Replies

1. 
   davamoore | Dec 06, 2002 02:37am | #1

   Mitt, in the interest of full disclosure, let me first say that I have received absolutely no compensation from Taunton Press for anything, ever! :-)

   That said, I received my copy of the "Best of" CD a couple of days ago and finally had a chance to go through it this afternoon.  All in all, and based on my brief experience with it, I would say that the CD is definitely worth the price if you fit into any of the following categories:

   -- You're a relatively new subscriber to FWW, without an extensive collection of back issues.

   -- You think that FWW provides good information (even if it does get a bit repetitive occasionally, which is typical of special-interest magazines).

   -- You're a beginning-to-fairly-accomplished woodworker (if you're an "expert," you may already be aware of and regularly put to use much of what's on the CD).

   -- You don't already have a huge woodworking library.

   -- You're a glutton for woodworking information.

   Consider: for $150 you're getting 600 articles -- plus all of the "Methods of Work" tips ever published.  That's what, how many years worth of subscriptions?  I don't know (too lazy to do the math), but it seems like a fair deal.

   The coverage of methods, tools, materials, projects, etc., seems to be fairly comprehensive, too.  I'm sure others will point out a few holes, or areas that have been given too much space, but that's inevitable.

   The organization of the articles, by subject and author, makes it relatively easy to find articles on items of interest.  In fact, after my quick review, I'd say that you have a better chance of finding what you need through that method rather than using the "Search" function.  The search function is Acrobat-based and simply looks for appearances of the word(s) EXACTLY as you've typed into the box -- that means that you might get WAY too many articles if you typed in a broad term, or too few if your term was too specific or is a minor variant of the word.  Articles articles in which the words appear separately won't show up at all.  For example, if you type in "milk paint" you'll get a lot, but if you type in "paint milk" you'll get nothing.  (A bad example, I know, but the best I could come up with off the top of my head!)  If you're a big Google fan, you'll be disappointed.

   Plus, the search tool apparently ranks the articles on the basis of how often the word appears in the article.  Therefore, you might get a long article at the top of your results list that happens to include your word fairly often, but isn't really about your subject of interest, whereas a very short "Method of Work" tip that really hits the nail on the head might only use the word once and fall at the bottom of the list.

   For example, I tried a search using "dovetail."  I got a list of over 250 articles, and there are only 860 or so on the entire CD!  At the top of the list were project articles that just happened to use the word occasionally, because one or two joints used dovetails, while at the bottom of the list were some very specific "Methods of Work" tips that gave great information on how to make the joint itself.

   I then tried another search using "half-blind dovetail."  I got a list of about a dozen articles, but in reviewing a couple of the articles, I found that the words "half-blind dovetails" (note the plural) weren't highlighted where they appeared in the some of the same paragraphs.  Turns out, when I typed in "half-blind dovetails" in the search, I got another list entirely, with some overlap!  And, in looking for those articles, I found that the phrase "half-blind dovetail" (singular) was ignored.  So be prepared:  you have to be a bit patient and thoughtful if you're trying to find information using the "search" mode.

   Searches aside, the articles appear on your monitor almost exactly as they did when originally published in the magazine (advertisements have been removed).  That's the nature of Acrobat documents; some love it, some hate it.  Personally, I have no problem with it, but it does sometimes mean toggling back and forth between pages when, for example, you're trying to look at a photo when it's mentioned in the text.  Also, be sure to read the disclaimers:  phone numbers and contact information contained in the articles may be very outdated!

   All in all, though, I think those are minor quibbles.  There's a wealth of information on the CD.  It really doesn't take much to find what you're looking for, and if these are the only problems I could come up with in my short review, I'm satisfied.  I'll be keeping it, and probably referring to it fairly regularly... until I become one of those "experts!"

   David

   Look, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!

1. 
   Azeddie | Dec 06, 2002 07:14am | #2

   BTW...if you have a FWW subscribtion it is only $125.00makinsawdust

1. 
   davamoore | Dec 06, 2002 06:02pm | #3

   That's right, it is cheaper if you're a subscriber.  Also, you get a year of free access to all of the articles online, so you don't have to worry about dragging your CD around with you, if you're mobile.  All you need is an Internet connection... oh, and you have to register with Taunton Plus, which -- of course -- means providing address and other personal information.  On the other hand, if you've purchased the CD they already have that information, so it's probably a wash.

   DavidLook, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!

1. 
   Mach70 | Dec 06, 2002 07:33pm | #4

   The other side of that coin is that once the 'paperwork' is done the cost of producing & packaging that CD is under $5.00 (in ridiculous quantities under a buck--like all those AOL CD's stuffing my trash).

1. 
   davamoore | Dec 06, 2002 08:54pm | #5

   Save the AOL CDs, the MSN.com CDs and all the rest, instead of stuffing them in the trash.  If you celebrate Christmas, they make wonderful decorations for the tree.  :-)Look, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!

2. 
   ownersrep | Dec 06, 2002 09:03pm | #7

   I read in one of the magazines that you can use them for spacers in your dado stack.  Don't remember what thickness they are (maybe 1/16th) and haven't tried it yet.  Seems like it would leave a ridge in your dado.

3. 
   JohnCabot | Dec 10, 2002 06:47am | #12

   I have used with success my AOL CD in the garden. Hanged on a string they turn at the slightest beeze and with thei flash keep the birds away from my strawberries and blueberries. 

   John Cabot ( the pack-rat)

4. 
   RickL750 | Dec 10, 2002 07:47pm | #13

    Ok guys! We need more ideas for those AOL CDs.

   I use them as Frisbees, the only problem is they hurt like heck if you can't catch and get hit in the face.  

5. 
   ian | Dec 11, 2002 01:23pm | #14

   drink coasters

   sew 'em together to make "artsie" clothes and hats

   shims, spacers

   decorations on Christmas cards

   heliotropes

6. 
   3dog3 | Dec 13, 2002 10:48pm | #15

   Jeez:

   I just cross out my address and write return to sender on the package, then throw it in the nearest mailbox.

7. 
   bill_1010 | Dec 06, 2002 09:03pm | #6

   actually there is more.  Apparently FWW never envisioned or was able to envison electronic reproduction of articles and in the contract with authors never made a stipulation for electronic reproduction.  Many of the articles they had to buy or pay again to some extent to allow for this. 

8. 
   NOTRIX1 | Dec 07, 2002 07:06pm | #9

   Yup,

   This reminds me of PBS fund drives. "For $500 we'll sell you this $75 item". I would drop $50 on the CD without blinking but $150 is steep. I've downloaded several articles from the archive and I guess I'm not really a .PDF fan. I have a 17 inch monitor and they are never a good size to comfortably read. I would use the cd as a quick reference/index for the print issues.

   I'm not complaining. I understand that they may have had to repurchase some articles for electronic publishing. But as also pointed out the actual costs of reproducing the cd are quite low. It just seems to me that for a third of the price thay would sell 10 times more.

   My .02 ( hey where the heck is the cents sign on my keyboard!!)

   Warren Allen

9. 
   dwsouthwick | Dec 07, 2002 07:35pm | #10

   You can get the ¢ sign by holding the ALT key and typing 155.

   More worthless info stuck in the greymatter. :)

   ds

2. 
   MStehelin | Dec 06, 2002 09:30pm | #8

   Thanks for the extensive review David. What about projects? Are they included too? Also, do you get the free year of the articles online or only if you subscribe? Thanks!

   Mitt

1. 
   davamoore | Dec 10, 2002 12:27am | #11

   Yes, the CD includes a "projects" category that includes subcategories of Accessories, Beds, Boxes, Cabinets, Chairs, Chests, Desks, Sideboards, Tables, Workshop and Other Projects.  There are about 5-15 projects per subcategory (fewer boxes, more tables, for example).

   I believe you get the free year of online access to the articles on the CD whether or not you're a subscriber to the print magazine.  You don't get to see anything additional online (i.e., articles that aren't included on the CD) that anybody else can't see on the FWW website.

   DavidLook, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!

2. 
   KLW1975 | Dec 24, 2002 10:13pm | #16

   Just go my Fine Woodworking CD and I think it was well worth the money.  It would be especially so if you are a new subscriber.  A lot of the articles seem to be from the last 10 years of print, which I happen to have all those magazines, but all in all it is a good purchase.