Doepfer

Well, after years of having the first edition, I finally decided to
download the second (twice as many pages and updated by ten years...).
First, I needed to update Adobe Reader to a version that accepts DRM
encoded files. About an hour of downloads, installs, troubleshooting,
etc. Then the process of McGraw/Hill's ebook. Upload all your info to
the site. Upload all your info AGAIN to order the book. Download the
book (about 45M). The reader checks your DRM and you're off. In all,
it took about 3 hours, mostly to me being ignorant (tried doing it on
my Mac, and had to switch over to the Windoze machine to actually get
anything to work...).

The drag? In order to read the file on a computer other than the one
you downloaded it on, you need to sign up to Microsoft's DRM network,
have a live internet connection, punch in more personal info. Then and
only then, you can do a "save as" on the orig file and bring it to
another computer. If you want to read it again, go through the
authorization process again. And so on... It gets to be a drag for me,
since not all the computers here are connected to the 'net, and you
need to be for the DRM authorization. The only other drag, as has
already been pointed out, is the page scans aren't all clear,
especially RE: illustrations. It looks like a scan of a Xerox copy of
the book.

The plusses? Hey, it's the only way to get a legitimate, authorized
copy of the book for fifteen dollars. Anyone trying to buy a college
textbook knows what a bargain THAT is! Not to mention that the second
edition is really a completely NEW book; I'm glad I have both!

-andrew bunny