who will read it and say, "oh, that's neat, I didn't know that", and then lend it to Mom and Pop, I can't see it reaching the audience it would really help.

I tech edited the book, by the way, and as I did so learned more about Firefox than I had before. I could have hounded out the information, I'm sure, but the book was a great way to get me up to speed on obscure shortcuts and other cool stuff. Good job, Blake!

-JR

Tom: it's supposed to be a reference. Note the tagline on all For Dummies covers: "A reference for the rest of us." -JR

Yeah! Firefox is ONLY for DUMMIES!