Do programmers still buy printed books?

In a recent blog post Antonio Cangiono (Technical Evangelist at IBM) reasons about whether programmers still buy printed books. This is a good question as coders are usually no more than a Google search away from the documentation they need. There is close to zero coding related knowledge in books that one could not find online. So the question is not about the content but rather if you are willing to pay for the medium.

Antonio writes:

I spend long hours working and staring at the computer screen. A printed book is a chance to take a break at night, and let my eyes rest a little. I find it refreshing. And let’s face it, for extensive reading, paper is much easier to read from than the screen.


No, he is not alone. The PediaPress team is with him and so are most of the commenters on his post.


Chris said...

The UI of books is so much more accessible than a computer screen. Even my two-year old son is able to markup important passages in his books (and in mine too ;-)

Anonymous said...

Looking down from the screen and into a good book rests my eyes and relieves me from neck strain. Moreover, I really like books - or to say it with Groucho Marx: "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."