<p>What are your opinions about getting an iPad for notes and e-textbooks vs. getting physical textbooks?</p>
<p>PROS:
e-textbooks are cheaper than physical ones
less weight
instantly available for use and "search for a word & word definer" functions</p>
<p>CONS:
not all textbooks will be available for download
e-textbook sites have bad reviews (coursesmart)
you cannot "sell back" your download</p>
<p>There is a lot to consider ( you can skip this part) :
It is a little iffy to me. Yes, you can save money in the long-run but that would depend on the availability of the e-textbooks I need. But then again technology is always advancing so more and more e-textbooks will be available. But as of now the technology does not appear to be developed well enough for use ( according to reviews).</p>
<p>I only get e-textbooks if I can download them for free (I wont go into how, but there are ways). But IMO, an actual textbook is much easier to read than a pdf on a computer screen. If you have a kindle it may make it a bit more manageable, but I don’t think it replaces a physical book.</p>
<p>I have a kindle, and I do plan on getting the textbooks that I can (without paying) but I also plan on getting hard copies of the books. Having the ebook is great because 1) it doesn’t weigh 20 pounds and 2) having a light copy of the book actually allows me to read on the go. It doesn’t replace the ability to take good solid notes that a real text book does. Having the kindle makes it more readable but as far as actual work goes having the whole thing is easier.</p>
<p>Also the kindle could break and then where would you be? Telling your professor that you broke your book?</p>
<p>Another con is that some e-textbooks are being done as rentals, where you get access to it for something like six months, and then it goes away. Not really a great thing when your classes build on each other.</p>
<p>Don’t get an iPad just for books. Or a Nook or Kindle or whatever. Most of your books won’t be available in that format no matter what you think, unless you only take the most generic possible classes ever, and even then it’s not guaranteed.</p>
<p>If you can find your books online, using a regular computer, do that. Otherwise buy them or check them out of the library.</p>
<p>When I have anything electronic, I just get distracted and I don’t flow well. I like to be able to go to the library, sit down with a textbook and a notebook, and go to work. I hate to have to stare at a computer screen and try to decipher what I’m reading and then see if there are problems that I have to copy down. It’s a pain in the butt to do anything with electronic textbooks. That is all.</p>
<p>I used an iPad last semester for an etext and never will I do it again. I forget to charge it, have to be careful, and it really sucks for trying to read and lay down. I really liked the search feature however and used it 3 times… of course i could have just used the index, but it was pretty neat.</p>
<p>Of course, you cannot resell the ebook, so you won’t get any money back from the investment of buying the book. </p>
<p>I can’t say that this is true for all textbooks, but I was looking for a gen ed class textbook on Amazon. There was a Kindle edition of the book, but it was called a ‘brief’ edition. Meaning: you are paying for the book, but you do not get the whole book. That could be a problem if the class needs to cover the information that got edited out to make the book “brief.” That is one of those things that should not be a big deal, but you just need to be careful when buying the book (or ebook) to make sure that you have exactly what you need for class.</p>
<p>Some textbooks have workbook pages. If your prof requires you to fill those in, you would be in trouble. You would have to find a way to print them or get a friend to photocopy pages out of their physical textbook. That would not be a huge issue since it would be more annoying/inconvenient than anything.</p>