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Propeller Hydra Manual needed - absurd shipping fees — Parallax Forums

Propeller Hydra Manual needed - absurd shipping fees

octaloctal Posts: 67
edited 2011-05-30 21:44 in Propeller 1
Hello,
I just want to know if any developper here in wants to sell his book:

Game Programming for the Propeller-Powered HYDRA

I tried to buy it on parallax store directly
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Books/Propeller/tabid/171/CategoryID/45/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/474/Default.aspx

the problem is that people at Parallax still didnt understand that nobody is willing to pay shipping that cost 1.5 times the goods themselves.
The book is proposed at $39, and the lowest shipping fees I can find to France are at $57.53 using USPS 1st Class International Mail.

Can anyone help please?

Regards

Comments

  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-05-30 01:42
    I don't have one for sale, but you can download the complete manual as a pdf, if that helps you any.
  • octaloctal Posts: 67
    edited 2011-05-30 01:46
    Hi Kevin,
    I have the PDF version (downloaded from Parallax website), but when it comes to read and work seriously on a book, I'm "old school", I need to have paper version at hand. I need to buy the paper version.
  • RossHRossH Posts: 5,519
    edited 2011-05-30 03:23
    "I'll give you my Hydra Manual when you take it from my cold, dead hands!"
    Ross.
  • octaloctal Posts: 67
    edited 2011-05-30 05:22
    Hi RossH,
    I'm not expecting for free stuff, nor is begging !
    I'm asking parallax to check their shipping fees logic only. And as I said, I'm looking if someone want to sell his book and send it with reasonable shipping fees to France, I'm ready to buy it from him.
  • RossHRossH Posts: 5,519
    edited 2011-05-30 05:29
    Hi octal,

    Sorry - poor joke. I was only emphasizing how unlikley it is you will be to find anyone who would be willing to part with their copy!

    Ross.
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2011-05-30 05:32
    Hi octal.

    Only possibility - IF Any of Parallax people can send it To You as Private AIR post.
    In Sweden that post are not charged with any Toll payment.

    octal wrote: »
    Hi RossH,
    I'm not expecting for free stuff, nor is begging !
    I'm asking parallax to check their shipping fees logic only. And as I said, I'm looking if someone want to sell his book and send it with reasonable shipping fees to France, I'm ready to buy it from him.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-05-30 05:44
    Octal,

    For that kind of money you could have the local print shop print you a copy and bind it.
  • TharkunTharkun Posts: 67
    edited 2011-05-30 05:47
    Hi octal,

    i got my hydra-book from here: http://elmicro.com/en/products.html

    There's also a contact adress in france: http://elmicro.com/de/ela-fr.html

    ask for Hydra-Book only !
  • octaloctal Posts: 67
    edited 2011-05-30 05:48
    @rossH
    no pb ;)

    @Heater
    I have very bad experience with binded copies of books when they are beyond 500 pages. This book is about 800++ pages :(
  • octaloctal Posts: 67
    edited 2011-05-30 05:53
    @Tharkun
    Thanks, I'll ask elemicro if they can provide it. From previous experiences, shipping fees from Germany are not that high (less than 10euro for packages <3Kg).
    As for their French contact, Lextronic does not import Parallax products anymore. The Parallax official distributor (www.selectronique.fr) has most propeller products, but its prices are crazy:
    Hydra Dev kit = 231 euros :(
    Propeller Dip chip = 16 euro each :(

    Crazy !
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-05-30 06:18
    So divide the thing up into chapters and bind separately. Might be more easy to manage with that way anyway.

    Now, I could be wrong but I thought I heard here that the binding on the Hydra book was not so good anyway.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-05-30 07:40
    My Hydra manual broke apart as I read it. I had to stop reading it in bed because it was so noisy as it self disassembled, I was afraid it would wake my wife.

    I had it spiral bound in two sections.

    I've been told that they've fixed the binding problem.

    Another thing to consider is the pdf version is in color and the printed manual is black and white.
  • Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) Posts: 1,720
    edited 2011-05-30 09:13
    I would spend a little extra for a Nook Color e Reader and use the Hydra free PDF version.

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    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nookcolor/?cds2Pid=35700#logo
  • markaericmarkaeric Posts: 282
    edited 2011-05-30 10:28
    My copy also started to fall apart the first time I opened it. I really like Heater's suggestion on binding sections of the book separately... I might just try drilling some holes in the left side and stuffing it into a binder or something.


    Bob Lawrence, I don't believe the NC is available in Europe, so getting one would probably be a costly proposition. Otherwise, I agree with you 100% :)
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-05-30 18:51
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    My Hydra manual broke apart as I read it. I had to stop reading it in bed because it was so noisy as it self disassembled, I was afraid it would wake my wife.

    I had it spiral bound in two sections.

    I've been told that they've fixed the binding problem.

    Another thing to consider is the pdf version is in color and the printed manual is black and white.

    The day I got my Hydra kit I pulled the book out of the box and the cover fell off! I guess this is a common problem.
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2011-05-30 19:52
    Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) wrote: »
    I would spend a little extra for a Nook Color e Reader and use the Hydra free PDF version.
    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nookcolor/?cds2Pid=35700#logo

    Or add a second monitor to your computer station.

    There are much better uses for dead trees than paper... (e.g. furniture, robot bases, camp fires...)
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-05-30 20:04
    I would check again with Parallax sales. That price seems rather high, compared with the rates quoted here:

    -Phil
  • RossHRossH Posts: 5,519
    edited 2011-05-30 20:40
    Phill,

    Parallax shipping costs are always way out of whack with actual postage charges. They are aware of the problem - I don't know why they haven't fixed it yet.

    Ross.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-05-30 21:37
    John R,
    There are much better uses for dead trees than paper.... (e.g. furniture, robot bases, camp fires...)
    Ha, you for got one thing. Now a days most of the world needs the dead trees to print money on:)
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-05-30 21:44
    Re: Bindings.

    Yeah, some of them were kind of crappy. I clamped mine to drill binder holes through it. Worked great! I have it in two binders, and it will lay flat. Recommended.

    If you can actually get it printed, have them break it into two chunks and spiral bind it. You won't regret doing that.
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