Catching up on reading some Java stuff for a change, I went browsing over at TheServerSide.com and came across this post. Further reading led me to the book and ebook of Apache JMeter. I was ecstatic that a legit copy in PDF is available (for a change!) but I was also taken aback that it’s only 15% less than a paperback ($27.19). WTF?! It’s bad enough that digital versions are easier lost than the physical ones and that it’s locked and you need to use a desktop to view it. I don’t mind primarily because of the ability to search ebooks. But when the digital version is a mere few bucks away from a real physical book, it’s no freaking wonder that electronic version of books aren’t selling!

Please!

1. make ebooks significantly (how about 50%?) cheaper
2. make storing and retrieving them easier and more reliable
3. if you can’t make em’ cheaper, give them away for free with paperbacks
4. give away (or subsidise) hardware
5. make sure the reader software is available on PDAs, smartphones and MIDs (iPhone, Palms, WM - reading books on the desktop is just not enough)

Telco Talk Malaysia just mentioned that there are currently 2 telcos talking to Apple with regards to bringing in the venerable iPhone to Malaysia! My favorite yellow telco seems to be missing from the picture - only Celcom and Maxis. Dang. I’m crossing my fingers that DiGi launches its new 3G services bundled with the iPhone. If indeed launched, the unit will be priced less than RM1000, which will essentially make all the other smartphones in the market seem suddenly very expensive. Of course, this will probably come with some sort of contractual plan which will add on to the initial purchase price.

Source: Telco Talk Malaysia

Talking about the new Batman movie of course. A 2 1/2 hours of roller coaster ride would sum it up. I won’t give away spoilers, safe to say that I was practically on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. Love the idea, love the plots, and everything. Go see it if you love a good action movie and/or you’re a Batman fan. Again, expect Hollywoodization (not a real word) of the comic but I think they portray Batman well this time around (much like Batman Begins).

Tomorrow’s gonna be a Hellboy 2 day.