8 replies to this topic

[Martin Gamache]

Mapping Hacks Website

[frax]

anyone have it?

[Kartograph]

Just pre-ordered it. Release date in Germany: 24.6.2005

[Hans van der Maarel]

Just ordered my copy. This looks like an interesting book to have, and it's even affordable

[Hans van der Maarel]

Got it a few days ago and I really like it. It talks about a lot of free or inexpensive ways to map stuff. Very interesting, I can definately recommend this one.

[Lori Martin]

Got it a few days ago and I really like it. It talks about a lot of free or inexpensive ways to map stuff. Very interesting, I can definately recommend this one.

That's great to hear. I'm waiting for my copy to arrive....

Thanks for the review/recommendation.

[Martin Gamache]

Hack is right!

I got mine last week and I have to say I was dissapointed and that it is definitely not a "must have" for me. It appears to be geared towards a very popular audience of weekend amateur cartographers. I should not be surprised nor am I implying that professionals won't benefit from it. It fills a real niche and there seems to be an audience for this stuff based on the other books I've seen like it and from following discussions on some GPS newsgroups. But I cant help shake the science fair project feeling when I'm reading it.

The text looks good and it will likely provide hours of fun to numerous people and would be a great book to use to teach older kids about technology, maps and most importantly Geography. It likely contains some useful "hacks" to those involved in web mapping, I didn't dig that far, as I put it down after reading the make your own topographic map section.... From a print and design perspective or for practical cartography there is nothing of high value or usefulness in this book. In fact it contains so little on basic map design that it will likely contribute to furthering the acceptance of that horrible web map look that makes me cringe.
This is a dangerous trend that has some consequence for anyone hoping to earn a living as a cartographer.

I will be surprised at how many solutions it offers that can be implemented in the kind of robust, professional workflows that clients require. However if it brings more young and old people to geography and more sophisticated GIS use all the better.

Personally I will be happy to sell my copy for a good price to anyone interested in making me an offer if Amazon doesn't take it back.

mg

[Nick Springer]

Not to mention it was immediately out of date with the release of the Google Map API, as that is the ultimate map hack.

[Martin Gamache]

A review I read said that there was a PDF chapter on Google Maps available on the O'Reilly site, but when I looked for it, I was unable to find it...