2010 Standard Catalog...1st Impression

[ullmandds]

Bob...I think I can speak for most everyone in saying we all greatly appreciate the great work you've done to continue to improve the "bible!" as it DOES get better every year...and I agree books are so last century!!! I haven't yet purchased the 2010 book...I think I will today.

Can someone who has it tell me if the scarcities in the E102 set have been changed to reflect their actual value/scarcity...ie the Miller fielding and the doyle...I think it is. They are listed as commons in the 09'!

[hcv123]

Firstly a HUGE thank you to Bob Lemke for overseeing such a huge and critical ongoing project.

Second, some thoughts having an understanding of both the "business" side of things as well as the collector/dealer demand.

1) Supporting the idea Bob put out about including all issues on the cd version - specific pages could be printed as needed/wanted - would save a lot of paper (probably much more profitable) and be much more efficient - apology and understanding noted of those who don't have/use computers.

2) How about an internet based subscription? New information could be added more timely ("real time"). Subscribers could have an e-mail option when there are updates. Again a print option could be available. Subscriptions could be based on time or on number of sets. You can buy a subscription for a month, year, etc.. or for 30 sets, 100, sets or 1000 sets. Browsable for free by set title (no checklist or pricing info unless you subscribe)

3) Perhaps a partenreship with VCP - I am not a member and unfamiliar with their format or technology, but perhaps Bob/Krause supplies the card database and VCP keeps the pricing updated?

Happy collecting and be well.

-Howard "A Few of My Favorite Things" Chasser

PS. Always looking for rare and unusual Roberto Clemente items. Top 5 wants:

1) 1960 Complete bazooka box
2) 1958 Kahn's weiners
3) 1968 Topps Disc
4) 1960 Harmony Milk 8x10
5) 1962 Dapper Dan program

[Rich Klein]

But the biggest reason for keeping a print copy going is readers and users need to have something tangible if they are not buying an item on line.

Having said that; thanks to the abomination that was the early years of this decades when it came to new products being released (i.e. 90+ baseball products in 2004 before hitting team issues; etc.) caused the overload of pages.

I do agree with Bob that print is so 2000's but I personally, and I suspect most of the readers of this board, prefer to have something tangible to look up items with.

And the other; unspoken reason for keeping a print publication going is that having such a deadline always keeps on on their toes for new items. Out of sight, out of mind and especially so if such a book like the SC was only on line.

I may write more later, but with my experience I'd hate to see such a book fall by the wayside.

Rich

[sportscardtheory]

Is this better than the Beckett Almanac? The Beckett Almanac seems to be missing a LOT of vintage stuff I sometimes need to find.

[steve B]

I'd prefer dividing into 2 or more books to putting it all on cd.

Pretty much the only reason is that a book will last a long time, while a CD is only good till the technology changes.
Remember- Paper tape, magnetic tape, 8"floppy disc, 5 1/4 " floppy disc, 3.5" disc,....And CD is on its way out as well. Sure, the current DVD drives are backward compatible, but the next generation of media almost certainly won't be. So if the book ever stops being published, and there's no migration to new media, figure at most a decade before ALL the information in the book is lost.

I also find online or CD references to be very clumsy. Most aren't well indexed.
And switching back and forth between windows to find info about an item can be a bigger pain than just having the book open on my lap as I browse online. It's also pretty hard for some tasks to keep dragging the cards down to the computer from the room I keep them in.

[sportscardtheory]

Why don't they simply put the entire checklist with prices on a website and charge $10 a year for the updates and work put into it. Then they wouldn't have to worry about info fitting in a book. Then they could update the pricing more as well. They can still release a book, but the online service would be more cost effective.

[ullmandds]

it's nice to be able to read it on the pot...or in the tub...i like the book format..and it's ultimately easier to use than a computer.