Ask HN: Do you still buy physical tech books like “Learn Rust” or “Learn Go”?

I used to buy hundreds of physical computer books but I've switched 100% to ebooks.

I noticed that I finished the ebooks more often than physical ones and when I dissected my behavior, I realized that it was the heavy weight (e.g. 3 lbs) of the physical book that nudged me away from reading it. You can't hold a thick computer book in 1 hand. And propping it on your chest while laying down is also uncomfortable. Yes, the K&R C Language book is thin and light but a lot of books are 500+ pages and just too bulky to conveniently carry around and read anywhere.

For the few books that I need a physical reading experience to write notes on, I use the ebook and print one chapter at a time and then staple the pages. That chapter is then thin like a "magazine".

With ebooks, I've loaded the same titles on both the iPad and iPhone and can read a few pages anywhere while waiting in line.

I have read the whole Linux book, I knew I wouldn't understand half of it but just reading it is enough, when it comes to need to use some of the cli I know what is possible to do, and so I know what to google for. Once you read a book you won't forget what's in it, it'll come back when you need it.

I usually read hn on the loo (not a shitpost pun/joke) as idle reading, and sometimes I discover interesting products or news. Aside: it feels like being on the toilet is the most "me time" I get lately, so maybe I should change that lol.

Do you read the book first start to finish, and then add it to your bathroom library after for this random reading, or do you go straight to random loo reads?

I usually buy both an e-book and a paper version of books I want to learn from. Most of my reading is done on the paper one. I like to re-read certain chapters or sections at really random times and places so that's where the e-book comes in. It's a more pricey scheme but I find it really helpful for me.

I personally enjoy physical books more and I feel I learn better as well.

So the answer is almost always yes, unless I borrow them.