NEC on CD-ROM

[mikeackley]

The more time I spend enjoying this forum, the more I'm beginning to realize that having the NEC on CD-ROM might be real handy. Not to mention the fact that I'm wearing my book out.

To those of you here who have tried using the CD-ROM version, my question is: Is it really worth the extra $90 bucks?

[ March 21, 2003, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: mikeackley ]

 

[jxofaltrds]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

Mike

The CD is good if you want to stick the code to someone quickly. Me I can find the answers faster using the book. The computer is looking for words. I am looking for concepts.

mp

 

[charlie]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

I think it depends on how you do your job. I spend most of the day at the computer and am pretty familiar with where I want to go. Normally, I will just drill down to the section I'm looking for, highlight it, copy it, and drop it into the text of the document I am working on at the time. If someone asks a question, I can pull up the reference while I am talking to the person so I can sound intelligent.

When I worked in the field, a paper copy was the only way to go. It was easy to reference on the shelf of the truck.

 

[dellphinus]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

How do you handle updates and corrections? with a paper copy, you can mark it up. How do you (or can you) incorporate updates on the computer?

 

[tom baker]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

As an instructor I use the CD rom version all the time. If you are involved in compliance and inspections on jobs with detailed specs, the CD-rom is great as you can insert appropiate sections into your reports
If you are going to buy it, the handbook is available on cd-rom, then you get the nec and the handbook electronically.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

One can attach notes to the text. They aren't automatically displayed, as print on a text page, but the are readily displayable with a click of the mouse on the "sticky note icon".

One can also highlight text,. . . in different colors if you wish.

For deleting text corrected by the Errata, use a black highlighter and attach a note with the correct text.

 

[ranger]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

This is just my opinion about the cd rom version of the NEC.I bought the 99 cd rom when it first came out.It is in pdf format.My thoughts wer'e that i would use it more because i liked using and being at the computer.Well i was wrong.I found the rom version much harder to use as well as confusing.The search feature would bring up instances of the words in all the places i was not looking for.I could possibly see where you would be able to use it in some circumstances to your advantage but i think in any case one would have to be very proficient with the code first for there to be any significant speed advantage.

 

[mikeackley]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

Thanks all for your input.

Sounds to me like the jury is still out on the CD-ROM version. I'm thinking I'll hold off on this purchase for now, especially since the CD version is about $30 more than the paper book...for the life of me, I can't figure that one out.

 

[charlie b]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

Originally posted by mikeackley:The CD version is about $30 more than the paper book...for the life of me, I can't figure that one out.

Supply and demand. Plus, new technology always sells for more. For example, when cellular phones first came out, did you notice that the phone company charged you for incoming calls? It was new, so nobody had a basis for complaining. But what if the local phone company wanted to start charging for incoming calls? There would be a riot!

 

[mikeackley]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

That's gotta' be the reason Charlie. I do remember back in the late sixty's paying over $300.00 for this new fangled little electronic calculator with a square-root key which saved me hours each day vs. using the rotary-calculator in vogue those days. Remember that one?

 

[charlie b]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

I believe the "rotary calculator" you refer to was a special version of what was properly called a "circular slide rule." I did use one of those. I still have a slide rule in my desk drawer, and I still know how to use it. Conclusion: I am old, but not yet senile.

 

[dan19403]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

I LIKE THE BOOK BETTER -- THE CD IS GOOD FOR "CUT AND PASTE" APPS. BUT I FIND IT SO MUCH EASIER TO USE THE BOOK. WHEN SEARCHING ON THE CD I SEEM TO COME UP WITH EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR WHAT I WAS LOOKING

 

[tom baker]

Re: NEC on CD-ROM

I agree sometimes its faster to find in the code book. The other day I read that qualifed person is used over 90 times in the NEC, I did a search and found 3. Then I did a search for qualifed persons and found 93.