Quote Originally Posted by Melalvai View Post
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?
Digital copies are typically (but not always) cheaper than paper copies. They definitely do not come free with a paper book purchase. For example, one of my current engineering textbooks cost $180 for the hardback through the bookstore, and $90 for a digital copy direct from Wiley. (Pretty sure the digital edition is a .pdf.) However, I found a hardcover on Amazon for $62, so that's what I got. If she chooses to shop for textbooks online, it's best to get the ISBN number from the professor or the campus bookstore and check it against any online finds before ordering to make sure she's getting the correct edition. Usually the cheapest books online are not the correct edition.

The thing about textbooks is that you flip through them a lot to find things. Tables, the index, the answer key, etc. It's much easier to do this on a laptop or an iPad rather than on a dedicated e-reader. All of the e-reader platforms make a free app that can be downloaded to a laptop. A laptop will also be useful for about a billion other things.

She should beware that students typically are not allowed to use electronic resources during open book tests.

If hauling heavy textbooks back and forth are a problem, see if she can rent a locker on campus. I am able to rent a locker in my building for $15/year. It's great because I always have everything I need right there.