13 replies to this topic

[birinight]

Note to moderators:I was not sure to post here since this isn't any question, but it's a good tip so if this is more appropriate to another section please move.

Let's face it. Computers are great. Internet is an awesome way to learn. It has information that you can't find elsewhere.

When I've started with computers there wasn't Internet, so the only way to learn was to buy books. On those times I've saved all pennies to buy a new programming book( yes I know, I'm a geek ). When Internet came I was trilled that I didn't have to buy hard copies any more, since every documentation that I needed was on some electronic format.
The thing is, I guess I'm old school on this one, because I still prefer an printed copy, and I don't know way but I'll find it easier to learn from a piece of paper. The problem is that I'm so used not to spend money to learn any more that is very difficult for me to pay for a book, and since technical books are so expensive this days, normally I stay with the pdf(that usually exists somewhere on the web).

A couple of weeks ago I decided to go deeper in to 64 bit assembly, and since I have an Intel CPU(among others) I went to Intel to download the books in PDF format.

Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manuals

I've noticed the "Order an hard copy" link, it says:

Quote

...
2. Call or Send a request

Call:

To place an order for a publication or text in hardcopy or CD form, please contact our Intel® Literature Fulfillment Center at:

United States: 1-800-548-4725
International: 1-303-675-2148
Fax: 1-303-675-2120


Mail a request to:

Intel Literature Fulfillment Center
P.O. Box 5937
Denver, Colorado 80217-9808


Email: intelsupport@hibbertgroup.com

Please make sure to include in your mailed/emailed request:

SKU #
Company Name
Your Name (first, last)
Full mailing address
Daytime Phone Number in case of questions

Please be aware not all documents are available in all media types. Some may only be available as a download.

This as nothing that says that we have to pay, so I've ordered th books.

Quote

from ********** <*************@******.***>
to intelsupport@hibbertgroup.com
date Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 12:10 AM
subject Harcopy order
mailed-by gmail.com

hide details Nov 25


Reply


I would like to order the flowing publications in hard copy.

SKU #253665
SKU #253666
SKU #253667
SKU #253668

Company Name: I do not work for any company. I do own an Intel Processor
though.
Name: ****** *****
Address: ******************************************, Portugal
Telefone: +351**********

I did not want to put the company that I work because I wanted to see if they deliver the books to a normal user like me.

I really never tough they will deliver the books since I don't believe anything for free this days, but the fact is that today I received all 5 books in my house.

• Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manual Volume 1: Basic Architecture
  
• Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manual Volume 2A: Instruction Set Reference, A-M
  
• Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manual Volume 3B: System Programming Guide, Part 2
  
• Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manual Volume 2B: Instruction Set Reference, N-Z
  
• Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manual Volume 3A: System Programming Guide, Part 1

I'm Portuguese and the books are of course in English, but since I tend to understand English technical stuff better I don't mind.

I don't want to start a flame war here about AMD and Intel, but the truth is that Intel gives very good support not just to companies but also to the normal user, that can be an open source developer of some kind.

Quoting Linus Torvalds about the hardware manufacturers that refuse to release the specifications of their hardware so they could operate with the Linux kernel.

Quote

Is "I hope you all die a painful death" too strong?

Well, technically I do believe we are entitled to low level documentation about every hardware piece that we buy, but since the manufactures think differently we are restrain to the buggy and normally insufficient drivers that they produce.

I don't know if AMD does the same. I guess I will try it to send an email and ask for some hard copies

In the meantime:
Thanks Intel

[WingedPanther]

This would have made a great blog post. Intel has been very good about providing documentation about their architecture and providing compilers for their chips.

[TkTech]

Intel has been providing documentation for over 10 years. To be fair, so does AMD. In fact, AMD sends technical documentation on all their products, worldwide.

Its hard to find a professional programmer who doesn't have a set of manuals. I have AMDs and Intels (Both can be used in most cases) x86 reference manuals, and AMD's CPUID spec sheet. I also have their published documents on stress tests for GPU's and CPU's, as well as different cooling methods.

Edit

P.S You may have issues with your respective countries customs office. IE, shipping to Canada, they are marked as commercial items, and therefore taxable. However, they cost $0 nada. They will either call you and/or send you a letter saying they need proof of purchase to clear it (They don't believe its free, lol)

[MathX]

How much time did it take to arrive the books?

[birinight]

MathXpert said:

How much time did it take to arrive the books?

16 days. They were delivered by UPS.
Don't forget that I'm in Portugal.

[RobotGymnast]

Thank you so much for this. Just basically copy/pasted your e-mail. I've been very interested in the various low-level architectures.

Thanks again.

[MathX]

I got the books yesterday. Great!

Thank You So Much For this....:D

[outsid3r]

birinight said:

16 days. They were delivered by UPS.
Don't forget that I'm in Portugal.

Im portuguese too !! nice to meet you hahaha, i have also that 6 intel manuals in my home, intel services are really great!

Fica bem ;)

[RhetoricalRuvim]

How much do the manuals cost?

[RhetoricalRuvim]

Anyway, I think the manuals are free. It might make some sense for the books to be free, but it doesn't make too much sense of why Intel would ship the manuals for free.

I found this other page:
OSDev.org • View topic - Ordering hard copy Intel manuals

[RhetoricalRuvim]

I tried ordering, but this is what they sent back:

Quote

Dear Intel® Customer,



We have received your request for the Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manuals.



The Software Manuals are currently out of stock and will not be reprinted.



We are now offering the software copy manuals on CD ROM. Please feel free to go back to Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manuals and resubmit your request for the CD ROM and we will place an order for you.



If you have any questions, please let us know.



Thank you,



Intel® Customer Support

(800) 548-4725

What does that mean?

[mebob]

It appears that it means that they aren't printing the manuals anymore and are offering it on CD's.