I'm surprised no one has posted this yet, but check out the site's caresheet for an outline of what you need to know: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Although there is a LOT of information on this forum, I still recommend getting Kevin McCurley's book as a baseline reference tool. It's a little pricey, but has been worth it's weight in gold to me. I haven't read the one you posted, so can't comment there. The downside of the internet is you sometimes have to wade through a lot of opinions to get to the facts. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Ball-.../dp/9780971319

If you are concerned about keeping your temps stable, you may want to try setting up a tub instead of a terrarium (many threads on this site), or at least stick with shorter, small tanks, so you don't have as much space to heat. Just make sure you are able to maintain the proper temperature gradient.

There's nothing wrong with checking out your local shop, but look into any reptile shows in your area for a wider range of options, too.

Welcome and good luck!