Electronic textbook readers

[Melalvai]

I'd like some input on what type of electronic reader-- kindle/nook/type of thing, tablet, ipad, laptop, etc-- for my daughter who is starting college next year. There's plenty of computer labs, so the main thing she wants is to not have to carry around a bunch of heavy textbooks. I wondered if the small display of kindles & nooks make them less optimal for textbooks, as far as being able to see figures & tables clearly, and maybe a black & white wouldn't work, because textbooks tend to have lots of fancy colored figures, photos, illustrations.

I don't know if it matters but she's going into engineering. Perhaps engineering textbooks are even more dependent on visual aids?

[Irulan]

For text books the main consideration will be availability in a usable format. In addition to the formatting, availability and cost of the needed texts in general may be an issue. If the book if formatted properly for an e reader, there should be no problem with images etc displaying.

There book apps such as Calibre (free software) which provide readers for PC and laptop; if she has to carry a laptop anyway this may be the way to go. Otherwise, she'd be carrying two devices if she needs a computer and then a reading device.

The biggest consideration on devices is whether you want a dedicated reade which provides a more pure ( more paper -like) and less eye strain reading experience ( Nook etc) or a reading app on a tablet which works just fine except for screen issues such as glare and eye strain.

When I get to my PC I will post some links that I used to help me select my e readers: we have two Nooks. I've also done a lot of reading on my iPad with the apps, so I've gone both ways.

[OakLeaf]

I'm not sure I'd want to rely exclusively on an e-reader for textbooks. There was just an article in the NYT about that. I'll try to find it and come back with a link if I do. I realize it's a lot less to carry around and a lot fewer trips back to the dorm room, but if she's used to being able to lay several papers and books side by side on a desk, it may be more of an adjustment than she'd like. I'm old, I know, but if she's used to paper books from high school, the adjustment wouldn't be any different, I don't think.

Anyway, to answer from what I know, my older Kindle with keyboard is useless for illustrations. You can't blow them up at all, and they're rarely big enough to see on the screen. OTOH, I really like its light weight. Illustrations are where an iPad really shines. I have a couple of anatomy apps on mine, and they're just amazing. Reading text on the backlit screen of my first generation iPad is much easier than reading on a computer screen, even a laptop, for whatever reason - size, ability to change angle, Apple unobtainium, whatever. She might spend an hour or so in an Apple store figuring out how easy it is for her to read on an iPad screen.

If she goes that way, she'll also want a usable keyboard and a touch screen to be able to highlight, annotate and access hyperlinks easily. All of those are very, very cumbersome on my Kindle keyboard - can't speak for the current models. The iPad virtual keyboard is also nearly useless - the combination of its non-standard size and shape plus the absence of touch feedback relegates even the best typists to hunt and peck, and having to go to another screen for numbers and punctuation is just irritating - but the Apple bluetooth keyboard works flawlessly.

I have no idea what's out there in terms of apps, but I'd expect there would be more iPad apps for engineers than apps for other platforms, just because of its ubiquity. Something else to consider - if she can get everything she wants from one device, that's less expense and more convenience.

HTH...

[Becky]

A glare-reducing screen protector makes a huge difference when it comes to readability on a tablet. I use one called, appropriately enough, "GlareShatter".

[TrekDianna]

jumping in here since it's kind of what I do at work -- there really is not a good solution to what you want. Kindle does not handle the formatting consistently enough...textbooks that have interactive elements developed in Flash will not work on the iPad -- you would actually need different readers for different textbooks. It's frustrating, but that's the way it is. Your best bet is a lightweight laptop. It's usable for everything.

[ny biker]

I have limited experience with ereaders, but if it helps - I know that you can download a Nook app to your laptop for free. I downloaded it a few months ago, though I haven't used it very much.

[Melalvai]

Thanks for the input.
Based on what I've been reading, we're leaning toward a netbook or tablet.
Do you know, when you get textbooks these days, do they typically come with a digital format as well as the book? Or do you have to choose either digital or hard copy?

[Blueberry]

Your best bet is a lightweight laptop. It's usable for everything.

Except it isn't as comfortable for reading.

I've been following this discussion with interest as I just re-started school after a very long break/career and have been wrangling with this issue myself. Thus far, I'm making it by with my 5.5 year old large-ish laptop and a netbook on campus with me (including computer required chem labs).

I have paper textbooks for now, and am not sure they can be avoided.

One thing to watch out for is the e-books sold by school stores are "online access codes" to read the books on the internet in a web browser. I've found these formats - to be honest - terrible. The only reason I purchased one is that one of my professors requires it - she puts 4-5 "notes" per chapter and won't give them to students anywhere else. So - I read the paper book, take my notes, do my studying - and then go find the ebook notes. That's all I use it for. It's pretty miserable to try to read - I did try - since I have it and I would rather not carry that book.

With the exception of her, most professors don't care how you get your books as long as you have them. Most of the titles I have needed (including the one I had to purchase the online crap for) are available on Amazon as Kindle editions - which gets you to ipad. When the full sized ipads with the new connectors come out, I'm going to take a close look (and take a close look at what is required for my classes). I really do think that must students are still lugging dead trees, though.

[indigoiis]

Except it isn't as comfortable for reading.

I've been following this discussion with interest as I just re-started school after a very long break/career and have been wrangling with this issue myself. Thus far, I'm making it by with my 5.5 year old large-ish laptop and a netbook on campus with me (including computer required chem labs).

I have paper textbooks for now, and am not sure they can be avoided.

One thing to watch out for is the e-books sold by school stores are "online access codes" to read the books on the internet in a web browser. I've found these formats - to be honest - terrible. The only reason I purchased one is that one of my professors requires it - she puts 4-5 "notes" per chapter and won't give them to students anywhere else. So - I read the paper book, take my notes, do my studying - and then go find the ebook notes. That's all I use it for. It's pretty miserable to try to read - I did try - since I have it and I would rather not carry that book.

With the exception of her, most professors don't care how you get your books as long as you have them. Most of the titles I have needed (including the one I had to purchase the online crap for) are available on Amazon as Kindle editions - which gets you to ipad. When the full sized ipads with the new connectors come out, I'm going to take a close look (and take a close look at what is required for my classes). I really do think that must students are still lugging dead trees, though.

Ditto, also back in school and finding that really, I want the textbook over the digital version. My major is Information Science and Computer Science so... lots of diagrams and sidebar stuff... just not good on an e-reader (I see my fellow students' frustration.) I have a laptop and can get a lot of versions on Scrib'd, but still rely mainly on paper textbooks. There's something about being able to flip from the index to the page you want that is really helpful in a textbook, too... I even took Statistics online and relied heavily on my hardcover book and calculator, even though my pc laptop has a statistics calculator.

Also, one of my professors had an open book / open note exam, but NO computers/readers allowed.

I love my laptop. It's helpful for writing papers (a real keyboard) and lightweight enough to carry in my bag.