Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Monday December 22 2014, @02:15PM   Printer-friendly
from the libre-and-gratis dept.

TradePub says:

Linux For Dummies, 9th Edition - eBook (usually $22.99) FREE until 23-Dec-2014! If you want to migrate to Linux, this book is a great way to get there. Detailed Description

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by AndyTheAbsurd on Monday December 22 2014, @02:36PM

    by AndyTheAbsurd (3958) on Monday December 22 2014, @02:36PM (#128323) Journal

    They want the following info before they'll let you download the book for free:

    Work Email
    First Name
    Last Name
    Phone Number
    Country
    Street Address
    Suite/Office
    Postal/Zip Code
    City
    State
    Company Name
    Company Size
    Company Industry
    Company Sub Industry
    Job Title
    Job Area
    Job Function
    Job Level

    And wiley.com is still listing the ebook at $22.99 [wiley.com] which makes me even more suspicious about this "free" offer.

    --
    Please note my username before responding. You may have been trolled.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @02:43PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @02:43PM (#128328)

      10minutemail.com is your friend ;-)

      • (Score: 1, Troll) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Monday December 22 2014, @06:11PM

        by Jeremiah Cornelius (2785) on Monday December 22 2014, @06:11PM (#128406) Journal

        Because I want to know how POSIXed we are.

        --
        You're betting on the pantomime horse...
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @07:17PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @07:17PM (#128431)

          Copyright 2009 - That tell you anything?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @02:53PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @02:53PM (#128332)

      Just give them the information for fcc complaints and be sure to tick that you don't want to be contacted. That's what I always do. Combine with mailinator and you have a "free" ebook.

    • (Score: 2) by WizardFusion on Monday December 22 2014, @02:59PM

      by WizardFusion (498) Subscriber Badge on Monday December 22 2014, @02:59PM (#128335) Journal

      use the email address "nope@mailinator.com" someone has already put the details in for you. Or search the torrents for the latest edition, not this one from a year or so ago.

      • (Score: 2) by arashi no garou on Monday December 22 2014, @06:58PM

        by arashi no garou (2796) on Monday December 22 2014, @06:58PM (#128425)

        Just a year? It references gOS, which died out around five years ago.

        I'm still trying to figure out exactly who this book is written for, anyway. Put your average non-technical person in front of Linux Mint or even Ubuntu, and odds are they will be able to get around in it fine after a little while. Given that the vast majority of computer users live in the browser these days, I don't see why they would need a book to make the jump.

    • (Score: 2) by TheGratefulNet on Monday December 22 2014, @05:03PM

      by TheGratefulNet (659) on Monday December 22 2014, @05:03PM (#128389)

      way too much info. otoh, I pounded on the keyboard until it was happy. they have no real info on me. they do not win.

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 23 2014, @06:38AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 23 2014, @06:38AM (#128607)

      Oh come on, I have a special identity set aside just for these free book offers off of distrowatch. Mostly all you get is 6 to 10 year old books that are worth the $0 pricetag.

  • (Score: 1) by Rich on Monday December 22 2014, @02:46PM

    by Rich (945) on Monday December 22 2014, @02:46PM (#128329) Journal

    Could I kindly suggest that we from non refer to

    "FREE" as "all your sensitive personal information"

    and

    "in-app purchase" as "deferred surprise payments".

    "Magicofoo is now available for all your sensitive personal information and comes with deferred surprise payments." would sound so much more pleasant (and honest).

    Thank you.

    • (Score: 1) by Buck Feta on Monday December 22 2014, @03:21PM

      by Buck Feta (958) on Monday December 22 2014, @03:21PM (#128343) Journal

      Magicofoo is now available for all the sensitive personal information you can make up in two minutes.

      --
      - fractious political commentary goes here -
  • (Score: 2, Informative) by WillAdams on Monday December 22 2014, @02:48PM

    by WillAdams (1424) on Monday December 22 2014, @02:48PM (#128330)

    It's a raw .pdf from InDesign w/ crop marks and additional area.

    Also, the page numbering doesn't take into account the first 12 pages being numbered as frontmatter (so they should be i--xii)

  • (Score: 1, Redundant) by anti-NAT on Monday December 22 2014, @03:10PM

    by anti-NAT (4232) on Monday December 22 2014, @03:10PM (#128338)

    I've heard it is the hot new thing that everybody is raving about!

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @03:29PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @03:29PM (#128348)

      Systemd IS linux for dummies.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @03:41PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @03:41PM (#128356)

        funny : )

      • (Score: 4, Funny) by francois.barbier on Monday December 22 2014, @03:43PM

        by francois.barbier (651) on Monday December 22 2014, @03:43PM (#128359)

        ... by dummies!

  • (Score: 2) by Gravis on Monday December 22 2014, @03:38PM

    by Gravis (4596) on Monday December 22 2014, @03:38PM (#128354)
    • (Score: 2) by deimtee on Tuesday December 23 2014, @12:06AM

      by deimtee (3272) on Tuesday December 23 2014, @12:06AM (#128535) Journal

      Well, that was quicker than filling in all that crap info. Thanks.

      --
      If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
  • (Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @04:04PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @04:04PM (#128364)

    ...is it really a good idea to work with Linux?

    But now that we have systemd, it seems like your mental status really just doesn't matter anymore.

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @04:31PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @04:31PM (#128377)

    Too much info wanted. Besides, Linux already has sufficient documentation online for free, and you can also follow the edx Linux class for free or pay the registration fee and get a certificate.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 23 2014, @05:43PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 23 2014, @05:43PM (#128709)

      Definitely spambait. I entered an email address I only use for possible spam, didn't finish filling out the form, didn't click submit, and sure enough I'm getting nag emails to download the ebook.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @04:34PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @04:34PM (#128378)

    You can get it for free all year round on your local warez platform.

    • (Score: 2) by arashi no garou on Monday December 22 2014, @07:01PM

      by arashi no garou (2796) on Monday December 22 2014, @07:01PM (#128426)

      Chances are, if someone knows how to do that, they likely don't need a book to teach them how to use GNU/Linux. As I said above, I'm finding it difficult to imagine anyone who would actually benefit from the existence of this book, apart from the publisher.

  • (Score: 2, Informative) by Aurean on Monday December 22 2014, @06:11PM

    by Aurean (4924) on Monday December 22 2014, @06:11PM (#128407)
    It accepts gibberish. Dispostable is your friend.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @08:58PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @08:58PM (#128474)

    After lining up a disposable email address and filling in the submit form with garbage,
    it says this in red underneath the download button:

    Valid email address is required to fulfill your request.
    Complete and verifiable information is required in order to receive this offer.

    If they are smart, the download button just redirects you to a page where
    they say they will call you later with the download instructions.

    So I passed.

    NOTE TO MARKETERS: If you want to give out TRULY free (branded) downloadable stuff, just link to it on your website or give it out for just the recipient's (confirmed opt in) email address and invitation to your email list. Any other information requested just wastes the recipient's time and is a security risk to them.

  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @09:14PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22 2014, @09:14PM (#128478)

    I purchased one e-book (at a cost of hundreds of dollars). My one question prior to purchase:
    "Does it include DRM?" (They stamped the file with my name on every page instead)*

    Presumably, a sample download like this should let you check.

    So far commenters have suggested it is a PDF file with no obvious restrictions. That said, the PDF format now siupports all kinds of things like DRM and scripting.

    *The stamping the name on every page may be why the want so much information: traitor tracing.

  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by gtomorrow on Monday December 22 2014, @09:24PM

    by gtomorrow (2230) on Monday December 22 2014, @09:24PM (#128480)

    Jesus Christ! what a bunch of whining crybabies! Look, it's for free. The submitters martyb and gewg offer up a free e-book and you all just moan! Maybe it's a little elementary for the some of SoylentNews readers, it probably is spambait (like most of you already don't have a junk email account set up), and yeah, they want some information outta ya.

    If you don't want it, don't download it! Otherwise just Shut The Fuck Up! Geez!

    Merry fucking christmas, everybody!

    Oh, and thanks, martyb and gewg.

  • (Score: 1) by Zappy on Tuesday December 23 2014, @10:37AM

    by Zappy (4210) on Tuesday December 23 2014, @10:37AM (#128628)

    The last revision look like it is five years old. Some things might have changed a bit in the mean time.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 23 2014, @07:34PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 23 2014, @07:34PM (#128744)

    Suggest moderators remove this story.