I was thinking, maybe we could have different sections to the book? For example, school/college, work, home, play, that kind of stuff? It would help people find hacks most useful for them, but there is the problem of one hack needing to be in two sections.
I think a small appendix in the back of the book would suffice for something like that. It would eliminate the problem with a hack needing to be in two sections.
On Sep 10, 2:17 am, samhealer <samhe...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> I was thinking, maybe we could have different sections to the book? > For example, school/college, work, home, play, that kind of stuff? It > would help people find hacks most useful for them, but there is the > problem of one hack needing to be in two sections.
> I was thinking, maybe we could have different sections to the book? > For example, school/college, work, home, play, that kind of stuff? It
Tags are popular these days, right? How about each hack get tagged and, like Nicholas said, have an appendix or tag index in the back that lists all the tags and associated articles?
> > I was thinking, maybe we could have different sections to the book? > > For example, school/college, work, home, play, that kind of stuff? It
> Tags are popular these days, right? How about each hack get tagged > and, like Nicholas said, have an appendix or tag index in the back > that lists all the tags and associated articles?
> Tagging is a good idea but I wonder, if they will be efficient on > physical book like they do in the web.
Highly unlikely that they would be, but if the number of tags were limited to the popular categories (home, work, play, email, browsing, windows, mac, etc.), they might prove useful.
The sections questions is a good one. I think the biggest challenge to using the Lifehacker site and book is that there is so much good stuff, it's hard to use or organize it all (a happy problem to have).
I would love a way to be able to look things up by what they're utilizing. For example - I have a couple USB drives I know I'm not using to their fullest potential. Perhaps somehow organizing all the things you could do with a thumb drive in one place would be helpful. Or all the options you have for tweaking your media (music, Media Center, etc). The sections in Version 1 were a good step in this direction, I just wonder if they could go further.
On the site the tags and search are great places to start. Maybe the 2nd edition could have a sub-index or color coding or Icons for easier sorting.
I think the idea of sections or tags is a great one, I agree that, in the printed form a textual tag is more difficult to utilise - the idea of icons in place that identified popular choices (a thumb drive icon for things to carry on your vital thumb drive, perhaps?) would be very useful.
In that way, you can flick through the major sections and see obviously where there are cross-overs without having to go back to the index as often?
Wilf
On Sep 10, 3:43 pm, CK <politicalmediacen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The sections questions is a good one. I think the biggest challenge > to using the Lifehacker site and book is that there is so much good > stuff, it's hard to use or organize it all (a happy problem to have).
> I would love a way to be able to look things up by what they're > utilizing. For example - I have a couple USB drives I know I'm not > using to their fullest potential. Perhaps somehow organizing all the > things you could do with a thumb drive in one place would be helpful. > Or all the options you have for tweaking your media (music, Media > Center, etc). The sections in Version 1 were a good step in this > direction, I just wonder if they could go further.
> On the site the tags and search are great places to start. Maybe the > 2nd edition could have a sub-index or color coding or Icons for easier > sorting.
> I think the idea of sections or tags is a great one, I agree that, in > the printed form a textual tag is more difficult to utilise - the idea > of icons in place that identified popular choices (a thumb drive icon > for things to carry on your vital thumb drive, perhaps?) would be very > useful.
> In that way, you can flick through the major sections and see > obviously where there are cross-overs without having to go back to the > index as often?
> Wilf
> On Sep 10, 3:43 pm, CK <politicalmediacen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > The sections questions is a good one. I think the biggest challenge > > to using the Lifehacker site and book is that there is so much good > > stuff, it's hard to use or organize it all (a happy problem to have).
> > I would love a way to be able to look things up by what they're > > utilizing. For example - I have a couple USB drives I know I'm not > > using to their fullest potential. Perhaps somehow organizing all the > > things you could do with a thumb drive in one place would be helpful. > > Or all the options you have for tweaking your media (music, Media > > Center, etc). The sections in Version 1 were a good step in this > > direction, I just wonder if they could go further.
> > On the site the tags and search are great places to start. Maybe the > > 2nd edition could have a sub-index or color coding or Icons for easier > > sorting.- Hide quoted text -
Sadly it's almost impossible to slice and dice the hacks in all the ways they could be in the physical book. (Though this problem of organization is one we struggle with and constantly discuss regarding the site, too, so it's a very valid point.)
I like the idea of icons, but it could turn into a visual mess. Right now we separate the hacks into the chapters, which represent the larger principles of life hacking, and then "tag" each one with platform, cost and user level at the beginning of each.
Happily there's always the index at the end of the book. In the current edition, you can look up "USB drive" in the index, which cross-references to "flash drives," which lists the 7 places in the book they're mentioned (with sub-headings, like "securing," "portable applications," "useful information to store on.")
On 9/10/07, Nicholas M. <endlessinsan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> These seem like great ideas. Visual tags are the most useful, seeing > that a good majority of people are visual readers.
> On Sep 10, 11:48 am, Wilf <wilfv...@gmail.com> wrote: > > I think the idea of sections or tags is a great one, I agree that, in > > the printed form a textual tag is more difficult to utilise - the idea > > of icons in place that identified popular choices (a thumb drive icon > > for things to carry on your vital thumb drive, perhaps?) would be very > > useful.
> > In that way, you can flick through the major sections and see > > obviously where there are cross-overs without having to go back to the > > index as often?
> > Wilf
> > On Sep 10, 3:43 pm, CK <politicalmediacen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > The sections questions is a good one. I think the biggest challenge > > > to using the Lifehacker site and book is that there is so much good > > > stuff, it's hard to use or organize it all (a happy problem to have).
> > > I would love a way to be able to look things up by what they're > > > utilizing. For example - I have a couple USB drives I know I'm not > > > using to their fullest potential. Perhaps somehow organizing all the > > > things you could do with a thumb drive in one place would be helpful. > > > Or all the options you have for tweaking your media (music, Media > > > Center, etc). The sections in Version 1 were a good step in this > > > direction, I just wonder if they could go further.
> > > On the site the tags and search are great places to start. Maybe the > > > 2nd edition could have a sub-index or color coding or Icons for easier > > > sorting.- Hide quoted text -
<lifehacker.edi...@gmail.com> wrote: > Sadly it's almost impossible to slice and dice the hacks in all the > ways they could be in the physical book. (Though this problem of > organization is one we struggle with and constantly discuss regarding > the site, too, so it's a very valid point.)
> I like the idea of icons, but it could turn into a visual mess. Right > now we separate the hacks into the chapters, which represent the > larger principles of life hacking, and then "tag" each one with > platform, cost and user level at the beginning of each.
> Happily there's always the index at the end of the book. In the > current edition, you can look up "USB drive" in the index, which > cross-references to "flash drives," which lists the 7 places in the > book they're mentioned (with sub-headings, like "securing," "portable > applications," "useful information to store on.")
> On 9/10/07, Nicholas M. <endlessinsan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > These seem like great ideas. Visual tags are the most useful, seeing > > that a good majority of people are visual readers.
> > On Sep 10, 11:48 am, Wilf <wilfv...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > I think the idea of sections or tags is a great one, I agree that, in > > > the printed form a textual tag is more difficult to utilise - the idea > > > of icons in place that identified popular choices (a thumb drive icon > > > for things to carry on your vital thumb drive, perhaps?) would be very > > > useful.
> > > In that way, you can flick through the major sections and see > > > obviously where there are cross-overs without having to go back to the > > > index as often?
> > > Wilf
> > > On Sep 10, 3:43 pm, CK <politicalmediacen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > The sections questions is a good one. I think the biggest challenge > > > > to using the Lifehacker site and book is that there is so much good > > > > stuff, it's hard to use or organize it all (a happy problem to have).
> > > > I would love a way to be able to look things up by what they're > > > > utilizing. For example - I have a couple USB drives I know I'm not > > > > using to their fullest potential. Perhaps somehow organizing all the > > > > things you could do with a thumb drive in one place would be helpful. > > > > Or all the options you have for tweaking your media (music, Media > > > > Center, etc). The sections in Version 1 were a good step in this > > > > direction, I just wonder if they could go further.
> > > > On the site the tags and search are great places to start. Maybe the > > > > 2nd edition could have a sub-index or color coding or Icons for easier > > > > sorting.- Hide quoted text -
On 10/4/07, peter.fitzger...@gmail.com <peter.fitzger...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Are you planning on arranging the book differently this time around or > under refined topics?
The second rev will be organized much like the first one: first, in chapters, each representing a big picture initiative (control your email, clear your mind, trick yourself into getting done, etc); second, each hack will be "tagged" with operating system (where applicable, many are "all" or "web"), user level (beginner/medium/advanced), and cost (mostly free.)
This is the best way I could come up with to make the book focused on personal productivity but easy to flip through and cherry-pick. And there's always the ever-helpful index for very specific questions, like "what all can I do with my flash drive?"
> On Oct 2, 6:30 pm, "Gina Trapani @ Lifehacker" > <lifehacker.edi...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Sadly it's almost impossible to slice and dice the hacks in all the > > ways they could be in the physical book. (Though this problem of > > organization is one we struggle with and constantly discuss regarding > > the site, too, so it's a very valid point.)
> > I like the idea of icons, but it could turn into a visual mess. Right > > now we separate the hacks into the chapters, which represent the > > larger principles of life hacking, and then "tag" each one with > > platform, cost and user level at the beginning of each.
> > Happily there's always the index at the end of the book. In the > > current edition, you can look up "USB drive" in the index, which > > cross-references to "flash drives," which lists the 7 places in the > > book they're mentioned (with sub-headings, like "securing," "portable > > applications," "useful information to store on.")
> > On 9/10/07, Nicholas M. <endlessinsan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > These seem like great ideas. Visual tags are the most useful, seeing > > > that a good majority of people are visual readers.
> > > On Sep 10, 11:48 am, Wilf <wilfv...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > I think the idea of sections or tags is a great one, I agree that, in > > > > the printed form a textual tag is more difficult to utilise - the idea > > > > of icons in place that identified popular choices (a thumb drive icon > > > > for things to carry on your vital thumb drive, perhaps?) would be very > > > > useful.
> > > > In that way, you can flick through the major sections and see > > > > obviously where there are cross-overs without having to go back to the > > > > index as often?
> > > > Wilf
> > > > On Sep 10, 3:43 pm, CK <politicalmediacen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > The sections questions is a good one. I think the biggest challenge > > > > > to using the Lifehacker site and book is that there is so much good > > > > > stuff, it's hard to use or organize it all (a happy problem to have).
> > > > > I would love a way to be able to look things up by what they're > > > > > utilizing. For example - I have a couple USB drives I know I'm not > > > > > using to their fullest potential. Perhaps somehow organizing all the > > > > > things you could do with a thumb drive in one place would be helpful. > > > > > Or all the options you have for tweaking your media (music, Media > > > > > Center, etc). The sections in Version 1 were a good step in this > > > > > direction, I just wonder if they could go further.
> > > > > On the site the tags and search are great places to start. Maybe the > > > > > 2nd edition could have a sub-index or color coding or Icons for easier > > > > > sorting.- Hide quoted text -
These might be nice as callouts within book pages - special figures that sit within the book text.
For example, within a section about using a thumbdrive you might, as Dave suggests, add a small box on the page with "top ten things to do with a thumb drive."
This might be a nice way to sneak in more advanced tutorials as links to the LifeHacker site. Like introducing SVN -- maybe have a box somewhere in the sync section of the book that says 'if you want to manage and compare different versions of your files, try Subversion. Subversion does this, that, etc. For more information, see the tutorial on the LifeHacker site, "Using Version Control at Home to Manage Your Files."
This might get around the requirement to keep the book from getting *too* advanced by subordinating the advanced portions to callouts with links to the site.
On Nov 29, 2007 9:54 AM, comedy writer <dave.walbri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> In addition to an appendix, why not add some short lists -- like > top ten things to do with a thumb drive? Or Ways to jump -start your > morning?
> Dave
-- Rob Hudson PhD Student, Technical Comm. and Rhetoric Composition Assessment Software Developer Texas Tech University www.iteachwriting.com
On Nov 29, 2007 8:52 AM, Rob Hudson <caveat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> For example, within a section about using a thumbdrive you might, as > Dave suggests, add a small box on the page with "top ten things to do > with a thumb drive."
That's a good idea! I did something like this, adding in "Tips" sections, which interrupting the text saying things like, "For more on how to do blah blah, visit [link here]." The only bad part about that is that you can't click on books and typing URLs from a book is the pits. (Wherever possible I created a TinyURL-like redirect for long links.)
One less than great thing about the book's template is that the "sidebars" aren't actually on the side at all; they're colored differently but they interrupt the text entirely and stretch across the page. This book will actually be physically smaller than the first one, so it's easier to throw into a backpack and more compact to carry around.
> This might get around the requirement to keep the book from getting > *too* advanced by subordinating the advanced portions to callouts with > links to the site.
Definitely! My editor advised me not to include TOO many "see more at the web site" notes, because they can get distracting to a reader curled up with the book not in front of a computer, but I will recommend reading the book near a computer in the introduction.
> On Nov 29, 2007 9:54 AM, comedy writer <dave.walbri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > In addition to an appendix, why not add some short lists -- like > > top ten things to do with a thumb drive? Or Ways to jump -start your > > morning?
> > Dave
> -- > Rob Hudson > PhD Student, Technical Comm. and Rhetoric > Composition Assessment Software Developer > Texas Tech University > www.iteachwriting.com
Instead of referring to websites in the book i would find it easier if
u had the links on the site. Since I go to lifehacker regularly mabey
additionaly to how you referred to the posts on the books' website you
can also put links mentioned in the book
<lifehacker.edi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 29, 2007 8:52 AM, Rob Hudson <caveat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > For example, within a section about using a thumbdrive you might, as
> > Dave suggests, add a small box on the page with "top ten things to do
> > with a thumb drive."
> That's a good idea! I did something like this, adding in "Tips"
> sections, which interrupting the text saying things like, "For more on
> how to do blah blah, visit [link here]." The only bad part about that
> is that you can't click on books and typing URLs from a book is the
> pits. (Wherever possible I created a TinyURL-like redirect for long
> links.)
> One less than great thing about the book's template is that the
> "sidebars" aren't actually on the side at all; they're colored
> differently but they interrupt the text entirely and stretch across
> the page. This book will actually be physically smaller than the
> first one, so it's easier to throw into a backpack and more compact to
> carry around.
> > This might get around the requirement to keep the book from getting
> > *too* advanced by subordinating the advanced portions to callouts with
> > links to the site.
> Definitely! My editor advised me not to include TOO many "see more at
> the web site" notes, because they can get distracting to a reader
> curled up with the book not in front of a computer, but I will
> recommend reading the book near a computer in the introduction.
> > On Nov 29, 2007 9:54 AM, comedy writer <dave.walbri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > In addition to an appendix, why not add some short lists -- like
> > > top ten things to do with a thumb drive? Or Ways to jump -start your
> > > morning?
> > > Dave
> > --
> > Rob Hudson
> > PhD Student, Technical Comm. and Rhetoric
> > Composition Assessment Software Developer
> > Texas Tech University
> >www.iteachwriting.com
