Ouch! Another argument for thorough research before buying a book. I looked around the site a bit but couldn't determine whether or not there was an easy way to print the book (I doubt it, otherwise absolutely no one would buy the book).

As for the differences:

• There is no CD. Moot point, since I believe everything except maybe the database example used throughout the book is readily available from the web (correct me if I'm wrong).
• There is no online index to the book. Again a moot point, since the printed index is pretty much useless. In favor of the online version though, they include a list of tables, figures and examples in the TOC, unlike the hard copy.

If this had been a book worthy of purchase, I would've bought it irregardless of the free online version just because of the index. I'm obsessive about hard copy and will only peruse online alternatives if the information I need is easily "findable" (and my desperation outweighs my impatience).

I am learning, however, as I just recently installed MySQL and printed off the free, online, 700+ page pdf manual at work--duplexed and on pre-punched paper :)

OT -- I was disappointed to find that DBD::Pg is not available via PPM. Thus the temporary switch to MySQL. Anyone made up their own .ppm they'd like to share?

--Jim