Safari Books Online: Is it worth it?
I was fortunate enough to work for a company a couple years ago that gave each of their employees a subscription to Safari Books Online. If you’re not familiar with this company, here’s how it works: You pay a monthly fee–as low as $10 (see below)–for access to most of the technical books published by most of the major book publishers. Depending on the plan, you may get to check out 5-10 books at a time or you may get unlimited books. For most people, the biggest benefit is that you can search the text of these books. Are you looking for a solution to a very specific problem? Are you trying to debug some code? The answer(s) are often in these books. Consider you have been buying new computer books at Borders or Amazon. You’re probably paying $25-$60 each time. It only takes a few books a year to make this service appealing.
The fact that you can search the text of all the books and download the sample files makes it even more useful. I know I checked out and read many more books than I would have otherwise. I was exposed to new techniques I would otherwise never have seen.
For about 6 months I lost access to Safari (my previously employer finally terminated my account). I thought about joining myself, but wasn’t sure if I needed another $23 monthly bill. I have access to a lot of books from other sources, so I wasn’t convinced.
Then, a month ago, I was trying to look for some information on Spry (new AJAX methods in Dreamweaver CS3). I did a search in Safari and they had exactly what I was looking for, complete with sample files. I joined as a trial member and quickly ran out of free page downloads–the trial is limited to 50 page views. I decided to join and at some point in the process it mentioned a $9.99 plan. That sounded perfect–5 books at a time for $9.99/month. I couldn’t find anywhere to sign up at this rate. After contacting customer service, which was a pleasant experience, I found that I could do this as a ’special request’ after subscribing at the regular $22.99/month rate. True to their word, they credited my account and bumped me down to the $9.99 plan. I don’t know that they want this spread around, but I figure they’d rather get some customers hooked at the lower rate than turned off at the higher price. If you’re interested, sign up for a regular plan (month to month or annual) and then ask to be bumped down to Basic Starter - 5 slots Bookshelf, USD $9.99 per month.
In the end, if you use the service regularly, it is a very good value. I’m very happy with the number of titles I have access to for the equivalent of buying three new books a year. Plus I get the latest titles and don’t have to keep buying more bookshelves…
If you’re a member, or you sign up, let me know what you think…
April 30th, 2008 by zvannote
Zac’s Books & Articles
I’ve mentioned to people that I’ve written books and articles that appear on other websites, but when they ask what they are and where to find them, I don’t always remember them all. So here’s a list of articles and other things I’ve done outside of Creative Fuel.
Books
- Dreamweaver MX Magic (I wrote 2 chapters/projects for this book)
- Dreamweaver MX Killer Tips (I was a technical editor for this book)
- I’ve also reviewed and/or done technical editing for a few other web-related books from New Riders and Thomson/Course Technologies
Articles on DMXzone / FLzone / DNzone / FWzone
Photoshop Articles:
- Creating Animated GIFs with Photoshop & ImageReady
- Exploring the power of Photoshop CS2
- Creating Buttons and Tabbed Interfaces in Photoshop
Contribute Articles:
- Contribute: Part 1 - Setting up a Contribute Site
- Contribute: Part 2 - Administering a Contribute Site
Web Development:
Peachpit / InformIt
April 21st, 2008 by zvannote
Top 10 Web Browsers
So what are the top 10 web browsers? How do you rank them? The first criteria I used was that the top browsers still have to be in general use (at least many thousands of regular users). I ranked them based on objective and subjective criteria including security, usability, CSS and Javascript support, standards compliance, available plug-ins and compatibility with most major sites. For some other viewpoints, here’s an index of independent browser reviews.
The Best Web Browsers (as of April 2008)
- Firefox 2.x (Windows, Mac)
- Opera 9.x (Windows, Mac)
- Safari 3.x (Mac)
- Internet Explorer 7.x (Windows only)
- Camino 1.x (Mac)
- Safari 3.x (Windows)
- Internet Explorer 6.x (Windows only)
- Netscape 9.x (Windows, Mac) — Officially dead
- Mozilla / SeaMonkey 1.x (Windows, Mac)
- Internet Explorer 5.x (Windows, Mac) — Officially dead
Honorable Mention:
- Internet Explorer 8 (Windows only) - this one is still in beta and still has some bugs, but its standards-compliance, CSS and Javascript capabilities are very promising. It currently trashes some sites (like Google Maps), but general compatibility seems pretty good. I’ve used it to browse a number of sites and it’s been fairly reliable. We can all thank Firefox and Safari for pushing Microsoft to finally make a better browser.
Most Popular* Browsers (as of April 2008)
- Internet Explorer 6.x (Windows only) ~32%
- Firefox 2.x ~30%
- Internet Explorer 7.x (Windows only) ~28%
- Safari ~4%
- Opera ~1.5%
- Mozilla / SeaMonkey 1.x <1%
- Internet Explorer 5.x (Windows, Mac) <1%
- AOL <1%
- Netscape <1%
- Konqueror <1%
* I looked at browser stats from a few sources (1, 2, 3). Browser stats are hard to get anyone to agree on. Depending on the source of your statistics (and the audience they were derived from), the results can be greatly skewed. For instance, stats from a more tech-savvy audience skew toward Firefox while stats for Fortune 500 and Government sites skew toward IE 6. IE 7 is trailing due to slow uptake of Vista, an odd new interface, and IE 7’s initial reputation for ‘breaking’ many sites. I’m sure Microsoft didn’t expect IE 6 to still be on top over a year and half after the rollout of IE 7. They’ve already released the beta of IE 8, but most people are still using a browser designed 7+ years ago (half as old as the web itself). Of course, this begs the question, “Does anyone care what browser they’re using?” I would say about 30-40% of computer users care (likely the ones that represent most internet activity) and take the time to try different browsers. If you spend a lot of time online, you owe it to yourself to try them all out and see which one you prefer.
What do you use? What is your preferred browser? Why?
April 16th, 2008 by zvannote
The Death of Netscape
It was with a touch of sadness and nostalgia that I read earlier this year that Netscape will no longer be developed. Certainly there are some diehards still using various versions of this old-standby browser, but AOL finally announced that it will no longer be actively developed.
Of course, we’ve heard that before only to have the spinoff of Netscape (Mozilla’s Firefox) help resurrect Netscape in the image of this next generation browser. Apparently everyone believed the rumors of it’s death and very few went to look to see if it was still alive and kicking.
I used Netscape off and on as my main browser since version 1, relying on it’s e-mail client for a few years back in the 90’s. It took years for Mozilla and Firefox to regain the lost momentum, but in many ways Netscape’s legacy has continued to be a thorn in Microsoft’s side, spurring the folks in Redmond to improve their browser.
Rest in Peace, Netscape.
Netscape is notably survived by: Firefox, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey and a small list of other interesting projects. Netscape kicked off the internet revolution, and through it’s direct descendants it continues to move the industry forward.
April 15th, 2008 by zvannote
2008 HOW Design Conference
Even though it’s a couple months away, registration is open for the 2008 HOW Design Conference in Boston. I don’t know if I’ll make it this year, but I strongly recommend it for any graphic designer. Whether you’re working in print or on the web, this conference has topics of interest. I have attended several HOW Conferences over the years. It’s always a good time, with lots of learning and a little free time to explore the city. One of the highlights has been the Studio Tours.
While some have been more interesting than others, it is very eye-opening to see how other design studios are setup and operate. You get amazing access to the physical space and the staff are usually present so you can ask lots of questions.
I have been to Dallas (1999), San Francisco (2001), Orlando (2002), Chicago (2005) and Las Vegas (2006). Each city has its own unique identity and the design studios are varied–from very small startups to large, international firms.
In addition to the keynotes, conference sessions and optional studio tours, there are great parties each time. It’s a great chance to meet famous designers or just hang out and have a good time.
If I could, I would attend every year (and I have, everytime I can convince my boss to pay for it). Of the many conferences I’ve attended, it has consistently offered the most inspiring and educational content. On top of that, it’s also been the most fun.
If you’re going, let me know how you liked it…
April 1st, 2008 by zvannote
How do you buy new music? CD or MP3?
A student in a recent course handed out a survey asking some questions about entertainment preferences. It included the usual entertainment options for a college crowd and gave three options for music:
- CDs
- MP3 Downloads
- Radio
This question intrigued me as I have a huge collection of CDs, and I’m still lukewarm about MP3 downloads. In addition to buying new CDs (1 or 2 each month), I download music all the time. In fact, I have an annual membership to eMusic, I download certain tracks and albums from iTunes and I’ve looked high and low for rare tracks I couldn’t find anywhere but online. So why do I bother with CDs? For one, the sound quality is undeniably better on a CD. The second is the tangible item I can take anywhere (at home, in the car, at work) and I don’t have to worry about it vanishing in a hard drive crash. The last major reason is for the artwork and liner notes. A professional package adds another dimension to an album beyond the music. In some ways, the music’s identity is tied to the visual imagery of its packaging. With downloads, I can’t always find information like when an album was recorded, who played on a particular track or who wrote a song. eMusic has a great price and OK sound quality, but they’re seriously lacking this extra information. iTunes is a little better, but the price is much higher. $9.99 isn’t horrible for an album, but somehow it seems like a lot for something that’s completely intangible. I bought the complete U2 collection from iTunes, but I still have a problem getting rid of my old fashioned U2 CD’s, even though I’ve paid for the same music twice and I generally listen to the iTunes version on my iPod.
Now I’m going to date myself and admit that I bought music on vinyl records for years and finally moved into the CD age in the early 90’s. Napster made CD’s feel downright irrelevant in the late 90’s. Of course the lawsuits helped to remind folks that people make their living from the music industry and it really isn’t right to just rip it off. But did the RIAA’s lawsuit rampage actually save the CD (or the major label’s sagging sales)? In my very informal polling it doesn’t appear to. Sure, most people have some CDs, but most people under 30 (and many over that age) seem to be right at home downloading music and leaving it at that. I suspect the CD will be around for quite some time, but their retail sales will account for an ever decreasing percentage of album sales.
With an increasing demand for more lenient restrictions on copying and higher quality digital files, it’s not hard to imagine a completely digital music world in the future. In the meantime, if you hate the DRM restrictions or you want the old-fashioned music-buying experience, you still have plenty of options. Amazon and CDUniverse have about the best selection anywhere. Of course, if you don’t like paying $15-$20/each, consider CD trading services like Lala.com. I have traded dozens of CDs there and it’s been (mostly) a fun experience.
How do YOU buy new music? Do you even pay for music? Is BitTorrent your ‘music provider’? Do you subscribe to a service like Napster 2.0? I’m curious how other music lovers feel and how they get their music fix.
Here’s some other interesting reading on the topic of Downloads vs. CDs:
- P2P Music Downloads Increase Music CD Sales
- CDs vs. Downloads
- Digital Music Sales Near $3B, Don’t Offset CD Sales Slump
March 13th, 2008 by zvannote
Creative Suite 3 Offers The Most Integrated Creative Toolset Ever
The hype surrounding previous CS launches made the latest hoopla about CS3 seem like more of the same for another predictable upgrade. What we got, though, is the most ambitious upgrade I have ever seen. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than the software that came before it? Yes. Is it worth the upgrade price? For professionals who use it daily–yes.
All of Adobe’s major software has been upgraded at the same time and it’s essentially identical on Mac and Windows. Even the video software, like Premiere Pro. In my mind, the integration and overall capabilities of this suite make it the most compelling solution for anyone in print, web or video production. I’m not a video professional, but what I’ve seen so far has rivaled every major feature in Apple’s suite. The fact that it’s available for both platforms is good news for everyone.
Macromedia’s product line has been rolled in and the transition isn’t seamless, but it’s really good. What designer hasn’t been hoping for better integration between Flash and Illustrator/Photoshop, or between Dreamweaver and Photoshop? Isn’t it nice to be able to learn one interface and use it consistently (more or less) throughout all of your creative tools?
I try not to get rolled up in the hype, but CS3 lives up to Adobe’s hype. I use almost all of Adobe’s software and I’ve been delighted with the improvements in all of the tools. There are only a handful of groundbreaking features, but there are hundreds of improvements and new features that really improve your day-to-day work.
I only have a few minor complaints. The bundles. There are too many and they are confusing. Which includes what? I don’t have a great solution, but it was hard to decide which bundle to buy and even harder to explain it to newer users. So many people design across media these days. Along those lines, I’m not entirely comfortable with the death of ImageReady and the rise of Fireworks. Most designers I know use Photoshop all the time. Fireworks is a good program, but it requires switching from Photoshop and learning new ways of doing the same things. I always hoped ImageReady would be rolled into Photoshop. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now…
February 7th, 2008 by zvannote
Is Silverlight a Serious Flash Competitor?
Microsoft has now released version 1.0 of the Silverlight plug-in, pitting their new technology head-to-head with the widely used Adobe Flash plug-in. With an installation base nearing 100% for the Flash Player and nearly 90% for the latest couple versions (8 and 9) which allow sophisticated video and interactivity, Flash has a huge headstart.
So why does Microsoft think it can rule this market? Internet Explorer will undoubtedly roll the technology into an update. This will guarantee that around 90% of all users will have access to it (even if IE is not their preferred browser). How about Mac and Linux users? There are versions available for them as well (or will be soon for Linux).
However, uptake of Internet Explorer 7 has been relatively slow, especially in corporations where IE 6 is likely to linger around for a long while. This makes it likely that total installation of Silverlight won’t top 50% of the market in the next year or so. With the popularity of YouTube and an array of sites with new video content, it’s no wonder Microsoft wants in on this market. However, the robust (and unobtrusive) Flash Player does video (and everything else) very well. Why would sites like YouTube reengineer to work on SilverLight? I don’t see any compelling reason–yet. A few big names have signed on to support SilverLight (like Entertainment Tonight), but how irritated and/or confused will people be to download another new technology? How likely are Mac users to add more Microsoft technology on their computers? Sure it’s free, but if Flash already does it, why bother?
Microsoft is wise to start enlisting partners early on. This will be key to adoption, but I would imagine most sites will offer Flash AND Silverlight before just opting for Silverlight.
One key advantage to this development is that it is likely to keep Adobe on their toes, improving Flash and Flash Player even faster than has been usual.
January 24th, 2008 by zvannote
New blog for Creative Fuel
Welcome to the new blog site for Creative Fuel. For those who already know about Creative Fuel (www.creativefuel.org), welcome to this new venue for information relating to graphic design of all kinds. For those of you new to Creative Fuel; Welcome! I have attempted to assemble a number of useful links, including news, reviews, recommended books, videos, software and equipment for print and web designers.
I will attempt to post here frequently as new items of interest come up. A lot of interesting things have been going on in the industry lately and I’ll try to help you keep up with industry developments via this blog.
creativefuel.org is primarily visited by students from the University of New Mexico and Santa Fe Community College, where I teach a number of graphics, design and web-related classes, but there are an increasing number of visitors from around the world. Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated and I will respond personally and/or in a post as appropriate.
See you real soon!