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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => General Internet News => Topic started by: kwoodall on November 16, 2006, 02:34:43 AM

Title: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: kwoodall on November 16, 2006, 02:34:43 AM
"On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore by Brian Bagnall is fodder for anyone interested in the buried history of the personal computer. Whether you owned a Commodore computer or want to hear a new angle on the early stages of computer development, you'll find this book easy to pick up and almost impossible to put down. Bagnall has gone to a massive amount of effort in telling this tale, researching and interviewing the real personalities involved. It takes readers on an important and often emotional ride that will many times leave you shaking your head at how painfully it all went wrong."

Read Andrew Leigh's review of this book at Slashdot Books Review (http://books.slashdot.org/books/06/11/15/1457205.shtml)
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: odin on November 16, 2006, 04:07:41 AM
It's already been out for a while (http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46223) now  :-).
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: amigakit on November 16, 2006, 09:57:00 AM
This popular book has been available for over a year now from our web store:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=368
Title: vanity publicators
Post by: weirdami on November 16, 2006, 10:43:45 AM
Did this guy self-publish? His website is the only reference to "Variant Press" and the email address for Variant Press is at the same domain as the website.
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: Ryu on November 16, 2006, 10:59:30 AM
Yep, I've had it for over a year now, and still haven't read it! I don't want to damage the book! :-)
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: sdesros on November 16, 2006, 02:45:34 PM
I got my book along the first set of pre-orders (AFAIK) and have read the book... twice.

I would definitely recommend this book for those interested in Commodore's history.  (Note that this is a book on the whole of Commodore starting from the 6502 and its origins all the way to the bankrupcy.  The Amiga does have a chapter or two, but is not the main focus in the book. :P)
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: Damion on November 16, 2006, 03:14:38 PM
The most interesting reading for me was that on Peddle. The man is an amazing genius.


http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/pet/html/peddle.en.html

http://www.commodore.ca/history/people/chuck_peddle/chuck_peddle.htm
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: ajlwalker on November 16, 2006, 05:41:00 PM
I got this book ages ago (from amigakit.com as it happens - fantastic service).

Think it's about time I read it again.

Maybe I'll note down all the typos (there are a fair few!) this time and send them to the author if there is ever a reprint.  Otherwise, this is simply the perfect book for any Commodore fan.

In fact, it should be forced reading for those that believe Apple and IBM started the Personal Computer market.
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: techie on November 17, 2006, 02:29:11 AM
I've also had this book for some time and I must say that, despite a few grammatical errors (like I should talk :P), it has to be one of my all time favorites  :-)

Recently I've been tempted to pick up a second copy (from the new second printing) since my Dad still has my last copy that he "borrowed" over 6mnths ago :roll:
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: weirdami on November 17, 2006, 04:31:12 AM
Quote
despite a few grammatical errors


that means it was self published. :-) book companies have layers upon layers of editors and such that make sure everything's spelled good and junk.
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: benJamin on November 17, 2006, 05:54:19 AM
And, possibly the most massively biggest-selling title of all is absolutely littered with dubious grammatical constructions and outright mistakes.

And millions of children read it and 'learn' from it.

It should not be difficult to get an unbiased third party to do your proof reading, better than someone in-house, any day...


benJamin
"I can't believe he left Ginny..."
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: Quixote on November 20, 2006, 03:25:25 PM
WeirdAmi worded:
Quote
that means it was self published. book companies have layers upon layers of editors and such that make sure everything's spelled good and junk.
;-) Heh.  I've run across a few commercial offerings that had the occassional gramatical mistake in them.

:-? On the subject at hand, is this volume not available in bookstores, then?  Pity.
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: K7HTH on November 22, 2006, 05:17:10 AM
There is one available on ebay right now in the UK.
Title: Re: On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore
Post by: amigakit on November 22, 2006, 10:34:36 PM
Hmm, the Ebay book has higher price and more expensive shipping than from www.amigakit.com