Getting shafted by textbook companies

[backerman]

The book for my summer course appears to be Pressman, 6ed. That edition was just released, only three years after the fifth. While a revision could perhaps be justified for UML 2.0, that specification hasn't yet been finalized. (UML 1.0 was adopted by OMB in 1997, and presumably covered in the fourth edition. That is, if they didn't leave it out to justify the fifth.)

The best part—$116.45, about what I paid for my orgo book. McGraw-Hill ought to at least include some lubricant. Fortunately, I can get it from Powell's for $93, which is still extortionate, but a much better deal.

On the gripping hand, at least my employer is picking up the tuition, which isn't cheap.

Comments

[chiieddy.livejournal.com]

There was an article written not all that long ago (although I'm not feeling up to search for it right now) about how the textbook companies are purposely putting out new editions with VERY MINOR changes in order to force students to purchase more expensive new copies instead of them purchasing used copies, and thus increasing their profit.