Still reads like a first edition

Although this is the 6th edition of this book, while I was reading it, I still felt like I was reading the first edition, due to the clunky prose and the treatment of the material.

I know the authors feel compelled to write a book that describes the features of vi that are common on all platforms, but they end up producing a manual that appeals to the lowest common denominator. If you are still editing files on an old Unix machine using minicom and a dial-up link, this book is just right for you. If you are a modern vi user, trying to edit a large Linux project and need to learn some of the more powerful features of vim, you may be better off asking the office vi guru.

The community at large would be better served by a book dedicated to vim that does not have the problems of "Vi iMproved (VIM)" by Steve Oualline.

Other Reviews

• Still reads like a first edition
• A must buy if you want to master vi
• A great book about a great text editor
• The best book for properly learning the vi editor
• Beginner to Advanced, Comprehensive Guide to Reference