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Costly technical books
Looking for some technical. After checking it online, notice Malaysia book shop are not going to sell it cheap.

Checking with local Kinokuniya, the price of the technical book I looking for cost RM 196. After checking with Amazon on the same book, I learn the paperback cost US$32, while a label “used” just cost $29.80. For technical book, the meaning of “used” book are always mean return or slow moving book.

Although Ringgit vs US dollar are now RM3.15 to US$1. Since those technical books arrived much earlier, I assume the old rate of RM3.70 vs US$1. Thus the technical book that cost US$32, will cost RM118.40 after conversion. And DHL delivery, add another US$12 for express international shipping, So RM118.40 + ($12×3.7) = 162.80. This make my eye rolls.

Cheaper technical book in China and India

Surprisingly, Chian and India sell cheaper technical books. Previously, I only pay RM19.90 for a technical book that printed in India. Surprisingly, the book are NOT pirated print, but an authorised printing from US counterpart. My friend who frequently travel back on forth to Bangalore on some project, told me that you can get all identical US technical book in India for 1/10 of the price. Those technical book does not restrict to computing books. Nevertheless, some books are not authorised print. Those book are printed on cheap unbleached paper, which might not last for few year on the road. However, those who frequently refer to technical book know that one will use the book as reference than bringing the book everywhere you go.

Expensive book are not helping K-economy

Malaysian know this too well : books are not cheap in Malaysia. For English reader, technical book are not easily acquire. On the other hand, because of the thriving China market, Mandarin translation of technical book are abundance, for both authorised or unauthorised print. Malay technical books are almost are little. It’s not luck for China and India to surge on the economy. The abundance and cheap labour are just a start. For sustainable growth, efficient production are required, and it is knowledge that matters.