Robert:
RP>I have noticed a near absence of literature concerning
RP>PowerBasic. VB, QB,'C', Pascal and nearly all other languages
RP>have a wealth of books available to enhance knowledge; show
RP>techniques, explainations, programming tricks and other
RP>important features.
        You are right!
RP>The people at PowerBasic do a fair job with the manuals but they
RP>are abbreviated and need of quality, thorough explanations.
RP>Surely the market exists, where are the books? It is time for
RP>PowerBasic to get off their duffs and contract writers to furnish
RP>the much needed literature and show us the Power in PowerBasic
RP>instead of bragging about it in sales mailers to entice upgrade
RP>purchase... How many of you get 100% use of your last upgrade?
        I think I use about 105% of my last upgrade, actually.  ;)
        But I see your point!
RP>Looking at the PowerBasic Gazette, Volume I Issue 2, I was
RP>appalled to find only three references in the "Book Report" and
RP>none of these was for PowerBasic. Before I pop $50 for the PB 3.2
RP>upgrade I want to be able to use most of the features in 3.1
        It's funny that you should write this at the exact same time I
        have been considering writing a proposal for an "Advanced
        PowerBASIC Programming" book.
        My question -- how big is the PB programmer base that an
        advanced book will get any sales?  I need to know exactly how
        many registered PowerBASIC programmers there are, in the
        thousands, and then I need to multiply that by about 10% or so
        to get the "advanced" category -- and then I will know if
        writing such a book is worthwhile, since I'm not in this for the
        glory -- just the money.  I don't have the time to be a
        philanthropist any more.
        Just what topics would the intermediate to advanced programmer
        like to see covered?  I loved Ethan Winer's QuickBASIC book, but
        most of it applies to PB as well, so another such book in a PB
        flavor would be redundant.
        I was thinking of a book that walks the programmer through the
        design, analysis, and implementation of a mini pattern
        matching language interpreter, and at each step, the programmer
        learns not only how to program PB to the metal, but some
        computer science theory as well....
RP>Just my opinion but I sure hope someone in Carmel is reading this.
        So do I.  I'm a freelance editor and writer as well as a
        programmer, and believe me, the idea has come to me as well.
        As I say, it's just a matter of demographics for me.  I'm not
        going to write such a book on a wish and a dream.  I need to
        know the numbers, cold and hard, before I even write the
        proposal for such a book.
Jamshid
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