Textbooks on Kindle/Nook?

[hopefulinva]

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Hey guys,

Not a Vet student yet (just a hopeful =) ) but I was wondering if you guys can help me out. I've noticed - particularly this semester - a lot of my undergraduate textbooks are becoming available as dirt-cheap rentals for Kindle/Nook (seriously, I've seen some of them for like $20... it's ridiculous). How is that front coming for the textbooks you guys are using now?

Thanks for the input, guys!

 

[twelvetigers]

I don't have a real response, but I just imagined following the dog dissection guide in lab via Kindle. Eeweeeew. 🙂

 

[katryn]

Several of our textbooks are available on kindle, but I've found that they are very hard to navigate, and not at all convenient to use unless you are literally planning on reading your text books in a linear fashion.

For instance, if I'm work on a case in Clin. Path, I might need to look up 4-5 parameters. I typically find one in the index, leave a finger on the index page, flip to the page I need, and then flip back to the index for the next thing I need. The method for bookmarking (sticking your finger on the page), and then flipping back to the bookmark later, takes a bunch of key strokes and if your kindle is a little older (and slower) it takes a long time for it to flip to the bookmark. Also, the kindle does not have pages, it has percents, which makes trying to guess where exactly the page you want is a pain in the butt. You either end up guessing and flipping through a bunch of pages, or going to the table of contents, selecting the chapter (which takes you to the beginning of the chapter) and then flipping through a bunch of pages.

Over all, it's excessively time consuming, and some things like charts and tables don't always translate well onto the kindle version. The disadvantages make the real version of the book worth it to me.

Also, it's important to consider that most of us don't end up buying more than one or two of the textbooks listed for a course. And for me, the choice of textbooks I do buy stems on the fact that they are text books that I see commonly referenced in the clinics that I work at, meaning they will have good use value to me after vet school anyway.

 

[Ben and Me]

I love my Kindle for pleasure reading and traveling.

I cannot imagine trying to use it for textbooks, for all the reasons mentioned by katryn. It sure would be convenient though if it were a little easier -- can you imagine being able to toss your Kindle in your truck and have a whole library at your disposal? For a new grad out in ambulatory practice, that would be awesome.

 

[nyanko]

I bought the textbooks with the e-editions (through the Veterinary Consult with full text available for download) and then sold the hard copies of the books and put the e-editions on my iPad. It is extremely convenient to have Miller's and other such massive textbooks in an easily transported format.

And I used it in anatomy lab just fine, 12T you wuss. It's actually way easier to clean than the books themselves are.

 

[twelvetigers]

Dood, gross. I'd at least keep it in a ziploc bag.

 

[TrocarKarin]

I've tried textbooks on my kindle - they're annoying to navigate, especially if they're a .pdf document. I've put the same textbooks on my touchpad, and it's awesome. I can have an entire library in my backpack that weighs less than my notebook. I also take mine into anatomy lab. My paper copy of little millers is disgusting. At least with my tablet, I can spray it off with disinfectant before I leave lab.

 

[crittergal]

I have almost all my textbooks on my iPad/Macbook. As far as anatomy lab, the program lets you print. I would usually read the pages, highlight and then sometimes print necessary pages for lab. We often had one person who brought their book so I didn't really worry about it.

For the other classes and as a reference one you graduate, the ability to have your entire library at your fingertips anywhere you are working is an incredible asset. I do not know much about the Kindle version, but I am a huge advocate for e-textbooks

 

[justavet]

From the 'once you graduate' perspective- that's how I use VIN. They have a pretty nice library. It's a better use of the money than buying the individual e-books. True in general practice (I'm in emergency), don't know about specialty.

 

[StartingoverVet]

And just a heads up....we barely use textbooks for the most part

 

[justavet]

I do use a lot of books tho- Plumbs especially! Can't make it through a day in practice without it. And tox, five minute consult, Tilleys, about three of the standard er books...I will say, I still use the Fossum sx book, my clin path text and Guyton's physiology on a regular basis. Wonder if that means I'm a good vet or a bad one?!?!

 

[katryn]

I do use a lot of books tho- Plumbs especially! Can't make it through a day in practice without it. And tox, five minute consult, Tilleys, about three of the standard er books...I will say, I still use the Fossum sx book, my clin path text and Guyton's physiology on a regular basis. Wonder if that means I'm a good vet or a bad one?!?!

Could be either, really. To be honest, I've seen good and bad vets use text/reference books in practice a ton more than I've touched any of my textbooks in school.

 

[libster06]

Didn't buy any this semester... :/ probably won't buy any next either.