Homebrew, $300 Book-Scanner

Interesting article nice project.

Some of the comments I do not agree with as well as copyright and duplication infringmet, such as copying text books because the are over priced. They are expensive because they will never make a best seller. You buy the information in the book.

p911

They are expensive because they will never make a best seller. You buy the information in the book.

I disagree - one of the more prevalent arguments for high priced textbooks is that price is high due to the cost/profit of the publishers and the authors do not get that much return, which is why they often produce new "editons" every other year which contain very minor changes and often just recycled examples and problems.

Here is a good article about one of the more popular calculus text book authors - James Stewart. Please focus on the statement "who earned his millions writing calculus textbooks."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123872378357585295.html#project%3DSLIDESHOW08%26s%3DSB123869600484183257%26articleTabs%3Darticle

He was worth it, I would want a knowlegdable person the know what he is writing about to write the text book..........is that a cross section example or typical of textbook authors?

Now how about the publisher's profit.

Do you have anything on that?

Sure,

How about their quarterly operating statements, for example - McGraw Hill

Operating profit decreased by 15.9% to $298.1 million versus $354.7 million last year, (FOR ONE QUARTER)

http://investor.mcgraw-hill.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96562&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1346023&highlight=

I also like how you have changed your story

First - They are expensive because they will never make a best seller.

Then - He was worth it ...... is that a cross section example of textbook authors.

Well, how about an analogy to the service industry, because that is pretty much what text books are. Of course it is not typical, like in all things - if you provide a crappy service - don't expect to profit

How about their quarterly operating statements, for example - McGraw Hill

Operating profit decreased by 15.9% to $298.1 million versus $354.7 million last year, (FOR ONE QUARTER)

Your responding like a idiot. They are over a billion dollar company. And as a company they are there to make money. Do you expect them to just put a cap on profits. They actually need the profit to stay in business, That profile is not out of line. They are a business.

ok, what would it be if they charges 25% less for a text or reference book, That book will still be an expensive book and what happened to their profit margin....... even with that discount some books still would be over $100.00-150.00,

like I said, it will never make a best seller, because best seller hard covers are what, 30.00-40.00 dollars.

Don't make profit a sin,

I also like how you have changed your story

First - They are expensive because they will never make a best seller.

what is false about that,

and

Then - He was worth it ...... is that a cross section example of textbook authors.

Of course, one would want a professional writing the book, no one would want a guest writing a text book,

You expect professional leaders, such as Mathematician, Scientists, and Engineers to write a book, and for what, little if not no possibility's of making money. You are brilliant.

Changed my story.....your nothing but a guest.

Well, how about an analogy to the service industry, because that is pretty much what text books are. Of course it is not typical, like in all things - if you provide a crappy service - don't expect to profit

Now who is changing......

You have to look at the bigger picture guest, and not just brief news clips, thats just poor and bias researching.

...and he can still drink while standing there turning the pages.