RE: Time for a new "Sorcerer's Guide"? (was RE: DTAARA keyword, IN opcode, and sub-procedure)

IBM doesn't think like that; at least not in my experience. Sure IBM
employees might think that way ("how much do we have to sell to recover the
cost") but IBM certainly doesn't.
When I was selling my RPG books myself via "Cozzi Research" IBM purchased
several hundred copies for resale to its customers. The formula the
purchasing agent told me they used to figure out the retail price (and I'm
going from memory here...) was something like:
Retail Price = (cost * 9) * 2
The point is IBM gives away the redbooks (online) because it might cost them
too much internally to sell them for a profit. 
Granted today, things have changed, and these economic models may not even
be used anymore... But the point is a huge company rarely, if ever, tries to
break even on products... it does no good (in their view) to sell something
for zero or near zero profit. 
Of course certain things can be a loss-leader. Things that improve the
marketing or satisfaction level with the customer. Give-aways at conferences
are one such loss leader, and I believe Redbooks could fall into that
category for an IBM-sized company. 
-Bob Cozzi


-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:19 AM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: Time for a new "Sorcerer's Guide"? (was RE: DTAARA keyword, IN
opcode, and sub-procedure)

Paid for their services?

So, most of you purchased the redbook, like I did, and didn't just 
download the PDF's?

And how many copies would they have to sell in order to cover the costs of 
Jon, Susan and the rest of the fine people who worked on it?

(My Redbook is autographed by Jon and Susan.)

Granted, I am a big fan of online books, for reference purposes.  But for 
new techniques and concepts I like hard copy.  I do my best reading "down 
the hall".

Rob Berendt
-- 
Group Dekko Services, LLC
Dept 01.073
PO Box 2000
Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com





RPower@xxxxxxxxxx 
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RE: Time for a new "Sorcerer's Guide"? (was RE: DTAARA keyword, IN opcode, 
and sub-procedure)






Was off for a little while and man what a full mailbox.  Been reading this 

thread with interest and I have to agree with Bob.  I have benefitted 
greatly from his advice, and the advice of the others on this list, but to 

help those who need it is one thing.  To help Big Blue who is too cheap to 

pay, forget it.  If they want their books to be good, then they should 
have to pay for it.  I find it ironic that they expect the users to pay 
for their services (ahem, a bit overpriced IMHO at that) but they cannot 
fork out a few dollars for those who would write a good book?  I find that 

hilarious.  Just try calling IBM and ask them if they would mind coming 
down to your shop for two weeks and help you install a new system.  Then 
tell them "Sorry, but you won't be paid".  Then get ready for the rush of 
support staff coming in your door, NOT!  Lol.  Can't say I blame you one 
bit Bob.

Ron Power
Programmer
Information Services
City Of St. John's, NL
P.O. Box 908
St. John's, NL
A1C 5M2
Tel: 709-576-8132
Email: rpower@xxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.stjohns.ca/
___________________________________________________________________________
Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm. - 
Sir Winston Churchill




"Bob Cozzi" <cozzi@xxxxxxxxx> 
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06/23/2004 01:41 PM
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Subject
RE: Time for a new "Sorcerer's Guide"? (was RE: DTAARA keyword, IN opcode, 

and sub-procedure)






Hi Scott,
Sleep? What's that? :)
No, it is that while you and other have regular jobs, people like me and 
X,
Y, Z write and contribute to this space for a living. While myself and X, 
Y,
and Z also contribute probably more than others it is to our advantage. 
What
is not to our advantage is to have an $80 Billion company ask those who 
will
not receive one dime from an employer during that time in Rochester 
working
for them for FREE. I suppose after 20 years of notoriety having my name on 

a
book that IBM publishes for free, means nothing to me. Okay, perhaps I'm
Jaded.... Why don't you volunteer to do it instead? You can take a couple 
of
weeks off, can't you?  :) You'd do just as good a job as I would and
probably better because you would probably pay attention whereas I would
want it done my way instead. <g>
If it were something of greater interest to me, then I agree. For example,
if NASA were to asked me to do something on the Commercialization of Space
(I'm part owner of Rockeplane www.rocketplane.com) that would require my
free time for no compensation, I would jump at it. 
-Bob


-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Scott Klement
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 10:56 AM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: Time for a new "Sorcerer's Guide"? (was RE: DTAARA keyword, 
IN
opcode, and sub-procedure)


Hi,

> But since IBM pays ZERO Dollars to have you spend your dedicated time
> (often two week or more) writing a Red book for them, I doubt that I'll
> be working on it, what would be the point/benefit?

Hmmm... what is the point/benefit of writing responses in this forum?

I know that I've written a few free tutorials and put them on my web site,
and I've never regretted it.   I love receiving e-mails from people who
are thrilled with my site and have been able to accomplish things that
they otherwise wouldn't have been able to do.

I would think that having the opportunity to do the same thing while
getting the kind of exposure that IBM can provide for you would be a great
thing.

Though, I suppose you've gotta sleep sometime... :)
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