Comments on: Books Review: The Virtual Bookshelf http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/ Mac Apps, Reviews, Previews, Interviews, and Giveaways. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:57:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Corrin http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-157596 Corrin Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:11:57 +0000 http://macapper.com/?p=7613#comment-157596 One more thing? Is there another application you'd recommend if I already have a method of scanning bar codes? One more thing? Is there another application you’d recommend if I already have a method of scanning bar codes?

]]> By: Corrin http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-157595 Corrin Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:08:01 +0000 http://macapper.com/?p=7613#comment-157595 If there is....I'm sold. If there is….I’m sold.

]]> By: Corrin http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-157594 Corrin Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:07:23 +0000 http://macapper.com/?p=7613#comment-157594 Is there a way to export the information to End Note? Is there a way to export the information to End Note?

]]> By: Ed Eubanks http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-154740 Ed Eubanks Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:36:12 +0000 http://macapper.com/?p=7613#comment-154740 Dave-- I agree about the interface-- that is a good reason for your rating, with which I concur. As for the upcoming version: as I noted in my first comment (and you seconded), the forthcoming v 4 will not be free. However, the developer has promised that v 3.x will remain available even after the release of v 4, and for free-- so there will always be a free version of Books, even if it is not continually in development. Dave–

I agree about the interface– that is a good reason for your rating, with which I concur.

As for the upcoming version: as I noted in my first comment (and you seconded), the forthcoming v 4 will not be free. However, the developer has promised that v 3.x will remain available even after the release of v 4, and for free– so there will always be a free version of Books, even if it is not continually in development.

]]> By: Dave Ryan http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-154736 Dave Ryan Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:57:50 +0000 http://macapper.com/?p=7613#comment-154736 @Ed - I didn't know about the Cue-Cat! Thanks for the tip, that would be a much easier way for people to scan titles! I realize that there are some great Import and Export features in books, but they're plugins, which I mention as the extensive plugin architecture. I've come to expect that programs come with a number of import and export options, as many of the best do. I personally find the website export (or the Books server) plugin to be more useful, so I chose to highlight it. The developer does say on his site the that next version wont be free, but for now we can all enjoy the benefits without the price tag. @William - You highlight a bunch of great features! Books is an incredibly extensive program, I had to be selective on what I chose to focus on. I do agree that the GUI is consistent and clean, but I personally think it's a rather unattractive interface in comparison to other similar apps such as Delicious Library. It's a functional interface, but with an app where you're trying to show off a Book collection visually, I feel it's important that there be some polish. I gave the app the B+, because I feel that while it has a number of great features, they could be organized and displayed better. @Ed – I didn’t know about the Cue-Cat! Thanks for the tip, that would be a much easier way for people to scan titles! I realize that there are some great Import and Export features in books, but they’re plugins, which I mention as the extensive plugin architecture. I’ve come to expect that programs come with a number of import and export options, as many of the best do. I personally find the website export (or the Books server) plugin to be more useful, so I chose to highlight it. The developer does say on his site the that next version wont be free, but for now we can all enjoy the benefits without the price tag.

@William – You highlight a bunch of great features! Books is an incredibly extensive program, I had to be selective on what I chose to focus on. I do agree that the GUI is consistent and clean, but I personally think it’s a rather unattractive interface in comparison to other similar apps such as Delicious Library. It’s a functional interface, but with an app where you’re trying to show off a Book collection visually, I feel it’s important that there be some polish. I gave the app the B+, because I feel that while it has a number of great features, they could be organized and displayed better.

]]> By: William http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-154729 William Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:22:10 +0000 http://macapper.com/?p=7613#comment-154729 This is an incredible program. 1. Free 2. The information interfaces with Spotlights index. When you do a global search for a topic on you computer recommended books will show up in the Spotlight list. You can also tag each book. 3. Scans the books through iSight, mine works fast and is much faster than typing. I don't know how you could speed this up. 4. Smart list 5. GUI is consistent and clean, not bland. Anything more would just be clutter. 6. Also the lending catalog ties into Address book for information on each borrower. 7. I love a program that plays well with the existing tools in the operating system. This does it well! A+ This is an incredible program.
1. Free
2. The information interfaces with Spotlights index. When you do a global search for a topic on you computer recommended books will show up in the Spotlight list. You can also tag each book.
3. Scans the books through iSight, mine works fast and is much faster than typing. I don’t know how you could speed this up.
4. Smart list
5. GUI is consistent and clean, not bland. Anything more would just be clutter.
6. Also the lending catalog ties into Address book for information on each borrower.
7. I love a program that plays well with the existing tools in the operating system. This does it well!
A+

]]> By: Ed Eubanks http://macapper.com/2009/04/03/books-review-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-154728 Ed Eubanks Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:17:10 +0000 http://macapper.com/?p=7613#comment-154728 Books is a great tool-- I use it regularly, and appreciate its function as you highlighted. Thanks for this review. Another option for putting data into Books is the Cue-Cat barcode scanner. You might remember a decade ago when Radio Shack gave these away free; many folks realized that they could be hacked to have broader usage, and the "Neutered" Cue-Cat came into the world. You can pick up a Neutered Cue-Cat on eBay for probably $10, and it will scan all of your books' barcodes far faster and more reliably than an iSight (which is espcially great if you don't have a built-in iSight!). The last time I moved my office, I scanned every book before it went onto the shelf-- all 1400 of them-- with a Cue Cat. You missed the fact that Books can import data from a wide variety of sources, which you get to choose from a plug-in menu. It will also export in a variety of formats as well. This was handy for me when I wanted my whole library to be available in Bookends for citation purposes (a missing feature for Books that would really put it over the top as a power tool)-- I exported data from Books in BibTex format, then just imported it straight into Bookends. Another thing you missed about Books: currently in v 3.x, it IS free, as you mentioned-- and the developer has promised that v 3.x will always remain free. However, the long-promised (and soon coming?) v 4 will NOT be free. There are some features that have been hinted at or outright promised that many will be looking for, and the cost might be a compelling reason to look at Delicious Library or another competitor more seriously before settling in. Books is a great tool– I use it regularly, and appreciate its function as you highlighted. Thanks for this review.

Another option for putting data into Books is the Cue-Cat barcode scanner. You might remember a decade ago when Radio Shack gave these away free; many folks realized that they could be hacked to have broader usage, and the “Neutered” Cue-Cat came into the world. You can pick up a Neutered Cue-Cat on eBay for probably $10, and it will scan all of your books’ barcodes far faster and more reliably than an iSight (which is espcially great if you don’t have a built-in iSight!). The last time I moved my office, I scanned every book before it went onto the shelf– all 1400 of them– with a Cue Cat.

You missed the fact that Books can import data from a wide variety of sources, which you get to choose from a plug-in menu. It will also export in a variety of formats as well. This was handy for me when I wanted my whole library to be available in Bookends for citation purposes (a missing feature for Books that would really put it over the top as a power tool)– I exported data from Books in BibTex format, then just imported it straight into Bookends.

Another thing you missed about Books: currently in v 3.x, it IS free, as you mentioned– and the developer has promised that v 3.x will always remain free. However, the long-promised (and soon coming?) v 4 will NOT be free. There are some features that have been hinted at or outright promised that many will be looking for, and the cost might be a compelling reason to look at Delicious Library or another competitor more seriously before settling in.

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