College Students: Electronic Textbooks vs. Physical Textbooks

[FreakyLocz14]

With the rise of Kindles, Nooks, iBooks, Android e-reader apps, etc. it seems that not only can one find their favorite novels in an electronic format, but one can also find their school textbooks and other assigned readings as well. These are often cheaper than even buying used textbooks (and sometimes free!). Also, having most of your books accessible from your smarthphone or tablet lessens the weight of your backpack that you carry around.

Would you (or do you already) convert to the use of e-books for your school readings or do you prefer to stick with physical books?

This thread can also be used to discuss the advantages and disadvantages or each as well as personal experiences.

 

[Captain Fabio]

I would choose physical textbooks every time.

I don't like the idea of looking at a screen to read, I never liked it. I like to read physical books mainly because I look at computer screens a lot sue to my University course.​

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[donavannj]

I vastly prefer physical textbooks. Easier to read, annotate, and find something, in my opinion. And, though it may be more expensive up front, the e-Book can be just as expensive if you factor in electricity expenses and the fact that you have no opportunity to re-sell the e-book, whereas with the physical textbook you do have the opportunity to re-sell it.

And then there's the fact that you can still study from your physical textbooks in the event of a lengthy power outage.

 

[King Gumball]

I use electronic text books at school for most subjects on my school laptop. But Physical textbooks are so much easier and faster to use TBH. The electronic text books are too fiddly and I don't like staring at the computer screen at all that tiny writing :x

 

[otakulily]

I only prefer electronic textbooks because it saves me the trouble of having to lug a 1500 page textbook around. And because I always order my textbooks like 6 hours before my first class starts. Still, e-textbooks are a pain to use. Taking notes in them isn't too bad since I can type faster than I can write, but flipping through the index takes at least twice as long and it's hard doing stuff on the computer while having the book open at the same time. E-textbooks still have a long way to go before they become as easily usable as physical textbooks.

As for cost, actual textbooks still end up cheaper on average than their electronic counterparts since you can get them used and sell them back for half the price.

 

[Silver]

Ebooks purely for the fact that they are cheaper, usually. If theoretically physical and ebook copies were the same price. I'd choose a physical copy any day.

 

[Purple Materia]

It depends on the situation. If I was hard pressed on money, I'd go with a Kindle. If money wasn't a problem, then I'd definitely pick up the physical books. I've never really used a Kindle before, so I'm not sure how valid my response might be.

 

[donavannj]

It depends on the situation. If I was hard pressed on money, I'd go with a Kindle. If money wasn't a problem, then I'd definitely pick up the physical books. I've never really used a Kindle before, so I'm not sure how valid my response might be.

Well, a Kindle by itself is about the price of a very expensive textbook new, so you wouldn't really be saving any money initially, if at all, since you could buy used versions of the physical textbook for similar prices to the e-Book.

 

[Zeffy]

I'd pick physical copies. Why? Well first, money problems. With the economy here in our country, a tablet costs over 20,000 last time I checked. And second, even if I do have a tablet or whatever the university I'm going to will still require physical copies of the actual books themselves.

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

I prefer to use physical textbooks when I can, although carrying a pile of stuff around is always annoying, so electronic ones are easier, particularly at home (because I can leave all my actual books at school :D).

 

[Captain Fabio]

That's why you download them to your computer, like I do. For me, all the books I'd need in one semester alone would add up to the price of a new computer anyway.

That is also called 'illegal' and 'against the law'.
So I will stick to my physical, law-abiding ways.​

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[I Laugh at your Misfortune!]

I'd prefer getting e-books. One kindle to buy, rather than about ten ridiculously expensive books, which then have to be replaced at the start of the next year, more often than not. It's only one thing to carry around and I'm fairly sure that it has some note-taking capacities as well, so it seems like it would be a great idea. The problem would probably be in implementing it.

 

[Spinor]

I have a balanced preference for both forms. Both forms have their degree of reliability. I should say that one thing I've observed in my concurrent enrollment studies is that technology integration in class is now much more acceptable. So even though I'm still mostly in use of physical books, I'm sure in the near future I'll have more access to online and digital copies of books

 

[TRIFORCE89]

Physical textbooks.

They can sit right on my bookshelf, so I always know where they are when I need them.

I also summarize what I read and take notes on the computer. Without a dual monitor setup, it is just a real pain switching between windows so much to make notes. Takes forever.

 

[Elite Overlord LeSabre™]

I've never had the option of electronic textbooks, but I'd probably choose them over physical books because I have limited space in my dorm and I hate having to carry heavy books to class. I do know that I've spent way too much on physical textbooks and the sell back prices suck if they even take them back at the end of the semester...

Give me e-books if given the option between the two.

 

[professor plum]

That is also called 'illegal' and 'against the law'.
So I will stick to my physical, law-abiding ways.​

No, it's not, as far as I know. Barnes and Noble, I know, offers downloads directly to your computer for e-books, as well do other online book stores.

Funny this topic should come up: I was actually heavily debating this before I wound up purchasing my books.

With current technology, as far as I know, one cannot use an e-textbook on an E-Reader [such as the Kindle or the Nook]. At..least that's what B&N's website and I think some others told me. I'm pretty sure the only way right now is to have them on your computer. I mean, maybe you can. I've not tried. lol. Presumably, one could, but..I didn't really have time to try. :(
I wound up buying my textbooks for $510.00 ;_;

I know B&N has put out a program for e-textbooks called NOOKstudy, but..idk about it. I've not used it. lol

However, if I could put them on my Nook, I most certainly would choose it every single time over the Physical copy. My Nook is just as good as books - in fact, I almost prefer it. Reading feels so natural, and yeah. I've found myself actually reading a lot more now that I have all my books in one lightweight location rather than scattered across my room and having to be lugged around. Lugging around huge books is not fun. :C

 

[Legobricks]

I've never been required to buy textbooks, but if I were to be, I'd go with physical copies initially but what I'd get depends how many might need. I'm fine with carrying the mass of paper around to a point, beyond which it'd be easier to carry a laptop.
laptop > E-reader

That is also called 'illegal' and 'against the law'.
So I will stick to my physical, law-abiding ways.​

​

Not if you sell your textbooks on after use. Strictly speaking, it is against the stipulations of any all-rights-reserved copyright.

 

[Silver]

That is also called 'illegal' and 'against the law'.
So I will stick to my physical, law-abiding ways.​

​

Not necessarily. The ebook I purchased this semester isn't for kindle or anything, it's just a digital copy that I read on my computer.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I currently use physical textbooks, but I prefer electronic textbooks because you won't be carrying plenty of extra weight.

 

[donavannj]

Not if you sell your textbooks on after use. Strictly speaking, it is against the stipulations of any all-rights-reserved copyright.

In the US, selling secondhand books is legal, even on an all-rights-reserved copyright, because of a ruling 100 years back.

Though downloading a book to your computer is legal if you got the digital book from a legitimate source who has the legal right to sell the digital book to you.