With over 170 eBooks in our catalog, finding the right book for your needs can sometimes be challenging — especially when multiple books cover similar topics. Should you choose the beginner-friendly overview or the deep-dive advanced guide? The shorter practical handbook or the comprehensive reference?
The Dargslan Book Comparison Tool is designed to answer exactly these questions. It lets you compare up to three eBooks side by side in a detailed comparison table, showing you all the information you need to make a confident purchasing decision.
What Is the Book Comparison Tool?
The comparison tool is a built-in feature of the Dargslan store that allows you to select books from anywhere in the catalog and view them together in a structured comparison table. Instead of opening multiple browser tabs and switching back and forth between book pages, you see everything in one place.
The comparison includes every important detail about each book — price, page count, format availability, author, publication date, ratings, and more — laid out in neat columns so differences are immediately visible.
How to Add Books for Comparison
Adding books to your comparison list is simple and works from any page where you see book listings:
Step 1: Find the Compare Button
When browsing books on category pages, search results, or the All Books page, look for the compare icon on each book card. It is a small button that adds the book to your comparison bar without navigating away from the current page.
Step 2: Add Up to 3 Books
Click the compare button on any book you want to compare. You can add up to three books at a time. The selection is stored in your session, so your choices persist as you browse through different pages and categories.
Step 3: Open the Comparison
Once you have selected at least two books, a floating comparison bar appears at the bottom of the screen. This bar shows thumbnail images of your selected books and provides a "Compare Now" button. Click it to open the full comparison page.
What You Can Compare
The comparison table is comprehensive. Here is everything you see for each book, displayed side by side:
Cover and Basic Information
- Cover Image: Visual identification of each book at the top of the comparison columns.
- Title and Subtitle: The full title so you can quickly identify each book.
- Author: Who wrote the book, with links to the author page for more of their titles.
- Category: Which category the book belongs to, helping you understand its primary focus area.
Pricing Details
- Current Price: The price you will pay today, prominently displayed.
- Original Price: If the book is on sale, the original price is shown with a strikethrough so you can see the discount.
- Savings: The exact amount and percentage you save on discounted books.
Book Specifications
- Page Count: How long each book is — essential for estimating reading time.
- Language: Confirmation that the book is in English (all our books are).
- Edition and Version: Which edition of the book you are looking at, important for technical books where content evolves.
- Publication Date: When the book was published or last updated.
- ISBN: The unique identifier for the book, useful for academic or corporate purchasing.
- File Size: How large the download is, relevant if you have storage or bandwidth constraints.
Format Availability
- PDF: Whether the book is available in PDF format (best for desktop reading and printing).
- ePub: Whether an ePub version is available (best for e-readers and mobile devices).
- Source Code: Whether the book includes downloadable source code files (essential for programming books).
Community Feedback
- Average Rating: The star rating based on customer reviews.
- Number of Reviews: How many customers have reviewed the book.
- View Count: How many times the book page has been viewed, indicating popularity and interest.
Content Overview
- Short Description: A concise summary of what the book covers.
- Key Highlights: The main selling points and unique features of the book.
The Floating Compare Bar
One of the most convenient features of the comparison tool is the floating compare bar. As soon as you add your first book to the comparison, a compact bar appears at the bottom of your screen. This bar:
- Shows selected books as small thumbnails so you always know what you have chosen.
- Lets you remove books by clicking the X on any thumbnail, in case you change your mind.
- Provides a compare button that takes you to the full comparison page when you are ready.
- Persists across pages — navigate through the store freely, and your comparison selections stay intact.
- Does not block content — it is positioned at the very bottom of the screen and remains unobtrusive until you need it.
Practical Comparison Scenarios
Here are some real-world scenarios where the comparison tool shines:
Scenario 1: Choosing Between Beginner Books
You are new to Linux and see three introductory books. Which one is right for you? Add all three to the comparison and check: Which has the most pages (more comprehensive)? Which has better ratings? Which includes source code or lab exercises? The comparison table makes the answer clear.
Scenario 2: Evaluating Price vs. Depth
You have a limited budget and need to choose between a shorter, less expensive book and a longer, more expensive one. The comparison table shows you page count, content highlights, and ratings side by side — helping you determine which offers better value for your money.
Scenario 3: Finding the Most Up-to-Date Resource
In fast-moving fields like DevOps and cloud computing, publication date matters. Compare three books on the same topic and instantly see which was published most recently, which edition it is, and whether it covers the latest tools and practices.
Scenario 4: Checking Format Compatibility
You prefer reading on your Kindle and need ePub format. Compare several books and immediately see which ones offer ePub alongside PDF, ensuring you get a book in your preferred format.
Scenario 5: Team Book Selection
You are a team lead selecting a book for your entire team to study. Compare the top candidates and evaluate them on page count (shorter is easier to assign), ratings (higher-rated books are better received), and content focus (matching your team's needs). Share the comparison page with your team for collective decision-making.
Tips for Effective Comparisons
Make the most of the comparison tool with these tips:
- Compare books at the same level: Comparing a beginner book with an advanced book is not very useful — they serve different audiences. Compare books at similar difficulty levels for the most meaningful results.
- Look beyond price: The cheapest book is not always the best value. A more expensive book with twice the page count, better ratings, and source code might be a much better investment per learning hour.
- Check publication dates: In technology, a book from 2020 might reference tools and versions that have been superseded. When comparing, favor more recent publications unless the fundamentals have not changed.
- Read the highlights: The content highlights section tells you what each book specifically covers. Two books with similar titles might focus on very different aspects of a topic.
- Use with reading lists: If a reading list recommends several books for a given learning step, use the comparison tool to decide which one to purchase first.
Session-Based Storage
Your comparison selections are stored in your browser session. This means:
- No account required: You do not need to be logged in to use the comparison tool. It works for everyone, including anonymous visitors.
- Persistent while browsing: Your selections remain active as you navigate through different pages of the store.
- Fresh start on new visits: When you close your browser and return later, the comparison starts fresh. This keeps things clean and avoids clutter from old selections.
Where to Find the Compare Button
The compare button appears on book cards throughout the site:
- All Books page — Browse the complete catalog and add any books to compare.
- Category pages — Compare books within a specific category like Linux, Python, or DevOps.
- Search results — After searching for a topic, compare the most relevant results.
- Author pages — Compare multiple books by the same author to find the best fit.
Start Comparing Today
Next time you are browsing the Dargslan store and find yourself torn between two or three books, do not stress — use the comparison tool. Add the books to your compare list, review the side-by-side specifications, and make a confident, informed decision.
Head to the All Books page to start browsing, or explore our Reading Lists for curated recommendations that narrow down the choices for you.
