Would you buy the Plants Database?

The Plants Database is pretty massive, and browsing it over the net can take a long time, especially when you are accessing all those pictures and such.

I have the ability to produce a CD-ROM with the entire Plants Database, including all pictures and such, that you then browse with your web browser. Because it's on CD-ROM, the pictures and pages come up with lightning speed. It's actually quite fun to zip through the categories and look at all the plants so quickly.

Is this something that anyone would be interested in buying? I am thinking of putting out the PDB-CD on a biannual or annual basis, something like $15 per CD. All moneys go directly into funding DG, of course.

But first, I want to know if anyone is interested?

Dave

I'd buy it. Probably two (one for a gift). But I'd also probably still use the online DataBase. The CD would be for when I don't want to connect to the Net but need or want to look something up real quick (which I do all day long sometimes...run into the shoffice, hit DG site, run back out to continue working).
Besides, I have other gardener friends who are computer literate but don't use the Internet...they'd love that DataBase (and besides, who knows... once they see it maybe they'll just hafta join DG!)

Honestly speaking, I probably wouldn't - that is not to say this is not a good idea. In my own opinion, I do not need access to a such a large variety of plants. I would rather purchase a book that would be specific to the genus/species of plants I am interested in or to plants that are known to do well in my area of the country. Plus I also have access to the web, library and the local extension office - not to mention that I can post a question and my fellow gardeners here would give me their best advice.

I would if I had the funds :~) In fact I might even be tempted to take money out of the house fund...On second thought...please don't tempt me like this! I am weak against temptation!

I'm with Zany if I have the money I certainly would. I think my Mom might like it also so there's 2 copies.

Lana

I would probably buy it as gifts. Of course, then the people I give it too would stop calling me for help. Ahhh, I'd buy it anyway...

I think I might buy it but I do know that I hardly look at the discs I've got already. Always too wrapped up in here or doing something else!! Like Kathleen, maybe as a gift!!

I would probably be interested, budget allowing. Copyright issues come into play more if it's sold, though. Of course, you'd be selling it with the assumption that everyone contributing was on the up-and-up and credited the photographers and writers if they borrowed material from elsewhere for the database. It would be nice.

One thing we received in the master gardener class was a CD-ROM version of the current Ohioline website; it's especially useful having that when I'm taking calls at the gardening hotline, since we have no internet access at the extension office room we use. The PDB would be a good resource for the MG group, too. Hmmmmmm....

My thought is that non-members may be more likely to purchase than members. I am fortunate enough to have a high speed internet connection. I don't wait long at all to see the pictures. My only hesitation would be knowing that new plants are added every day and I wouldn't have them all - what a pac-rat :) I would, however, purchase one for some crazed gardener who was silly enough not to be a member already, lol!

I think I would buy one and one to loan out to friends.

I personally see no need to buy it. Its all right here anyway.

Sounds like I got my answer. :-) Thanks for the feedback.

I'm pretty much with jcf. Same reason I won't buy another cookbook (even ours/DG's), it's all on the web. I have several boxes of cookbooks in storage that I haven't missed in the 8 years they've been there.

Between the web & the library I just won't spend the money. Like Carol7, if it isn't specific to something I'm growing I'm not interested.

That doesn't mean it's not marketable, I'm just too savvy. (read that as cheap!)

I have the same problems with all the books and CD's I have now, trying to keep up with them is a job in it's self. It is here if I need it and it's not hard to find, so I wouldn't buy it.

I think it's an ecellent idea, but as the others, I very seldom look even at the cd's I have. Thanx anyway for the thought ..... always new ideas Dave, good man!!

All the best

Wintermoor

I'm like everyone else I would use it on line instead of buying.

Mike

Sounds like it would be a neat gift for someone, but I'd continue to use it online. It would be good for people who aren't that familiar with gardening, depending on how the CD was laid out.