Need opinion about bookpool.com

[Henry Handayana]

Not sure where else to post so I figured I'd post here since it's the safest place to post such question
Anyone here have experience with bookpool's free shipping?
How long does it take to get to you after you placed an order for in-stock book(s)?
One book I'm planning to purchase is out of print(Kathy Sierra's SJCD book) so it'll take even longer, if the wait time for that free shipping is too long I'll just buy somewhere else(maybe b&n or amazon or maybe someone can tell me of another cheap reliable online bookstore?).
Thanks in advance for your inputs.
[ April 25, 2003: Message edited by: Henry Handayana ]

[Mark Spritzler]

Why are you getting Kathy's older book, when she and Bert have a newer version out that is the best?
Also I have had no problems with Bookpool shipping items quickly. It sounds to me like your book is back-ordered and that is what is taking so long. It doesn't have to do with the free shipping part.
Mark

[Jim Yingst]

I like bookpool pretty well, and have ordered a number of things from them. Delivery time varies; the more items you order, the more likely something will delay the order for up to, say, a week, while they wait for a restock. Note that things go in and out of stock all the time there - it's usually a very temporary situation unless they note otherwise. Compared to Amazon they're a bit slower on average, but cheaper, and they've always come through for me so far. Ordering four books from Amazon might take 5 days; from bookpool, maybe ten. Not a big deal in most cases. If I need something immediately I usually go in a brick and mortar store - otherwise, what's a few extra days? I've got enough other stuff to read.

[Henry Handayana]

Originally posted by Mark Spritzler:
Why are you getting Kathy's older book, when she and Bert have a newer version out that is the best?

The reason I'm getting this book and Mehran Habibi's book is because I'm going to take the Developer's exam. From what I see about her new book, Head First Java, it isn't to prepare for the exam.
Thanks for the inputs.

[Peter Pol]

Bookpool is very good. I ordered from them a few times and never had a problem. Last time I placed order on Thursday evening (about 11PM) and have my book in the morning of the following Wednesday. Not bad for a regular media USPS shipment.
I strongly recommend them to you.
Peter

[Muhammad Farooq]

I have ordered couple of books from bookpool.com and never had a problem, i.e. recieved in the specified time frame. Last night I have ordered a book from www.overstock.ccom and will let you know about my experience. They don't have a very large collection as amazon or bookpool does, but one can look into it and may be find his/her required book/stuff.

[Bert Bates]

Henry -
I'm not clear which of Kathy's books you are talking about... She has an old, book with 'Passport' in the title. That book has nothing to do with SCJD. Her next book is mostly for SCJP and a little for SCJD, that book is not out of print but might be out of stock for a day or two depending on where you look. The new book which will be out in a month is a book for programmers new to Java - it is NOT any kind of a cert book. Let us know which book you're talking about.
We really don't recommend buying the SCJP cert book if you just want the SCJD section. It's a good section but it is relatively small for the money. I believe that Mark Spritzer has posted somewhere on JavaRanch a couple of the key chapters from the SCJD section. (With our permission ).
If you are just interested in SCJD we recommend that you get the Max Habibi book, and download our free sample chapters.
Let me know if that's what you're up to !
-Bert

[Henry Handayana]

Thank you for all the replies.
Bert, this is the book that I was referring to:
http://www.bookpool.com/.x/qwgws8ofw0/sm/0072226846
Is that the book that you were referring also? I just cancelled my bookpool order so I can see the result of this conversation.
-------
Just realized who I'm talking to, if the co-author of the book says I don't need the book, then I don't need the book
[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Henry Handayana ]

[Bert Bates]

Henry -
The link you gave is to the very current, SCJP and SCJD certification book. Of course it DOES make a lovely gift , but seriously, it's way too much money to spend JUST for the developer's section. If you could borrow someone's copy - that would be great. (The developer's section is only about 150 pages long.)
Several months ago we donated a few of the key chapters to JavaRanch - I think Mark Spritzer put the links up but I can't remember for sure.
Max Habibi's book is great for SCJD - his book will actually tell you how to develop your app.
Our book takes a very different approach - we don't pretend that we can teach you Swing and RMI and sockets, etc. in 150 pages. Instead we tell you how to think like the assessors think. We present you with checklists of things to do and things to think about.
We believe that if you can honestly say that your design and implementation actually handles all of the 'to do's' we list, you will do well on your project. (For example, we don't tell you how to write Swing code, but we do tell you how your UI ought to behave from the end user's perspective. We hear about lots of people who get a lot of deductions because their GUIs behave in non-standard ways.)
So check in with Mark and get those sample chapters, then keep in touch and let us know how you're doing on your project!
-Bert
[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Bert Bates ]

[John Smith]

So check in with Mark and get those sample chapters, then keep in touch and let us know how you're doing on your project!
Mark is in Afganistan, but as his first leutenant, I can speak for him.
The sample chapters of the book are part of SCJD FAQ page.
Eugene.