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  #41  
Old 14-09-2016, 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by sharptrack2 View Post
Certainly a distraction but still can set the reader's expectation of what can be seen.
Pretty grainy
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  #42  
Old 14-09-2016, 09:48 PM
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I have the Cambridge University Press 1984 paperback edition.... any bids?
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  #43  
Old 15-09-2016, 06:17 AM
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Pretty grainy
If you want pretty pictures then there are plenty of coffee table books to look at. Hartung's is primarily a guide/reference text book.
The pictures don't really matter...

Stu
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  #44  
Old 15-09-2016, 02:59 PM
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dreamstation (James)
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Originally Posted by StuTodd View Post
If you want pretty pictures then there are plenty of coffee table books to look at. Hartung's is primarily a guide/reference text book.
The pictures don't really matter...
Vehicles are primarily a source of getting from point A to point B but they include accessories like a stereo, heated seats and air conditioning to improve the comfort of the occupants while doing so. The inclusion of images in this book was not an accident and they are well below the quality one would expect from a book of this calibre. They may not be the primary focus of the book but that doesn't mean they should be half arsed.

I sent MUP an email earlier in the week about the issue but I'm yet to get a response.
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  #45  
Old 15-09-2016, 07:41 PM
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acropolite (Phil)
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My copy arrived today, as James points out, the images are not acceptable for a book costing that much, reference or not. The look of the publication is that it was printed on a worn out laser printer. Given the choice again, I would have waited for the eBook.
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  #46  
Old 15-09-2016, 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by dreamstation View Post
Vehicles are primarily a source of getting from point A to point B but they include accessories like a stereo, heated seats and air conditioning to improve the comfort of the occupants while doing so. The inclusion of images in this book was not an accident and they are well below the quality one would expect from a book of this calibre. They may not be the primary focus of the book but that doesn't mean they should be half arsed.

I sent MUP an email earlier in the week about the issue but I'm yet to get a response.
Ok, I've had enough beer now..
That's a "wife on the defensive" argument. A vehicle is, as you correctly say, "primarily a source of getting from point A to point B but they include accessories like a stereo, heated seats and air conditioning to improve the comfort of the occupants while doing so".....yeah...the same as the piccys in the book!

Hartung's is primarily a source of information, with varying quality of "fluff and padding" added. Your Aston Martin has lovely "photos", my Toyota Starlet is full of dog hair and the stereo doesn't work..it is still a useful, cheap car...book....


yeah...

I do however hope your question to the publisher regarding quality of photos is noticed!

Shtu
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  #47  
Old 16-09-2016, 08:06 PM
Kev11 (Kevin)
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I received my copy today. I was a bit surprised that MUP let it through as they have a reputation for quality books albeit usually more expensive. I think maybe they could have set the price point higher and got a better job. In the 19C equivalent books - specialist with a lot of artwork (engravings in those days) - were pre-sold by subscription, I suppose that wouldn't neccessarily work these days. It is probably not generally recognised that serious non-fiction books have to be heavily subsidised to be published (I recall some in the science area in which I worked where the organisation had to pay 95% of the cost). Miegunyah Press, an arm of MUP, produces beautiful hard-backs at not unreasonable prices, but they are subsidised by the Grimwade Bequest.
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  #48  
Old 17-09-2016, 01:32 PM
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My understanding is that it was an error in printing that they will rectify in about a week. No word yet what happens with people who have already bought the book. I asked the question last week and haven't heard back.

To be honest, I don't know what this means for them as a publisher. Is it a simple insurance claim (is an insurance claim ever simple)? Or does it mean that replacing books already purchased would result in a net loss? They didn't have to republish, and certainly they wouldn't have if they didn't think they could make $$ out of it, but "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" it ain't. Maybe what's gone from a nice gesture from the publisher has turned into a liability. In the end, I'm grateful that they have republished, in whatever state, as the prices for second-hand copies were getting ridiculous and I'd rather people had access to the information within.

I agree with those who say the images are not acceptable as the flawed nature of the images was not disclosed as part of the sale, and therefore represents a fault.

On the other hand, I also agree that the images are not a quintessential part of the book. I would even go so far as to say that there are far better images available online that benefit from modern image processing techniques (many shot by members of this group). Even if I had an original second edition would I consult it for the pictures? Probably not. Though it is nice to glance across when reading the text to see what is being referred to.

Markus
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  #49  
Old 17-09-2016, 05:54 PM
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Please let us know if any word back from the publisher if they will rectify this thanks!!
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  #50  
Old 18-09-2016, 09:39 AM
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I am Not Whingeing about My Copies = Great Value -Plenty of Info- It is A Classic for Australian AM Astronomers- There are not Many Books like This written By Australian Astronomers - Tony.

Last edited by anthony.tony; 18-09-2016 at 06:04 PM.
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  #51  
Old 18-09-2016, 01:07 PM
Huey (Michael)
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Hartung's

Received mine last week. I love it despite some of the pictures having"streaks". A great read, excellent value and a must for any astronomy buff or anyone interested in the subject.

..............Christmas is coming Drop a hint or order early

Clear skies
Huey
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  #52  
Old 19-09-2016, 04:06 PM
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Only the ebook is available now. Oh well. Easy come easy go.
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  #53  
Old 19-09-2016, 11:10 PM
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astroron (Ron)
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Only the ebook is available now. Oh well. Easy come easy go.
They have probably cut the other book because of all the complaints they are getting about it.
Cheers
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  #54  
Old 20-09-2016, 12:19 PM
Mamba (David)
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Hartung's

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Originally Posted by Curt View Post
Only the ebook is available now. Oh well. Easy come easy go.
Thank goodness I ordered mine early on and now have it in my possession. It's a brilliant book only slightly deminished by a few crappy photographs. So what if the images are crap, you can always find the illustrations on line.
You never know, this may become a much sought after version in the future, shortest published life in history.
Mamba
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  #55  
Old 20-09-2016, 04:56 PM
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Yeah. There are ways of printing ebooks...I believe..
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  #56  
Old 20-09-2016, 09:21 PM
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Most likely the "bad" books have been pulled from the shelves and will be replaced with new "corrected" versions.
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  #57  
Old 27-09-2016, 06:47 PM
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Has anyone had any luck in contacting the publisher? I sent an email weeks ago but I still haven't had a response. I just resent the email to the same email address as well as their e-store email address so hopefully they get it this time.
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  #58  
Old 27-09-2016, 07:14 PM
hamiland (Anders)
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I spoke with them on the phone and they are going through the process of re-scanning then printing and are well aware of the issue. They put me on a list (or fumbled around a bit and made me believe they were) for a replacement copy when released.
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  #59  
Old 28-09-2016, 04:03 AM
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I heard the 'new and improved' version will be back on sale next week.
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  #60  
Old 28-09-2016, 07:21 PM
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I received a response to my email today that said there were printing errors with some of these books and that they're updating the files used for the book and reprinting it in the next week or so. They also said that they were happy to send out a replacement copy once the new version is ready and would let me know when they do that.

So basically what you guys just said! It's great that they acknowledge and are wanting to rectify the issue that many people have had with the book.
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