Do you study from ebooks or paper books?

binarysoul

The title should cover it, but I'm wondering how many people study from ebooks vs. from actual paper books.

For a while I enjoyed ebooks, but slowly I'm missing reading a book on the couch rather than staring at the monitor for hours I guess I'm getting old!

arwes

I honestly tried, but I found it too easy to get bored and alt-tab out to something else. With a paper book, I don't have that temptation or at least it's not readily available.

dynamik

I spend enough time in front of a monitor; I go with paper.

networker050184

arwes wrote: »

I honestly tried, but I found it too easy to get bored and alt-tab out to something else. With a paper book, I don't have that temptation or at least it's not readily available.

Same here. I only use ebooks to study at work or on the road so I don't have to lug the physical books with me. When I do use an ebook I usually disconnect my internet connection to fight the urge to browse the internet. I want to give one of the ebook readers a try, but I'll wait until the price goes down a bit on those.

Forsaken_GA

I have a very large collection of pdf's, but I only resort to them as reference material when there's something I need to know and I don't have the dead tree on hand. If I'm studying on purpose, it's always with a dead tree.

NightShade03

I agree with the others...I just like the feeling of having the book rather then a PDF...although I too have a insane collection of pdfs which I reference alot.

networker050184

Not necessarily an ebook I guess, but I do A LOT of studying off of the Cisco Docs online. That would be way to much crap to print out on paper.

jjbrog

Depends, I prefer to read the real paper book. But if its something I might have to lab out a ebook would be easier, in some ways... Also I agree with paper, your not tempted to get sidetracked with other windows opened up.

chrisone

I do both, mainly i prefer paper and at work i use pdf, so it looks like im working lol

JDMurray

I prefer paper because I can high-lite pertinent facts as I am reading and that seems to help reinforce the information in my mind. Ebooks are good for searching for specific information.

binarysoul

Sometimes I read part of the ebooks onscreen and print other parts. I've got a good laser printer, but given it's expensive to replace the cartridge, I only print the heavy reading portion.

Today I went to my local PC store and it costs me $45 to refill the cartridge giving me 2000 pages. Not too bad.

mikej412

I'll read from either the book or my Kindle DX -- but when reviewing where I may be paging around I'll use the book.

I may use either the Kindle or eBook to read any end of chapter questions and use the book if I need to look around for the answer.

I usually take hand written notes first, so either the book or Kindle works fine for that. If there was a table or something in the book that would be useful in my notes, then I may copy from an eBook or do a screen print of the eBook while I'm typing up my notes.

jojopramos

I am more comfortable with paper when it comes to reading. Just like what arwes said, the temptations are there when you are in front of your laptop and reading the pdf....

MentholMoose

Mainly ebooks, on my laptop. It's definitely a challenge to resist the alt-tab, but I do OK.

littlehoops

I use my Android phone to read my epubs and my my laptops for pdfs. But i do like having the paperbook they look good on my shelf. When i am at home i read from the paper book.

Hoops

UnixGuy

At university, I always used paper books.

Now I solely rely on e-Books for IT.

Pleasure reading, which I do A LOT, I use paper books.

Kaminsky

Problem I find with with pdfs is you tend to collect a lot of them all covering similar subjects but from different authors. Thing with this is you end up reading about the same thing in several different ways and don't feel you have covered the topic until you have read them all.

nel

Paper all the way. Mainly due to issues looking at a stupid screen all day.

Although i would prefer to use an e-reader due to environmental issues with paper being used. Plus the fact that it would save a ton of space and allow easy accessibility to a wider library on hand. However, i tested a few cisco pdfs on a friends sony e-reader and the diagrams did not scale well at all and the formatting became messed up. If this was not the case and the e-readers were a more sensible price then i would jump at the chance of one. i'll wait until the apple device comes out to see if theyve made any headway in that market but instinct tells me they wont be cheap from Stevie Jobs and co!

Zartanasaurus

e-books, although I alt-tab out a lot and get distracted. Take now for instance...

undomiel

I prefer the paper route. Easier to curl up with in a corner. Just doesn't feel quite so friendly when you try that with an ebook.

TheShadow

ebooks. I have a HP 24 inch rotating monitor in portrait mode dedicated to just docs. with such a huge image I can use a wireless keyboard in my reclining chair and it is just as good as paper. I also have a eeepc netbook which is lighter than most books if I am not at home. I thought about a kindle but there is that color factor.

CompuTron99

Both. I usually try to purchase books that include a .PDF version on CD (Exam Cram / MS Press). I'll use the .PDF version at work, and use the book at home, traveling, waiting for my oil change, etc...

GAngel

When i'm flying around i use e-books. When i'm on the ground hardcover all the way.

pml1

I mostly use paper. I study some from pdfs (as others have stated, mainly as a searchable reference), but after a full work day of staring at a computer monitor, my eyes can't take much more once I get home.

veritas_libertas

I prefer a book since I am able to take it to bed or curl up in a chair with it. On the other hand I love the fact that most of my certification books come with it in PDF since I can search for what I am looking for with Adobe Reader.

PDFs also come in real handy when you are searching through Mark Minasi's Mastering Windows 2003 book, honestly would you want to have to pull that thing off the shelf every time?

tiersten

Stone tablets and papyrus.

I use a combination of physical books and ebooks. Whilst you can search in an ebook, I've found it nicer to browse a real book.

Zartanasaurus

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I prefer a book since I am able to take it to bed or curl up in a chair with it.

I can curl up in bed with a laptop AND it keeps my lap warm.

jamesleecoleman

I go with both. It really depends on which one a read more. I'm usually on the computer reading an ebook but when I'm playing CODMW2 then I go with the physical book. If i'm waiting on someone then I go with the physical book.