So would I, I have the bandwidth (when it works, it's being crappy right now) to download the etexts and then make .isos of stuff. I'd be happy to do some thematic CD/DVDs while Scott works on the major discs. I've been needing an updated one for a while (Michael's requested updated ones anyone for a while as he asked me some time ago to send him CDs/DVDs of the new books as they come out. it's a pain in the ass to download, but well worth the time when you can make a .iso and save people a lot of download time. Jared Greg Newby wrote on 5/10/2005, 1:23 PM:
On Tue, May 10, 2005 at 12:52:21PM -0700, Scott Clous wrote:
making CD / DVD best of 2005.
Which books, and why?
I am eager to create an updated CD and DVD from the 2 that already exist, including the corrected versions.
My motivation is 2 fold, people for better or worse download things that they think are the most current--using robots to get the most current versions vs. just the CD, etc. and because it does make the site more useable if one download gets them some wonderful content directly--and we all would want it to be the most current (and hopefully correct) versions.
Many people have broadband now, and Bittorrent makes many things easier.
I know there are some challenges in getting it together, then maintaining it, because the format of presenting the content has changed.
Usually, without tagging the content itself, within a field to id that content as going onto a complitation, the only other method of selection is an index of choices for the CD or DVD.
Note: To extract metadata, identify files, etc., try starting with the XML/RDF file at http://gutenberg.org/catalog. It's the single most important advance in our ability to automatically match files with metadata like author & title.
To start things off, I'd like to use the existing selections, update them, and make the CD available again.
I also will review the new titles, Sherlock is near and dear to all our hearts, I'm sure, and include them if possible and their popularity warrents it.
It would be nice to have a method to automatically update it -- fairy tales and all -- so that the site, and this part of it appear to be current.
This last goal is additional work, but might be well worth it.
Do any of the volunteers or programmers have feedback on these ideas?
Thanks for doing this, Scott! In fact, I am looking for a list of eBook #s to include in a revised "best of," too. I'm thinking a DVD, rather than a CD, because so much more graphical content is available now. For example, I'd include most/all of our "Punch" issues and related....Scientific American, etc.
I would like some new images for upcoming giveaways, too. I should have a program available soon (really, really soon - in time for Michael Hart's visit to Fairbanks in June) to "build your own" ISO. Seeding these with lists of eBook #s is the best possible start.
I think that the current "Best Of" CD is probably your best starting point. While we've done many, many new eBooks since then, the best-known titles were already available for the CD. But many have been updated, and a few have had images or HTML added.
Thematic listings are possible, too. Some ideas: - French language - German language - Very old books - Travels and Voyages - Children's & Reference - Early SciFi & Horror - Best-known Literature - Translated works - Women Authors
What I very much expect, very very soon (no, really!!), is to be able to turn a list of eBook #s into an ISO with little manual intervention. Then, we'll be able to keep the ISO updated as the eBooks are updated. The new directory structure, to which all items are gradually moving, makes this easier.
Our CD & DVD giveaway page at http://gutenberg.org/cdproject is immensely popular (and giveaways pay for themselves, because many recipients make a voluntary donation). The images are downloaded constantly. Making more of these is something I'd really like to assist with. -- Greg
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