O'reilly's Safari Bookshelf - The Golden Goose of Information?

Can this service replace buying expensive web development books?

[SevanB2]

O'reilly's Safari [safari.oreilly.com] is an online reference library of over 1300 computer related technical books. It is subscription based, and allows users to view its entire inventory of books (in their entirety), with a few limitations (such as the number of books you can have open at one time). The service offers a free 14 day trial. I have been using it for a few days and I think it's really cool, but I'm not completely sold yet.

I'm wondering if there are webmasters that are finding it useful? Can it substitute for purchasing expensive technical books? I'm having a difficult time getting used to learning without the actual paper book in front of me. Has anyone overcome this barrier? Is this a common problem?

I usually spend several hundred dollars per year on technical computer books geared toward web development, and I'm wondering if other likeminded webmasters who also buy web development books have gotten enough out of Safari to subscribe?

[txbakers]

That looks like a great tool to me. Especially the ability to search over the entire library. I'm concerned that $20/month for 10 books is a bit pricey though. I don't think I would pay that much.

It makes sense in the current business environment as well. With technology changing so fast, publishers go broke trying to keep up (remember WROX?)

This way they can publish a book to the web and make changes whenever necessary without having to actually print 10,000 copies of fire starters.

It's right in line with the whole future of web based applications. I haven't bought or read a paper newspaper in years. I read the NY Times and local papers on line exclusively. Plus, it doesn't knock over my orange juice.