WGU Ereader/Tablet

TomkoTech

So I have a desktop PC with 2 monitors. I have an HTPC hooked up to my living room TV. I also have a laptop.

I do not have any form of tablet other than the original kindle. From what I have been able to find everyone seems to say you NEED to get a tablet. If my sole purpose for getting the tablet/ereader is to read the books for WGU, and Ill watch the videos and whatever else on my laptop/tv/pc is there any reason not to get a Kindle DX or Paperwhite?

ratbuddy

If you can swing it, I'd get a full Windows 8.1 tablet for WGU. There are just too many of the texts and other class resources that won't work on a Kindle. Yeah, they'll work on your laptop, but that's a hassle to lug around.

BGraves

I don't know how well a kindle DX or paperwhite would work for reading ebooks for WGU. They aren't quite like the typical ebooks you might find on amazon or etc and like ratbuddy says, they probably won't work on the kindle.

I am using an iPad 2 (bought it used on the cheap) and it accesses the bookshelf app to download and read the books...and it works well enough. I think the best option might be as ratbuddy suggests, pick up a full win 8.1 tablet. The original Microsoft surface for example, can be found on the cheap and I think that WGU/education students get a 10% discount at the Microsoft store so that might be something to look at....(or ebay!)

Danielm7

If I had to get something new I'd get a Windows 8.1 tablet. Really though, you don't NEED one at all. I have an iPad 2 and I've used it maybe twice in the last year to read WGU stuff and only when I was stuck at my in-laws house. Otherwise it's worlds easier to take notes and such on a desktop and I never really find myself laying in bed trying to fall asleep and studying for cert exams.

I see you have 2 monitors on your desktop, that's a huge help with WGU. I find I can leave my ebooks or videos on one screen and use MS OneNote open in the other and do notes and screen captures at the same time.

TomkoTech

I'm aware that I don't NEED one. I want one for reading the books when Im at the doctors office or when its nice out and I want to go to the park.b Ill have to look into a windows tablet thought I detest them lol

markulous

The paperwhite is a good suggestion. Just make sure you download calibre to use as a converter so that it formats correctly. I have an older Kindle and I used that program to convert them to a kindle-friendly format and it works great.

TomkoTech

So the paperwhite works as long as I use calibre to convert the books I download before loading onto the kindle?

markulous

REMOVED UNNECESSARY QUOTED REPLY FROM PREVIOUS POST

I'm assuming the WGU books download as PDF? If so, calibre would work perfectly. I've never done it with WGU books but I've done it with CompTIA books and other PDFs.

TomkoTech

Ah. yeah I'd rather know for sure it works with WGU... Thanks though.

zidian

REMOVED UNNECESSARY QUOTED REPLY FROM PREVIOUS POST

Some of the books are PDF. A pretty large percentage of them are VitalSource and they only provide a Windows or Mac (ITunes) app to read the books. It's a pain to read it on anything else as you are usually printing to PDF and then converting the PDF (which converts terribly at that point) to an EPUB.

Danielm7

I believe VitalSource has an android app too.

Qord

I'm using my fire hd (7") for this right now, and it's definitely limited. Really only use it while laying in bed, and if I can choose between the big, bulky laptop and the kindle, I choose the laptop. The 8.9" might be better because of the screen size though. If I had the cash flow I'd definitely go for something beefier and larger, surface pro or a decent 10". Maybe even one of the cheap chromebooks, the weight of those is great.

powerfool

I have a hard time reading eBooks in general that are just novels, etc.... anything that is a straight through read is fine. Anything they I may be studying and flipping around... it has always seemed like a pain.

TomkoTech

Well it is my understanding that the ebooks are really the only way to go at WGU... I'd personally much prefer the physical books as well. But if they aren't offered, then they aren't offered.

With that said I think I'll probably just go with an iPad mini. From what I've read the VitalSource has an iOS app now. So those books should all be available on there. And if I need a windows platform for anything I can just access my citrix desktop through the iPad for it.

TomkoTech

Interestingly I did a little digging. I don't know the validity of this as I can't test it until I am actually enrolled and have access to Vitalsource.

However the document seems to explain an easy way to automate(after an initial set up process) the printing to PDF for the books.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/58416017/VBK%20to%20PDF.docx

itsgonnahappen

Have you explored buying a Nexus 7? You could probably get a 1st gen one on the cheap while having the added versatility of a pure android device.

bryguy

Just a recent note:



"myWGU Now Available on Android Mobile Devices

The official Western Governors University mobile application for active students is available in the Google Play store for all Android devices. With the myWGU app, your course materials and Taskstream notifications are more accessible than ever before. As a student of WGU, this app can send you push notifications for the status of performance assessments. You can also study on the go by accessing your study plan for currently enrolled courses any time you have an Internet connection."Read more about the features and functionality or download the official WGU mobile application from the Google Play store."

Based on that info, I would go with any anderoid based tablet... There is also an app called pocketWGU. I've used neither or them so I can't vouge for their quality.

Cisc0kidd

You'd have to put a gun to my head to get me to buy a Windows tablet. That is just all kinds of wrong!

ratbuddy

My Windows 8.1 tablet runs Eclipse/Netbeans, full desktop versions of Chrome, IE, and Firefox, full Microsoft Office, emulators up to and including PCSX2, and most of my Steam library. Go ahead and explain how that is wrong.

edit: Oh, the battery lasts around 10 hours, it included a keyboard dock, and costs under $400 including Office.

mokaiba

TomkoTech wrote: »

So I have a desktop PC with 2 monitors. I have an HTPC hooked up to my living room TV. I also have a laptop.

I do not have any form of tablet other than the original kindle. From what I have been able to find everyone seems to say you NEED to get a tablet. If my sole purpose for getting the tablet/ereader is to read the books for WGU, and Ill watch the videos and whatever else on my laptop/tv/pc is there any reason not to get a Kindle DX or Paperwhite?

You don't need a tablet. WGUs site barely works on my kindle fire hd and most of the places they have me go for the IT degree wants silverlight installed, which has no version for a tablet. You could, however, use a kindle to read the books. Some of them are easily accessed on a kindle.

joemysterio

ratbuddy wrote: »

My Windows 8.1 tablet runs Eclipse/Netbeans, full desktop versions of Chrome, IE, and Firefox, full Microsoft Office, emulators up to and including PCSX2, and most of my Steam library. Go ahead and explain how that is wrong.

edit: Oh, the battery lasts around 10 hours, it included a keyboard dock, and costs under $400 including Office.

Which tablet is that, exactly?

ratbuddy

Asus T100, model T100TA-C1-GR.

nerdinhiding

I am currently working on my capstone and have been with WGU for the last year. I use an iPad with the Puffin browser app and the vital source app as an ereader. Everything works great. However, as most people have stated you will use a laptop / desktop alot more. It is just more comfortable. Windows 8 tablets can be great too on the go, but the 1st gen surface pro I had was hot, lasted 3hrs or less battery time, and reminded me of an uncomfortable desktop experience. Everyone has their preferences but I still think the iPad was the most flexible. The WGU app is now available on Android but was released on iOS about 6 weeks earlier. Just my 2 cents.

TomkoTech

I bought an iPad. I'm wasn't looking to use it for anything other than reading the iBooks. I tested my friends out for reading pdfs and books and decided it was the route to go.