eBooks or normal books?

Talic

Which one do you guys prefer to study from? I'm thinking about starting some MS stuff when my unix class is done, just to mix it up a little.

I'm asking this because I noticed it seems annoying to keep a open book next to you while trying to input commands. Sure it sounds funny but I think having a eBook seems a bit more convent when running commands in a text based environment.

astorrs

I personally hate eBooks for reading. I love them for quick lookups though (and grumble bitterly when they aren't included on a CD with the printed copy of tech books). I like the convenience of flipping through a book in bed, or at lunch, where I don't really want to cart my laptop along with me.

TechStriker

Prefer hard copy for convenience so that I do not need to worry about flat battery for my laptop when going to the park for example.

royal

I usually get a hard copy, read that, and then copy the ebook to my laptop if I need to reference something and remember it being in the book.

gojericho0

i prefer hard copies as well. It becomes cumbersome to scroll through material on a PC, plus a book is a little easier on the eyes

tiersten

royal wrote:

I usually get a hard copy, read that, and then copy the ebook to my laptop if I need to reference something and remember it being in the book.

Same here. Its easy to read from a book in bed than a laptop

jryantech

eBooks have the internet, my desktop and to many distractions to deal with.

Get the actual book and go to your local coffee shop and read. Just make sure your away from things like your T.V., your Computer and hobbies! Distractions are the worst enemy when it comes to reading.

nel

from a book anyday!

I just find it easier to read than looking at the computer screen

dynamik

I did nearly all of my MCSE reading from Safari. I have a nice LCD, so reading off the screen doesn't bother me, but I've found that it's nice to get away from the computer and go outside or to a comfy chair. I think I'm going to be buying actual books from here on out.

jryantech

dynamik wrote:

I did nearly all of my MCSE reading from Safari. I have a nice LCD, so reading off the screen doesn't bother me, but I've found that it's nice to get away from the computer and go outside or to a comfy chair. I think I'm going to be buying actual books from here on out.

Come on tell us how many times you searched these forums in the middle of reading

Plantwiz

Prefer a hardbook, though it may just be because I'm that old.

I don't mind electronically searching for things, but if I want to read a text for 'study' then I prefer to sit back and read.

Aldur

I can understand the pain of having a hard book in front of you while your attempting to reach over it to type commands. For that reason I'll take the ebook over the hardbook while I am typing commands, such as doing the labs for the JNCIP, but I also will have the hard book so I can highlight, sit on the couch and read, and take it anywhere with me.

I suppose it all boils down to which is more convenient for the setting, plus having multiple lcds is helpfull with the ebooks as well.

jryantech

Aldur wrote:

I can understand the pain of having a hard book in front of you while your attempting to reach over it to type commands. For that reason I'll take the ebook over the hardbook while I am typing commands, such as doing the labs for the JNCIP, but I also will have the hard book so I can highlight, sit on the couch and read, and take it anywhere with me.

I suppose it all boils down to which is more convenient for the setting, plus having multiple lcds is helpfull with the ebooks as well.

This.

Having two screens is the way to do labs and anything you need to read while working on something.

But other then that I still stick with a hard book.

ladiesman217

Ebooks are good if you can tolerate the Eyestrain. I still prefer the old fashion way of reading a real book.

undomiel

Non-preference here, I would generally take whichever is cheaper. I like the alt-tabability of ebooks and the copy-and-pastability of them as well. Searching is great as well. I like the chance to get away from the distractions of the keyboard with the physical book. Physical books go better with a cup of tea.

networker050184

If I'm going to chill out and read for a while then a hard copy is the way to go. If I'm doing a lab or just referencing a book then an ebook is the way to go.

JDMurray

I will switch to eBooks when a good, portable eBook reader is available that allows me to hi-lite and annotate text and illustrations, and also interfaces with an inexpensive, duplex color laser printer. At that point eBooks will be on par with hard books.

pwjohnston

For quick reference ebooks and safari are the best. But log reading sessions on a monitor give me a headache. So I prefer hard copy.

BeaverC32

Anyone use Amazon's Kindle? A bit pricey, but looks like something I would enjoy using.

undomiel

I'd like to try one out some time, but that probably won't be happening for a while. More necessary things to buy.

dynamik

BeaverC32 wrote:

Anyone use Amazon's Kindle? A bit pricey, but looks like something I would enjoy using.

The background is a light gray, not white. I would have liked better contrast. There's an annoying flicker each time you change pages (could be overlooked). Some kid in one of my classes had one. It seemed pretty neat, but it's not there yet for me, especially at that price.

tiersten

dynamik wrote:

The background is a light gray, not white. I would have liked better contrast. There's an annoying flicker each time you change pages (could be overlooked).

Limitations of the ePaper technology at the moment. Apparently you get pixels not switching properly if you don't do the blanking thing.

The contrast should be better than a screen though.

vCole

undomiel wrote:

I'd like to try one out some time, but that probably won't be happening for a while. More necessary things to buy.

Like beer!

I prefer hard copy.

undomiel

tiersten wrote:

Limitations of the ePaper technology at the moment. Apparently you get pixels not switching properly if you don't do the blanking thing.

There's no back buffer for offscreen drawing available? Or is the processor just not fast enough to match the vblank? That would be my guess if they're blaming it on pixels not switching properly.

FadeToBright wrote:

undomiel wrote:

I'd like to try one out some time, but that probably won't be happening for a while. More necessary things to buy.

Like beer!

I prefer hard copy.

You picked the guy here who doesn't drink.

dynamik's the drunkard here!

astorrs

I'll buy one in a second as soon as they allow you to download from Books24x7 into it (say maybe 3 at a time). Now that would rock.

In the mean time...

I'm with undomiel - dynamik's a total lush

dynamik

undomiel wrote:

There's no back buffer for offscreen drawing available? Or is the processor just not fast enough to match the vblank? That would be my guess if they're blaming it on pixels not switching properly.

It's not like an LCD screen. It pretty much flips the "pixels" from black to (off) white. It only uses power when you change pages. There's a little flicker when it refreshes. It's not a big deal, but it's slightly annoying.

Check this out: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/amazon-kindle-answers/amazon-kindle-hands+on-and-questions-answered-gallery-324375.php

FadeToBright wrote:

You picked the guy here who doesn't drink.

dynamik's the drunkard here!

Yea, which is why I have to make up for him. He doesn't eat meat either. Adam and I don't think it's possible for him to derive any joy from life. He leads a sad, pathetic existence.

shednik

Normal book for reading...
eBook for when I'm on my pc labbing up something...

Inc

Harcdopy when studying at home and e-books while on the road.

I have no problem reading from screen since I'm a tree hugger

And CCNP Cert Library weights more than my laptop, so laptop ftw while commuting.

vCole

dynamik wrote:

Yea, which is why I have to make up for him. He doesn't eat meat either. Adam and I don't think it's possible for him to derive any joy from life. He leads a sad, pathetic existence.

I don't eat meat either.

undomiel

FadeToBright wrote:

dynamik wrote:

Yea, which is why I have to make up for him. He doesn't eat meat either. Adam and I don't think it's possible for him to derive any joy from life. He leads a sad, pathetic existence.

I don't eat meat either.

You're out numbered dynamik. Surrender!!!

dynamik

No way. Adam just got back from vacation. Reinforcements have arrived!

She does drink though, so she's not nearly as bad as you. I was going to make a comment about how I could probably get her to eat meat after a few drinks, but I couldn't figure out a way to not make it sound incredibly dirty

Wait.. what was this thread about again?