0.3.1 Why Shareware?

We've chosen shareware as a distribution method for several reasons. For one thing, we hope it will make the book available to a wider audience, both because the cost is less ($5 + your printing/copying costs, as compared to probably $20 for a traditional book) and because anyone who can't afford the full cost is encouraged to pay just what they can afford -- or what they think the book is worth. We've chosen to make the book shareware rather than freeware because we we would like some reimbursement for our development efforts.

We also hope that this distribution method will save a few trees. We've intentionally removed all sophisticated formatting so the text can be used on-line as a reference with virtually any computer system. You also have the option of printing just the chapters you need.

Finally, we like the idea of distributing our ideas directly to the "end-user" without the filter of a publisher. It's not that we think commercially published books are bad; but there's clearly room in the world for books that are published by individuals, just as there's room for handmade pottery, independent computer consultants, roving jugglers, and freelance carpenters. We count ourselves fortunate to have caught the leading edge of a technology that makes this kind of independent publishing possible.