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Comment by dopamean | Hacker News Reader

Like another commenter I think $49 is a bit high for a digital book. However, now that I know that they are giving it away for people who can't afford it I don't mind as much. I can afford $49 for this book even if I think it's a little high.

I guess this begs the question: if they dropped the price to $25 would more people be able to afford it and then they wouldn't have to give any away? I wonder what the "correct" balance is there.

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$49 for a lifetime software engineering wisdom? You refactor a single class that you never have to revisit again and you've easily paid for this.

I will never understand programmer's cost/benefit analysis..

That's assuming that what's in this book is exceptional (which you can't tell without a preview). I didn't think that Practical Object-Oriented Ruby was incredible, though it is a well-written tutorial of basic OO techniques. You could spend less than $49 on a couple good used copies of OO classics, or many more if you visit the right used bookstore. And it's not even a hard copy so it is competing with the wealth of good free information online about OOP. I might pay $99 for a hard copy of this, but no way I'd pay $49 for a PDF.

> I might pay $99 for a hard copy of this, but no way I'd pay $49 for a PDF.

Generally, I like physical books more than electronic ones, and I'd be willing to pay a premium for it. From what you're saying, a PDF of the book would provide you < $49 of benefit, while a hard copy would provide you > $99. In your opinion, what is the difference in value between those? What I mean is, what specifically about the hard copy provides enough benefit that you'd pay over twice as much for it?

IMO, the greatest proportion of value for a book I'd actually buy is in the information it contains and the presentation of that information, rather than the form it's published in. It's not like I don't have several devices that I could use as portable readers, after all.

I have to say it largely depends on the location. I have moved progressively to more and more affluent countries (now in my fourth, the US), and it had radically changed how I view "value", especially money. A good book (and I like Sandy's work) will easily pay for itself now that I can actually afford to buy it and 50 dollars is not such an immediate hit on my bank. Before, 50 dollars is a blood rush. :D

I don't have a problem with the price dude. Calm down. The main reason why I said that I think it is a little high is that I've already paid for POODR and have listened to countless talks from Sandi.

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