I wish they'd do something better on the ebook and paperback combo. I really think Manning gets this right. If you give me the ebook as a reward for buying directly from you, I'll buy directly from you. Otherwise I'm apt to just get it from Amazon.
It feels a bit odd saying "reward me for being your customer", but in terms of marketing, giving away a 'free' ebook with purchase does seem to be the best strategy. And Manning does seem to be leading the pack in this respect; even though the price difference between the two 'combo deals' might not be that huge, the way Manning presents it as a given that you'd want a digital copy of your technical book, I think gives them an edge for 'understanding their audience'. Not to mention that just by being on their mailing list, they send you a ton of good deals on a daily basis, with at least one super good deal per month -- all this, along with their consistently long list of 'MEAP' titles, have definitely made them my first choice when purchasing technical books.
Aye, I love buying from Manning. They've been doing it for ages too, I don't see why all the publishers don't all give away PDF copies when you buy a physical book.
There are a ton of good books in their store, so a lot of it will depend on what you're interested in and what your level is. I have quite a few books from them and have been happy with every one.
Practices of an Agile Developer is just the right amount of discussion of methodology, project management, and technical practices.. you know, before you get back to just writing code. :)
Picked up the new CoffeeScript book, the Cucumber book, and the New Programmer's Survival Guide. With the coupon, they were just over $10 a pop - in the 'Sure, why not?' price range for me.
To those having problems with the coupon code: I emailed Dave @ prag prog and they have fixed the issue. I was able to purchase the book I wanted with the 40% off. So try again!
I wouldn't advise buying that. It covers extremely basic issues and approaches. Probably suitable for someone in their final years of college, or one who's just getting into some scripting for the first time in life.
Nonsense, they have one of the most distinctive, recognizable cover designs, easily recognizable even from a distance, and are consistent for all their books, and I think they are attractive, what more would you want for your book designer?
Agreed, it feels like they are padding out the content. A $35 book with 300 pages with a big font and a bunch of pictures just doesn't end up with too much meat for your money.
