Pogue Press -- O'Reilly The Missing Manuals -- the books that should have been in the box.

Click here to find YOUR Missing Manual
Arrow Home
Arrow Library
Full list of all Missing Manuals
Arrow Missing CD-ROMs
Free/Shareware Programs

Arrow Send us your Feedback
Write reviews, submit errata, ask questions
Arrow Sign up for our Newsletter
Arrow Screencasts
Arrow For Starters Series
Arrow Write for Us
Arrow About Missing Manuals
Arrow News Archive
Arrow Blogs
Arrow Press Releases

Arrow David Pogue's NYTimes Column
Arrow David Pogue's NYTimes Blog
Arrow David Pogue's Home Page

Arrow O'Reilly Website

Download Our 2008 Catalog

Download Our 2008 Catalog (1.4MB PDF)



 Archive
 Bullet Shift, Control, Option, and Command Keys Locking
 Bullet Apple Logo in iDVD
 Bullet Mac Fan, Yech
 Bullet Blurry Screen on My eMac
 Bullet Shared Data Files
 Bullet "Hopscotch" Reading
 Bullet Trouble Downloading to iPhoto
 Bullet Entourage Synchronizing from Desktop to Laptop
 Bullet Final Cut Express
 Bullet Power Keys in Jaguar
 Bullet iMovie 3 and Other New Books
 Bullet Burning CDs and DVDs: Change Default?
 Bullet Log Out Users in OS X
 Bullet Faxes and Cable Modems
 Bullet Missing Keystrokes in OS X
 Bullet Version Control / File Sharing
 Bullet iMovie: Saving Clips to an External Drive
 Bullet Hyperlinks in Mail
 Bullet Method for Writing Your Books--Speaking Them
 Bullet Missing from Missing Manual
 Bullet Changing Name of Computer Owner
 Bullet Upgrade Missing Manuals?
 Bullet Software That Comes with Manuals
 Bullet iDVD
 Bullet iMovie 2--Ghost Handles
 Bullet OS X for Windows People
 Bullet AppleWorks 6 Book
 Bullet Adjusting Column Views in OS X
 Bullet iMovie:The Missing Manual
 Bullet External and Internal IP Addresses
 Bullet Selection of Digital Camera for iMac
 Bullet XP Features
 Bullet Network Menu Extra: Menulet
 Bullet iPhoto: The Missing Manual
 Bullet iDisk on the iMac OS X
 Bullet Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual
 Bullet Screensavers in OS X
 Bullet Dreamweaver Books
 Bullet OS X Book: Second Edition?
 Bullet Paper Size: For International Readers



From David's Desk
December 2004

Make the Books Lay Flat

From: Peter K.

I have the Missing Manuals for AppleWorks 6 and Mac OS X (Panther Edition), and although I have barely scratched the surface, I can see that both are going to be very useful. I find it difficult to imagine how anyone can possibly come to grips with what the computer has to offer without such works of reference, given that the manuals that come in the box are a joke.

My reason for writing is to ask if you have ever considered publishing the manuals in loose-leaf form, as it would make it so much easier to refer to them when using the computer. As it is, the pages naturally will not stay open, and after a time this gets tiresome. Just a thought. I realize loose leaf would be more expensive and that you would see it as an alternative, not as a replacement. But maybe you'll consider it.

Best wishes,
Peter K.




That's an interesting question. As it happens, the Missing Manual series is one of the few that uses a special lay-flat binding, one that costs us more but is much more convenient for readers. On the back cover, do you see a little logo that says RepKover? That tells you that you have the special binding.

There was a time during the technology-bubble-bursting era when O'Reilly stopped using RepKover, when finances were tight. Today, however, this special binding is once again the standard for the Missing Manuals and O'Reilly books.

I guess it's possible that you bought both of your books during that time when they weren't using special binding -- that you can rest assured they are using today.

David

Got a question? Just ask!

Return to: From David's Desk



 © 2008, O'Reilly Media, Inc. | (707) 827-7000 / (800) 998-9938