From: "John C. Loring" <?????????????????????>
Subject: re:CDROM

> [I guess I've gotten maybe 10-20 yesses on the CD-ROM, which
> certainly wouldn't be enough to justify a volume run.  I've also
> learned that there are _two_ cigar CD-ROMs on the market now, so our
> product wouldn't be unique.  So my plan now is to first assemble a
> CD-ROM with the Web page materials and some scans (keeping it simple),
> and then accumulate orders and do a small run maybe every six months.

Steve:

Just a note to let you know that I would be a subscriber.  Also if you 
run it at 6 months intervals consider including a compilation of 
alt.smokers.pipes messages and, if possible, the CompuServe base.  Given 
the room perhaps you could also include a 'want ad' or buy/sell area.
Another area that comes to mind would be scan contributions of old 
catalogues and leaflets - I seem to always be down in my basement 
digging through my pile of s___ in search of that two page flyer from 
twenty years ago that I dimly recall described some now obscure tobacco 
blend or pipe - hitting the "next" button on my CPU would be a lot 
easier.  I guess I chopped off the Hacker tag to your response above but 
that would be nice, if only because the book's lack of an index 
seriously limits its long term usefulness.  Thank heavens for the bound 
volume Ephemeris indexes - but still CD ROM search capabilities would be 
better, although it really would be a task to scan and convert to ASCII.
                                                            John

[ The second edition of the Hacker tag has an index, John.  And while
scanning brochures in would be a nice idea, I'll have to limit the
scope of the CD-ROM project somewhat, so it can be completed in among
the myriad details of job, home, etc. that keep clamoring for my
attention!  The "140 Varieties" article, for instance, took me three
hours to scan and convert; the photos will probably take a long time
to touch up, even with Photoshop. (BTW, any tips on doing this
efficiently would be welcome.) The technology is by no means
perfect. -S. ]


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