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How does everyone feel about the new tablet codexes? The price seems steep to me for a non-physical product, but if they have lots of interactive features I could see where it is worth it.

The reviews online seem to be getting better, particularly for the new Space Marine codex-- is it still worth $60?

Call me old fashioned,but I like the weight and feel of a book.

I do not own an I-pad,but even if I did,i would not be getting the digital codex for whatever army I own and run.

The digital stuff could be nice for people like me, who have tons of stuff to bring to games, it means a lot less weight to carry. Though I do still prefer to have a physical copies of the books I use.

I am old school prefer the book, but now that my eye sight is getting worse, and harder for me to read print from paper, the iPad versions actually seem to be better for me, bigger print.

Damn hate being old now.

Give me a physical book any day of the week.
GW is more than welcome to make electronic codexes and rules......as long as they make them physical as well.

If it is a choice between the two, they can suck my iPad (and stick to only physical).

I've had experience with both (the Chaos Daemons iCodex and the hardback Space Marine Codex).

As one who loves technology, I say go for the real book. Why?

1) The book has resale value down the line.
2) The book has no loading times.
3) The book won't run out of batteries
4) The book doesn't take an age to navigate between pages and sections.

Really, number four is a massive deal breaker. Once familiar with the codex layout, but not familiar entirely with the rules minutae, you'll resent having to constantly flick-flick-flick from page to page to page, or section to section to section, in order to get where you want to be. With a book, it's all "oh, it's on page 110 or thereabouts", and you get there much quicker. Believe me, I know from experience.

That said, the army builder functionality almost cracked me to the SM iCodex. Your mileage may vary here.

Cheers,

Craig

Yes, I have heard that the army building component is sweet...

I prefer the physical sensation of holding a book.

I'm also not a fan of the itax on the "interactive" version (how interactive does a book have to be, anyway? You read it, you use your imagination, you visualise stuff. As for the army list stuff, for the most part, it's basic arithmetic that should have been covered in elementary school ).

Book every time.

Not everyone owns an iPad, and I'm not forking out for one just for some codexes.

Plus, if I drop my codex I won't have to pay £400 for a new device to look at it with. I will simply pick it up off the floor.

Since format shifting is legal in Australia I like to get the best of both worlds for good and important dexes. I like to have the physical hardback book with nice sexy art I can flick through, and then format shift it to a digital pdf for quick and portable access. IMO digital is much superior to physical for finding what you need quickly, especially when dealing with multiple books and erratas. Multiple open, bookmarked pdfs for everything needed for your game can make clarifications a breeze.

But at home when relaxing I like to lie back and read a physical copy. Will still use the tablet for that sometimes though anyway as the nice backlit screen can be worth it in low light, at night etc.

The digital versions should be substantially cheaper than the physical copies, yet they are not which is a big mark against them imo.

I guess I am in the minority here. I like the digital version. One of the things that bothers me about the rule books and codexs in book form is all of the flipping to find this or that rule. The digital version has links so it is way easier to find the different rules. Typically you can find what you want right from the link. If not the index/search is way easier to use over flipping page after page in a real book. Search function takes me right there.

The army builder thing is a nice bonus as well. Although it still could use some work to function the way I really want it to, but it looks like there are still planned updates based on the UI. I think there is some intended functionality that has yet to be delivered.

Digital can also be updated with FAQ information.

I have had no buyers remorse on the digital edition.

I always prefer a book, but I still like the advantages of the digital versions. As Lobo said, search functions are always welcome, as well as the auto-errata/FAQ. Though the main reason for my physical attraction(lame pun intended) is that books don't need batteries. My Codorks, however, was a $20 used copy, so all of the pages in the back are falling out.

When it comes to my codex, I prefer the physical book, everything else (especially FAQs) can go on my tablet though, as I don't want to be carrying around heaps of books and loose sheets of paper as well as my models.

Physical. 100%.

A book is going to be roughly as difficult to destroy or make non-functioning as a tablet, except a book doesn't need charged batteries or a power outlet. And you can't mark up or dogear electronic copies, and they're easier to read because the page and font sizes are larger. And they look nice on a bookshelf, and are easier to browse, and, if you wanted to, you could sell your copy to someone else when you were done with it. And they won't suddenly disappear when the DRM changes or GW decides not to support them anymore at some point in the future.

As best I can tell, the only reason to get an eBook version of a codex is because you can't hold a book and a tablet/phone at the same time, which means you'd need to actually put down your tablet for a few moments to use the book. And we all know what happens to your soul if you need to spend more than five contiguous seconds not staring at your smart phone...

Physical book hands-down. I have very little faith in electronics as a general rule.

I know a book won't suddenly stop working halfway through a tournament, so I've stuck with hard copies.

 Ailaros wrote:
As best I can tell, the only reason to get an eBook version of a codex is because you can't hold a book and a tablet/phone at the same time, which means you'd need to actually put down your tablet for a few moments to use the book. And we all know what happens to your soul if you need to spend more than five contiguous seconds not staring at your smart phone...

Is it possible for you to disagree with a viewpoint without characterising them as idiots? It makes it hard to take you seriously. There are many valid reasons to prefer digital copies. I stand by getting the best of both worlds, buy the books but have the pdfs (thanks format shifting, so only one purchase) for general use which is much more convenient.

I like the physical codexes as I like collecting them. However the iPad versions are quicker to look stuff up in due to the search function and the ability to just press on a keyword for a definition. I also like with the digital versions that I only need carry around a small ebook reader rather than multiple books including the big rule book when playing.

Aren't the digital versions the same price as the physical?

Yeah, I already find it hard to justify spending the money on the actual codices, and the ebooks I do buy are definitely cheaper than a physical version...

I am very attracted to the tablet version for several reason. First, it can hold multiple books, which is nice if you have allies and multiple armies. Next you can keep your lists on there too, with different point value lists so if someone comes in with 1000pts and another person comes in with 2500pts you can have lists for both of them without needed to bring a ton of paper copies. Finally the tablet is something to do in the downtime you are waiting for a match. So many places have wifi now that you can browse dakka in between games.

I don't have an ipad yet but I know what I want for christmas.

 Ailaros wrote:
And you can't mark up or dogear electronic copies, and they're easier to read because the page and font sizes are larger. And they look nice on a bookshelf, and are easier to browse

Just so people know, the iPad book reading app has the ability to bookmark (dog ear), mark up ( both highlight and add your own text notes), and the font size is scalable to what is comfortable for you to read (smaller or larger). I also find it easier to browse and find electronic books I own rather than the printed versions which seem to get misplaced.

As for the bookmarks and notes they are nice because they are included in the search functions of the book too so it make them easier to find.

It is ok to like the printed version better but the facts about the tools in the electronic version should not be mis represented.

I-store doesn't realy work in Poland , so it is hardly an option for us.

I like a book. You can fight off an attacker with a book. Not so much with an iPad.

I'll put up with a digital version if there is no hard copy.

I'll buy the Sisters one to show support for this army

If the price of the digital was muuuuuch cheaper than digital all the way.

BUT that's not the case........

Personally, I find Digital copies are nice for looking things up. But for really learning and absorbing the material, nothing beats sitting down with a hardcopy.

Now if I had a tablet computer I might think differently. but just sitting in front of my computer reading a PDF doesn't work too well.

 Yonan wrote:

 Ailaros wrote:
As best I can tell, the only reason to get an eBook version of a codex is because you can't hold a book and a tablet/phone at the same time, which means you'd need to actually put down your tablet for a few moments to use the book. And we all know what happens to your soul if you need to spend more than five contiguous seconds not staring at your smart phone...

Is it possible for you to disagree with a viewpoint without characterising them as idiots? It makes it hard to take you seriously. There are many valid reasons to prefer digital copies. I stand by getting the best of both worlds, buy the books but have the pdfs (thanks format shifting, so only one purchase) for general use which is much more convenient.

I think he means people you play with, who ignore you when it's your turn, and instead of engage conversation with you, they are on their phone.

I find these people pretty rude and not fun to play with.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Digital version are also cheaper than the book price EXCEPT the iPad versions, which are the same, because there is "some" interactive options that the other digital versions don't have.

Physical. If I have the book in my hands, *I have the book in my hands*. If I had an e-book instead, it's a nebulous entity that is only available because I have the device instead. That device can have all kinds of oddities stop me from getting to the book:

Battery problems
Screen fault
Updates bricking the thing
Physical damage (ok the book can have this too, but it's a good deal harder to accidentally damage it beyond use)
Theft (iPads appear valuable to many, whereas the only real risk of a Codex being nicked is other players)

Since I am prone to migraines, I prefer paper books.

Part of my motivation (and love) of tabletop games is to get away from electronics. Paper books are always readable, feel great, and don't need a battery to read.

 Makutsu wrote:
If the price of the digital was muuuuuch cheaper than digital all the way.

BUT that's not the case........

The argument about a digital version being much cheaper is a bit of a straw man argument. You are paying for the intellectual property and effort that goes into creating the "book". The digital version saves on printing and distribution costs, but I don't think that amounts to too much of the actual cost of the book.

The digital versions could be slightly cheaper because there is no printing and distribution cost, but it should not be "muuuuuuch cheaper" in my opinion.