Kindle or actual textbooks?

[oldnewlpn]

So I am trying to decide if I should buy the Kindle version of my textbooks or just get the regular textbooks. Kindle is obviously less to carry around and cheaper. I am just unsure of how practical it is to study with Kindle books. I have read books for pleasure but not a lot and not overly confident in my navigation skills with Kindle books. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[mrphil79]

I've tried using an ebook - and after about 7 minutes I have to give up and go back to the actual book.

With my study style, I would have a VERY hard time learning from a Kindle version.

I flip back and forth between pages and chapters often - a new topic pops up and I think "wait, I need to go back to chapter 4 and read about (whatever) for this new thing to make sense" Or "now that I understand this, let me go back 14 pages and reread that to see if that old topic makes sense now..."

[Pdxstudent]

I think it depends on what kind of learner you are and what you would benefit from the most. For me personally I like to have the actual book so I can easily flip around when and where I need to...plus I like to highlight like crazy. Even though it cost more and it's more weight to lug around I would go with the books. That's just me though.

[dorkypanda]

A highly individual preference thing. I've seen a classmate have the textbook on her screen, it is very handy for referring to in class during discussions. If you are a traditional student reading on the screen may be foreign.

[NeoNurse2Be]

I agree with it being a personal choice. My school offers e-books, but there are certain books I prefer to have on hand. E-books make it easier to search for certain things, but I like to physically highlight and make tabs on my pages for quick references. Each of them have their pro's and cons, so choose what works for you.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

I love my e-reader and read novels off it all the time. I had one book in NS on ebook and hated everything about it. I had to go out and buy a hard copy of the book. I needed to book to be able to flip back and forth to look up concepts. I also would take notes in my book. It really is a personal preference.

[bpaster12]

I would personally use the textbook unless you read the kindle reviews of your textbook. I read that some charts and images from some textbooks were unreadable on the kindle, like they couldn't zoom in. Also, that the kindle page numbers did not match the textbook page numbers. Just make sure you try to find a review on your required textbook for the kindle version.

[Red398]

I, personally, prefer an actual text book. Don't get me wrong, I'm obsessed with my kindle, but reading for fun only

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Books. You will be reading too much, too long for ebooks. It's proven that you don't retain as much when reading on computer - not to mention eye strain, neck/shoulder and other ergonomic issues associated with screen time

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

I've tried using an ebook - and after about 7 minutes I have to give up and go back to the actual book.

With my study style, I would have a VERY hard time learning from a Kindle version.

I flip back and forth between pages and chapters often - a new topic pops up and I think "wait, I need to go back to chapter 4 and read about (whatever) for this new thing to make sense" Or "now that I understand this, let me go back 14 pages and reread that to see if that old topic makes sense now..."

This is exactly one of my many complaints that I presented to the dean of my school, which mandated an ebook package for the nursing program. Along with the evidence of poor retention and physical impacts of screen time. The faculty now offers the bundle as e-texts and hard copies. Not to mention all out drug books were ebooks - but we can't use electronic devices in clinical. And even calculation workbooks were e texts. Really ineffective.

[®Nurse2B]

I don't recommend it. It's a lot of reading and will cause a great deal of strain on your eyes.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I love my kindle to death. However, I would try using the e-book reader and see if you feel like you can navigate it well on a desktop or a laptop. I think trying to study on an actual kindle would be hard but the actual kindle browser version is comparable to e textbooks. I prefer physical textbooks most of the time to be honest. I used to love electronic textbooks but it is far easier to look something up in the index then flip to the page the old fashioned way.