Proposed Book Title
The new book is entering its final stages before we start work in earnest. After much discussion internally we have finally come up with a potential title for the new book and I wanted to get your thoughts. Let me preface this with the following: We wanted to depart from the “tips and tricks” moniker for the book as we feel it doesn’t adequately portray what the book does (or should do at least). With that said, the current thought on a title is (drum roll, please):
Microsoft Visual Studio Productivity Handbook
I really want your feedback on this one. Does it suck? Do you like it? Tell me your thoughts…
Z
Comments
Anonymous
August 09, 2010
Sorry to rain on the parade, but the title sounds incomparably generic. May I suggest an alternative: Code Faster: Make Visual Studio Do Exactly What You Want. That tells me exactly why I would want to buy your book and what the benefits of reading it are.Anonymous
August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
I have to agree with feedback so far - it's not so much formal as just "blah". You could put a Charlie Brown zig-zag across the cover. Devs like puns, hyperbole, and an inflated sense of self-importance. Tell me that this book will make me the XKCD guy who swings in on a rope, says, "Everybody stand back. I know Visual Studio", and saves the day. Because I've totally done that with your tips (minus the rope)! (http://xkcd.com/208/) Maybe "Microsoft Visual Studio Walkthrough"?Anonymous
August 09, 2010
Zain, I think Kevin and Yann are onto something...Anonymous
August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
@MarcT totally off topic but I just burned though two hours going though old xkcd cartoons thanks to you :PAnonymous
August 09, 2010
How about "Microsoft Visual Studio Productivity - The Basics and Beyond", actually the only word in the title that I don't find it fit for a title is the "Handbook". A title have to be meaningful and attractive for the potential buyer, eye-catching. It depends also on which category of programmers you are targetting, where you want to place your book in the pool of books available on the market. "Handbook" tells me nothing more than "another book on productivity" or VS. You have to consider also the various meaning of words, for example I had a bad experience with books having in their title words as "Complete" so I'll think twice before buying such a book. Sometimes it makes sense to use associations between words when making a title, simple associative games could be productive from this point of view.Anonymous
August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
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August 09, 2010
I vote for an Asian themed or martial arts cover. The Way of Microsoft Visual Studio The Tao of Microsoft Visual Studio Microsoft Visual Studio: Path to MasteryAnonymous
August 10, 2010
"... Productivity Handbook" doesn't reveal anything to me. I would probably gloss over the title as it stood on the shelf. In particular, the term "Handbook" is synonymous for any lengthy document that a corporate committee thinks is in my best interest to read. IMO, it doesn't connect with developers down in the trenches. ("... Field Guide" may be closer.) What would stand out to me is a title that tells me what I can expect to receive as a result of reading the book. I'd go with one that had verbal descriptions such as: "Unlocking Productivity with... " "Optimizing Productivity with... " "Mastering ... " (already mentioned above, a tried and true convention of earlier MS Press books)Anonymous
August 10, 2010
There are some good suggestions here. I think the title needs some pizazz and should create excitement (agree with Luke)...that's what the book will do make Visual Studio exciting to develop with. The Zen and Art of Microsoft Visual StudioAnonymous
August 10, 2010
I'm loving the ideas folks, keep them coming. I've got the folks at MSPress looking at your comments as well to get some ideas we can throw around. Z @kevin.mcdaniel I espcially love "Microsoft Visual Studio: From the Rooter to the Tooter" :)Anonymous
August 10, 2010
Microsoft Visual Studio - A Manual (there and back again)Anonymous
August 10, 2010
Zain, So it comes down to a bunch of "nerds" (no offense to nerds intended), who aren't even developers themselves, to choose a title that fits a bunch of "rules" instead of taking the intended buyers of the book into consideration? Gee, how "Microsoft" (unfortunately seems to be the trend these days). So be it if they prefer to have a "formula" title that nobody wants to buy. Funny, I thought "marketing" meant make it appeal to the most people possible. Go figure.. A little OT maybe: I miss the days when Microsoft had "vision" & was "innovative", like when Bill Gates was at the helm. Mr Ballmer may be a great accountant, but he's driving MS into obscurity. Don't get me wrong, I've been a long-time Microsoft supporter, but it's getting harder & harder to stay one. YannAnonymous
August 10, 2010
@yannduran man, that is seriously harsh. It's actually o'reilly that is handling this stuff for MSPress but regardless I am sure any publisher would have constraints like this. I can't call it "Pro Visual Studio" for example becasuse the "Pro" thing is an APress moniker. It gets a little corporate but the folksI'm working with are very cool. I'm actually pretty impressed with the process so far. At this stage there are no committees just Sara, our publishing contact (Russ), and me. We kick around ideas. It was my idea to see what you all thought and we are already into new titles based on the feedback. Keep the good stuff coming.Anonymous
August 10, 2010
I just got an email from Russ and everyone likes the title Kevin suggested: Code Faster: Make Visual Studio Do Exactly What You Want My only concern is that there is a lot of stuff that doesn't have anything to do with coding (fonts and colors, finding stuff, etc...). I know you can't please everyone so what do you all think of that title? Suggestions on mods? ZAnonymous
August 10, 2010
First, let me say how much I enjoy your postings. They are concise, well-illustrated, and informative. I don't think that the proposed title "Microsoft Visual Studio Productivity Handbook" conveys those attributes. To me, the word "productivity" sounds hectoring. A small change, however, could make the title more in keeping with the flavor of the contents. I would suggest "Microsoft Visual Studio: A Handbook". My second choice would be "Microsoft Visual Studio Quick Reference". Both titles convey the sense that the articles are pithy and instructive. Hope this helps. MikeAnonymous
August 10, 2010
Zainnab, About your concern that there's a lot of stuff that doesn't have to do with coding: Don't worry. You're thinking too much. Besides, the subtitle "Make Visual Studio Do Exactly What You Want" covers all the rest of that stuff. Regards, Kevin P.S. Don't forget my free copy when it goes to press :)Anonymous
August 10, 2010
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August 11, 2010
I'm down with "Code Faster". The subtitle gets pretty long, especially when you throw "MS" in there, but it's my favorite so far. As for XKCD, I'm just the messenger. =)Anonymous
August 11, 2010
Hi Zain, Oh well, if "harsh" is the worst I get called I guess I can live with that. I can also live with keeping my opinions to myself if they're not found to be useful. But I'm not really one for "political correctness", I say it as I see it. Not sure which part you were referring to, or both, but you did make it sound like the situation I described, "publishers are absolutely against", "so it is 100% out", "they want the titles to be sort of inline with the other MSPress titles hence the more formal type name" & "any proposed title has to pass the board for review". If I got it wrong then I'm pleased to hear it. I certainly wouldn't have made that comment about Sara, & I've vaguely heard of Russ before as well. As for Balmer/Microsoft, I'm know for a fact I'm not the only one who feels this way, though I may be the only one stupid enough to say so to a Microsoft employee on a Microsoft forum, lol. As far as Kevin's suggestion for a title goes, my only suggestion is maybe omit the "exactly". That's not strictly true & could be construed as a bit misleading. Oher than that, nice title. YannAnonymous
August 11, 2010
@yann No worries man :) and it looks like we are slowly coming to consensus on a title.Anonymous
August 11, 2010
I like Mastering Microsoft Visual Studio. I don' t think I'll spend my money on a "handbook". I'm a professional and I want a book that speaks to me. If the title suggests otherwise I may not even look the preface or TOC. I also like: "Experience Productivity with Microsoft Visual Studio " "Code faster with Microsoft Visual Studio" "Be Productive using Microsoft Visual Studio"Anonymous
August 18, 2010
How about... "Microsoft Visual Studio - Stuff you should know that will get you up to speed with the product faster than reading this whopping great title" or "Using Microsoft Visual Studio for Taking Care of Business"Anonymous
August 21, 2010
I want to thank everyone for the most awesome suggestions! I seriously appreciate the great qudience I have reading and contributing to the discussions. We have settled on a title to be announced soon and it looks like all that is left to do is actually WRITE the book at this point. I'll be looking for more input on areas that I think are still grey as far as content layout, etc... to see what you all think but the hard parts appear to be done so far :) Look for me to announce the title on this thread, hopefully, this week. ZAnonymous
August 21, 2010
Looking good Zain, the excitments building dude.... :-)Anonymous
September 21, 2010
At long last, it only took a month to get to this but I can finally announce the new Title (drum roll): Coding Faster: Getting More Productive with Microsoft Visual Studio Thanks to Kevin Stevens who came up with the great verbiage. Shoot me an email Kevin so I can hook you up with some swag and, of course, you will be mentioned in the book :)