[dvdvol] User feedback from new CD/DVD creation system

Thu Jan 19 17:10:41 PST 2006

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At 08:08 PM 1/18/2006, you wrote:
>Aaron,
>
>I find my interactions with Dr. Gill to be a bit surreal. I think he is
>disappointed because I could not send him the "completer set" of everything
>added to the PG collection subsequent to the production of the first CD and
>DVD. That may be his only real complaint.

:) I see.

>Are we planning to refresh the CD and DVD soon? I believe Dr. Widger (among
>others) has been working to update the underlying e-books and to file them
>according to the new PG directory structure. Will we need to create a
>flatter structure for the CD or DVD? I'm concerned that many tiny
>directories will eat up a bunch of precious space.

Basically, the new compilation will get done once we either decide on
what to include, or once someone just does it and says here it
is.  I'm not brave enough to decide what is the "best of Gutenberg"
or most deserving of inclusion.  We can always just keep it simple
and simply let the Gutenberg readers decide, I.E. include all of the
most frequently downloaded books and that's it and make no editorial
judgements of our own, other than to cut out things that are just way
to huge.  I'm starting to think that that is the only real
option.  Otherwise, this thing is never going to get done. :)

As for the ddisc layout, I'm not sure if small directories take up a
lot of space or not.  It would be something worth looking into
though.  I don't know how directory and file information is stored on
CDs and DVDs.

>On a related topic: Should we update the CD/DVD request page to summarize
>the contents of the discs? For example, we might state that they have
>nothing to do with computers. A pointer back to the main index page might
>help some, but someone who lands on the request page from a search engine
>probably just wants what he wants and isn't interested in learning that we
>do not provide what he wants.

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I believe it would
be a good idea.  If people get the message, it could cut back on the
number of requests we receive.  On the other hand, I sometimes wonder
how many people actually read much of anything from our web
pages.  Maybe we should make them take a short quiz based on the
information on the web page before we let them request a CD or DVD. :)

Anyway, when I have some time, I'll try to update the web pages to
give people a better idea of what the discs contain.

Sincerely
Aaron Cannon

>John
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: dvdvol-bounces at lists.pglaf.org [mailto:dvdvol-bounces at lists.pglaf.org]
>On Behalf Of Aaron Cannon
>Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:51 PM
>To: CD and DVD Volunteers
>Subject: Re: [dvdvol] User feedback from new CD/DVD creation system
>
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>Do you know if he saw the link to the
>FAQ?  http://snowy.arsc.alaska.edu/pgiso/faq.html
>.  It's a decent set of instructions; or perhaps
>it's not.  I wrote most of them so it's hard to
>say for sure. :)  Was there something specific he didn't understand?
>
>Sincerely
>Aaron Cannon
>
>
>At 08:43 AM 1/18/2006, you wrote:
> >Here is the text of an e-mail conversation I had with a retired gentleman
> >who is very interested in e-books.
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Joseph Gill [mailto:gilljoseph1949 at yahoo.com]
> >Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 10:25 PM
> >To: John Hagerson
> >Subject: RE: Please confirm mailing address
> >
> >Thank You John,
> >
> >I tried to do as you suggested below but NO easy step by step instructions.
> >It is sad that after so many volunteers and yourself work so hard for years
> >that there is not a simple download program and simple update files
>download
> >program.
> >
> >If you offered your text in an illustrated word file they could have FULL
> >title and author listing and would be searchable as texts.  I keep 70,000
> >e-texts books and papers on my computer and can search the ENTIRE
>collection
> >for words or dates ect.  I have my estates allocated to go to your
> >organization and would like to see newer more user friendly technology at
> >Gutenberg; it is available for individuals as well as institutions now.
> >
> >I was a prof at Harvard Uni and a director at Sotheby's NYC and am now
> >retired.  If you care please see   www.worldglobetrotters.com .
> >
> >The more you give the more people want. Thank you for all your wonderful
> >giving work.
> >
> >Cordially Dr. Joseph Gill
> >===========================================================
> >
> >John Hagerson <j.hagerson at comcast.net> wrote:
> >Dr. Gill,
> >
> >We have an option that is available to you if you have a high speed
> >connection to the Internet.
> >
> >If you connect to http://snowy.arsc.alaska.edu/pgiso, you can query the
> >Project Gutenberg library of electronic books based on criteria that you
> >specify and create a CD or DVD image of electronic books. Once you specify
> >the criteria, the system will compile the selected books into an ISO image
> >and provide you with instructions for downloading the image to your PC.
> >Then, you can copy the image to a blank CD or DVD and distribute copies to
> >your friends. (If you just want to use the CD or DVD image yourself, you
>can
> >search Google for a free program called IsoBuster which allows you to
> >extract the contents of an ISO file collection to your hard disk.)
> >
> >Because we have yet to widely publicize this service, I am not sure how
> >ready it is for a large number of people to try to use it simultaneously.
>In
> >the meantime, however, if you are inclined, please test it out and send any
> >feedback to the e-mail alias that is listed on the page.
> >
> >If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them or I can ask
> >others who are more knowledgeable than I.
> >
> >Thank you for your continued interest in Project Gutenberg.
> >
> >John Hagerson
> >Project Gutenberg Volunteer
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Joseph Gill [mailto:gilljoseph1949 at yahoo.com]
> >Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 12:40 AM
> >To: John Hagerson
> >Subject: Re: Please confirm mailing address
> >
> >Hello John,
> >
> >I have your 3 year old DVD but would like to download your text and image
> >files to update your collection on my computer.  A GOOD IDEA
> >
> >Dr Joseph Gill
> >
> >John Hagerson <j.hagerson at comcast.net> wrote:
> >Dr. Gill,
> >
> >Thank you for your interest in Project Gutenberg and a request for our DVD.
> >
> >Could you please provide your mailing address? For now, all I have is your
> >name and Kona HI 96704.
> >
> >Thank you very much.
> >
> >John Hagerson (a Project Gutenberg volunteer)
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Photos
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> >
> >
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> >Photo Books. You design it and we'll bind it!
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >dvdvol mailing list
> >dvdvol at lists.pglaf.org
> >http://lists.pglaf.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/dvdvol
>
>
>
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>E-mail: cannona at fireantproductions.com
>Skype: cannona
>MSN Messenger: cannona at hotmail.com (Do not send
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>
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