Paper Textbooks vs digital textbooks

[Tigz]

Every now and again I have to download books...not actually school books, but say books on web design and stuff like that.

I just don't feel as comfortable with a digital copy as I do with a paper copy. I guess I am too used to highlighting, holding my finger in a book and writing notes on a sheet of paper sitting next to me. Or flipping from one place in the book to another, going back and forth comparing, etc.

 

Do any of you have the same problem? I am figuring that it is just one of those things where I am sort of set in my ways when it comes to how I study. I mean, back in college, I'd have books and papers all spread around while taking notes.....digital books are a bit too....neat....orderly...whatever you want to call it....plus unless you have 3 or 4 e-readers laying around, you would have to close out one book to go to the next.

 

Anyway, file this under "I'm an old foggy set in my ways" type of post.

 

Just wondering what others thought on the subject. And wanted to see what younger people vs older people thought.

[Clydesmom]

I use both as part of my college curriculum and digital books do allow highlighting and marking but you need to get comfortable with how to use the tools. Once you do you will not notice a difference between hard copy vs. digital. I prefer digital because with the amount I travel, I can haul many books digitally vs. a few hard copies due to size and weight.

[mariuszh]

I prefer a physical book as well

[cashnocredit]

I prefer pdfs because usually it is faster to find stuff than with a book. At least if they have a linked ToC and index.

[Tigz]

I know. I buy all my regular books digitally, and do highlight on occasion. It is just the text books that give me a problem. I agree that they are better for carrying around at school, I'm just not sure about the heavy duty study time when you have to cross-reference.
As for note taking, I might copy some things, but I always do my notes by hand....that is my sure fired memory tool.
Even if I type my notes I make a large column on the side for writing things or adding arrows to point to important things. (stupid, I know...but it works for me)

[VibrantEcho]

I like real textbooks, at the moment. I need to be able to flip at will through the book while working on papers or assignments on my laptop. Can't do both on one device, I'd go crazy. I also like the ability to buy and then sell back. If/when I get a tablet, I will probably switch to renting e-books.

[Pam]

I use both as part of my college curriculum and digital books do allow highlighting and marking but you need to get comfortable with how to use the tools. Once you do you will not notice a difference between hard copy vs. digital. I prefer digital because with the amount I travel, I can haul many books digitally vs. a few hard copies due to size and weight.

 

 

This. I have 2 screens hooked up to my laptop, so I can have my digital version open on one screen, while taking notes/writing papers/taking tests, etc on the other. searching a digital book is so much faster and more efficient than it is on a physical book.

 

But it's really the travel issue. I can have the book on my ipad and work on my laptop, no matter the class - i only have to carry my ipad around, not 2 big-flowers textbooks.

[Rebuilding2010]

^These are the reasons I wish I was in school when this was available. If only the prices were reflective of the price savings you get when switching to e-books. Sometimes they're more expensive because of the portability! Everything is more expensive.

[pjmaxwellian]

I'm an old fogey, un or underemployed 4 yrs. now, at least I now qualify for SS. Back in school now, online. I particularly like having general reference books on my ipad, but most required textbooks are way too expensive for digital, for me. I found even the rental prices too much, even more than the exact book used. I've bought most of my physical textbooks used on eBay or Amazon. I have found one or two versions back are not much different than the latest versions. I have not yet paid over $5 for a book. As much as I like the convenience of having them on my ipad, the money I've saved more than makes up for it.

[Tigz]

I'm sure there is some industrious black market dudes/dudettes out there that will buy a book, take it a part, scan it to PDF, then sell the files for $10-$15 a pop. (especially if they make everything linkable....contents, glossary, etc) They'd make a killing on campus if it is a book that a teacher will use for several semesters.

[Rebuilding2010]

They'd have to be careful not to attract attention, cuz that's against the law. People get crazy over fair use laws

[Tigz]

Well, of course they do. I would never suggest anyone do such a thing.

 

I'm just sayin'.

[beli]

I know. I buy all my regular books digitally, and do highlight on occasion. It is just the text books that give me a problem. I agree that they are better for carrying around at school, I'm just not sure about the heavy duty study time when you have to cross-reference.

As for note taking, I might copy some things, but I always do my notes by hand....that is my sure fired memory tool.

Even if I type my notes I make a large column on the side for writing things or adding arrows to point to important things. (stupid, I know...but it works for me)

For text books I have to have hard copy for the reasons you state.. but I do have some non text books I've downloaded for my tablet.

[Rebuilding2010]

Funny, for personal books I have to have paper copies

[beli]

I'm an old fogey, un or underemployed 4 yrs. now, at least I now qualify for SS. Back in school now, online. I particularly like having general reference books on my ipad, but most required textbooks are way too expensive for digital, for me. I found even the rental prices too much, even more than the exact book used. I've bought most of my physical textbooks used on eBay or Amazon. I have found one or two versions back are not much different than the latest versions. I have not yet paid over $5 for a book. As much as I like the convenience of having them on my ipad, the money I've saved more than makes up for it.

Really? Try Chegg.com I think the most I've ever paid to rent a book was 80 bucks.

[iH8cra]

I'm in school. A lot of my classes have the option of an e-textbook or a print textbook.

 

I took a class lass semester that requires the use of a digital textbook. To make matters worse, it wasn't a simple pdf to download. You had to use their proprietary website to view. it.

 

I had to use some shady tools to download the data in a weird format which I then had to use another tool to convert it to pdf which I could finally print.

 

I hate e-books for school.

[Clydesmom]

 

I'm an old fogey, un or underemployed 4 yrs. now, at least I now qualify for SS. Back in school now, online. I particularly like having general reference books on my ipad, but most required textbooks are way too expensive for digital, for me. I found even the rental prices too much, even more than the exact book used. I've bought most of my physical textbooks used on eBay or Amazon. I have found one or two versions back are not much different than the latest versions. I have not yet paid over $5 for a book. As much as I like the convenience of having them on my ipad, the money I've saved more than makes up for it.

Really? Try Chegg.com I think the most I've ever paid to rent a book was 80 bucks.

 

I use Chegg for the majority of my text books and have saved almost 2 grand doing it. Speaking of which I have two to go back right now.

[pjmaxwellian]

 

 

 

I'm an old fogey, un or underemployed 4 yrs. now, at least I now qualify for SS. Back in school now, online. I particularly like having general reference books on my ipad, but most required textbooks are way too expensive for digital, for me. I found even the rental prices too much, even more than the exact book used. I've bought most of my physical textbooks used on eBay or Amazon. I have found one or two versions back are not much different than the latest versions. I have not yet paid over $5 for a book. As much as I like the convenience of having them on my ipad, the money I've saved more than makes up for it.

 

Really? Try Chegg.com I think the most I've ever paid to rent a book was 80 bucks.

I use Chegg for the majority of my text books and have saved almost 2 grand doing it. Speaking of which I have two to go back right now.

 

I'm determined to finish my degree without student loans. I'll buy my used books for under $5 over an $80 rental any day.