The Definitive Guide to Gaydon-era ASTON MARTIN

[Archimedou]

When is the printed version being released again ???
I have been waiting for months !!! I don't want a kindle version !

[Phil57DBS]

Here is one at .....oups...at £1500 ! lol

https://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/095068256X/...

or here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Definitive-Guide-to-New-G...

[Grant3]

Sorry guys, it is still Kindle App only at the moment.... why not give technology a chance it does work very well...honest...

[faa77]

Grant3 said:

Sorry guys, it is still Kindle App only at the moment.... why not give technology a chance it does work very well...honest...

But (with the greatest respect) it's not about work/doesn't work.This isn't a functional decision (whether a kindle allows me to digest the information) it's about how I would prefer to read information about a subject I enjoy. I won't enjoy this experience as much staring at a kindle/laptop/phone. The only reason Kindle exists is because companies wish to cut costs producing and updating books. Kindle was not developed because reading a book on a screen is more-enjoyable.

This is a book about an old-school brand but only available via new-school delivery. Its analogous to Apple selling their latest phone only via telephone or cheque order. The product doesn't match the target audience.

The fact Amazon has used copies listed for £1,500 and Ebay £262 suggests there is a lot of demand for the printed edition.

I don't mean any of the above to sound rude.

[divetheworld]

faa77 said:

But (with the greatest respect) it's not about work/doesn't work.This isn't a functional decision (whether a kindle allows me to digest the information) it's about how I would prefer to read information about a subject I enjoy. I won't enjoy this experience as much staring at a kindle/laptop/phone. The only reason Kindle exists is because companies wish to cut costs producing and updating books. Kindle was not developed because reading a book on a screen is more-enjoyable.

This is a book about an old-school brand but only available via new-school delivery. Its analogous to Apple selling their latest phone only via telephone or cheque order. The product doesn't match the target audience.

The fact Amazon has used copies listed for £1,500 and Ebay £262 suggests there is a lot of demand for the printed edition.

I don't mean any of the above to sound rude.

I have to agree. I've bought a few copies over the years. Most of the copies I have bought are to replace ones that I have given away. Sometimes it was to a prospective new owner, other times as a gift to an existing owner.
It answers all the questions they may have if interested in buying or just bought. It also has neat info in it for people like me that just like reading about their cars.
Not being available in print means that the printed copy I have will now stay with me. Not giving it up ever!
I don't have the latest Aston, so I have zero need to buy an updated copy. Everything I need to know about my V12V and DBS are already in this copy.
As a kindle only edition, there would be 4 less copies from this customer alone.

[CSK1]

I can't understand why there's no hard copy available anymore.
I used to do the same I gave away older copies to an enthusiast/potential AML owner, now I hold on to the printed copy I have.
Seriously, why not give the buyer a choice?
There are surely more people who prefer to have a book rather than having to go the Kindle way.

[faa77]

CSK1 said:

There are surely more people who prefer to have a book rather than having to go the Kindle way.

Given the demographics of Aston owners are usually older, this is most-likely to be a fact.

[Grant3]

Hi Guys I do genuinely appreciate the feedback and understand that some of you have a preference for a printed book. Please be assured this isn’t a decision (as someone suggested) about profit and reducing costs, believe it or not the printed book makes more than the Kindle version.

The problem about Worldwide delivery delays and demand for ever faster delivery is genuine. If you sell on Amazon they demand quick delivery and when a customer in Australia or the US doesn’t receive their book as quickly as they expect (due to the mail) you spend much time and cost sorting things to offer good service, when shipping is beyond your control.

Since 2011 this has been a labour of love and we have sent thousands of guides around the world and really appreciate the great support the book has received. Aston buyers are genuinely a cut above and most are great to deal with

I didn’t want to get personal, but my good lady has been going through very serious health problems and things have been a bit challenging, so managing the print, process, confirm, pack, despatch, queries has been more difficult than usual! I hope you understand, hopefully once things are ok we can look at it again.

Kindle may earn less but it is easier to manage and buyers get delivery instantly anywhere in the world. I genuinely think it works brilliantly with the guide. The same high quality images and information, the same layout as the printed book, but with the flexibility of pinch and zoom. You can also bookmark pages and make notes and mark key points that are important for you. If you are buying or a fan of Aston`s it is still a must even if you prefer a physical book ... I hope you will still support and enjoy the project born of Pistonheads

[CSK1]

Hi Grant,
Sorry to hear about you Lady's poor health and I hope she recovers soon.
This is more important than our wish to have a printed version again.
We're with you on this one.
Best wishes,
Olivier

[Grant3]

CSK1 said:

Hi Grant,
Sorry to hear about you Lady's poor health and I hope she recovers soon. This is more important than our wish to have a printed version again.
We're with you on this one. Best wishes, Olivier

Thanks Oliver I'll certainly post here if/when we do a printed version again.

In the meantime I promise the KIndle app version works very well.. in fact on a 10inch-ish tablet/iPad I think it works better than the printed book

[faa77]

Grant3 said:

Please be assured this isn’t a decision (as someone suggested) about profit and reducing costs, believe it or not the printed book makes more than the Kindle version.

Hi Grant, that was me. Apologies but I wasn't suggesting that is why you were offering it. I was simply explaining Kindle wasn't developed to improve readability experience, it was more about cost-cutting and updating content easier.

[faa77]

Grant3 said:

I didn’t want to get personal, but my good lady has been going through very serious health problems and things have been a bit challenging, so managing the print, process, confirm, pack, despatch, queries has been more difficult than usual! I hope you understand, hopefully once things are ok we can look at it again.

I am incredibly sorry to read this. I feel awful you felt the need to elaborate to this extent due to my message. I was just trying to explain you would get a huge response with a printed edition (hence the silly prices on Amazon and Ebay).

[Grant3]

Hi Faa77, thanks for your posts, appreciated

I do understand the appeal of a physical book, but the electronic versions do honestly have additional benefits that balance things nicely and make them worth a try.

For example you can search through the 350 pages for specific text (maybe "Premium Audio" etc) to seek out extra information on something you are looking at - you can zoom into images to see more detail or make text larger - bookmark a page to return at a click - view multiple pages together and make notes for reference, etc , etc. You can also download sample pages free to see how it looks/works...

Now get online and put your tablet to good use by getting some decent Aston Martin content onboard via the Kindle app

[faa77]

Grant3 said:

Hi Faa77, thanks for your posts, appreciated

I do understand the appeal of a physical book, but the electronic versions do honestly have additional benefits that balance things nicely and make them worth a try.

For example you can search through the 350 pages for specific text (maybe "Premium Audio" etc) to seek out extra information on something you are looking at - you can zoom into images to see more detail or make text larger - bookmark a page to return at a click - view multiple pages together and make notes for reference, etc , etc. You can also download sample pages free to see how it looks/works...

Now get online and put your tablet to good use by getting some decent Aston Martin content onboard via the Kindle app

Would a PDF purchase be possible/easy for you to do? I can then print out what I want to read and you don't have to mess around with shipping. If you want to add a watermark on the PDF to stop me uploading it for all, that's fine with me.

(I checked and Kindle is very very restrictive software prohibiting printing, but a printable PDF would suit my needs)

Perhaps it's a possible compromise?

[Grant3]

Hi Faa77, I’ll let you know when a reprint of the physical book is likely, I appreciate this is your preference
Meantime it is doing well and proving popular as an instant download on the Kindle App

[Grant3]

Just a quick post for those who do use tablets.

Here are some very low resolution screen shots of a few sample pages, please bear in mind they are low quality to allow upload, the actual resolution on the iPad is high... you can download the sample pages below to try and see what I mean via the free Kindle app.....
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Definitive-Guide-Gaydon-A...

Full page screen shot as viewed on iPad, the layout is the same as the printed book


Zooming into an image on the page above (this is a low resolution full screen upload the actual resolution on my iPad is much higher/clearer) adds a benefit for the Kindle version, also great if you want the text larger for ease of reading


Example of the entire book search facility, you can find references throughout the hundreds of pages and jump to each page with a simple click.


Multi page view for ease of navigation....

[faa77]

Grant3 said:

Hi Faa77, I’ll let you know when a reprint of the physical book is likely, I appreciate this is your preference
Meantime it is doing well and proving popular as an instant download on the Kindle App

Thanks!

[gralegav]

I’m getting on a bit and initially wanted a printed copy, but I’ve found the electronic copy really easy to use and read on my ipad, so no complaints here!

[Grant3]

gralegav said:

I’m getting on a bit and initially wanted a printed copy, but I’ve found the electronic copy really easy to use and read on my ipad, so no complaints here!

Cheers gralegav, good to hear you like the Kindle version your feedback is much appreciated

[Andy665]

Although I'm computer literate I'm also old school in preferring print versions - accepting that its not available and the cheapest one for sale is current £165 I have bought a new Kindle Fire 8 HD and the digital download for about half the price, also installed the Kindle reader on my laptop and if I get desperate to have a print copy I can always print it off

Great book and will definitely help in my search for a V8 Vantage