The Internet vs. Text Books; for the ultimate resource

Oh wow, I can see this topic still in existence next year some time!

Personally I do both. I *never* throw away a book - aren't all techo people hoarders to some degree? I still find books a lot easier to read than a screen. However I also use the net every day, very deeply. If your book-only friend isn't finding good references on the net then he needs to look for better reference sites or learn to use the search engines better. There are sites I return to all the time (generally manufacturer sites, but also on-line e-zine references) but I also like finding new ones with new ideas, and the thrill of the hunt, so to speak, is part of the challenge.

Having said that, and here's a parrallel thread for you all, I rarely ever go to Wikipedia. It's full of junk and not trustworthy. There, I've said it. No lightning yet.....

Cheers.

Ken

Hi Cabe,

Excellent topic, I rely extensively on my textbooks whenever I do a project. Textbooks are edited and you can always confirm the source of the information so you know that whatever you find is proven info and reliable. I can't say I have the same security with the internet, I can't tell you how many times I've read posts or internet articles by people who have no background or are clearly misinformed and shuttered to think what would happen if anyone were to rely on the information provided by them.

The other good thing about textbooks is that they are generally oriented towards teaching you how to solve problems, giving you the tools you need to be able to analyze engineering problems in a systematic manner. Most of the time, on the internet you find answers with little or no information as to how those solutions are derived and here's the biggie, how they can be modified for various purposes.

If you don't know the in and outs of a circuit then you can only use it in the manner that has been shown to you. When you completely understand the inner workings of an IC then you can devise applications for it that maybe no one else has thought of. The only way to do that is fully understand a circuit and how it is created, I just don't feel the internet does that.

Now this isn't to say the internet is evil and should never be used by serious engineers. Manufacturer App Notes and example code are invaluable resources and these can only be found online. Open source is another good reason to use the internet as many products today incorporate elements that were created by open source communities, some times you can get inspiration from these projects.

I don't think it's possible to be completely reliant on one or the other, but I'll take a textbook over a web search any day.

My 2 cents,

Jorge Garcia

Ken,

Studies have shown that accuracy of information on Wikipedia is the same as, or better than, Encyclopedia Britannica. I found it quite shocking.

Jorge, Ken,

Since now I am on a quest to collect the best text book references, what do you use? ISBN #s?

Cabe

When I hear the phase "Studies have shown..." I'm always inclined to ask "What studies?".  Do you have a list of studies to prove your assertion?

Gordon Margulieux

Garmin AT - Salem, OR

Hi Cabe,

Here are a few suggestions in no particular order,

1)  ARRL Handbook- Excellent overall reference on everything electronic,  one to keep handy. Lots of useful information on Filter Design and  Impedance matching it's updated every year and they are constantly  adding new sections. Don't look for mathematical rigor, but it's  explanations are concise and give lots of Ideas.

2)  Microelectronic Circuits by Kendra and Smith- Authoritative text on  Semiconductor Theory. Transistors, Diodes, and Op Amps are covered in  Detail I especially find useful the final chapters of the book since  they are more applications oriented.

3)Learning to Fly  the PIC24 by Lucio DiJasio- IMHO the best book to have on the PIC24 and  dsPIC family of microcontrollers, easy to follow examples and highly  commented code written in an informal style. He also covers many of the  advanced features of the MPLAB IDE, one of the best references I have.

4)Switching  Power Supply Design by Pressman, Billings- Hands down the best book on  the subject covers everything you need to know to design your own  switching power supplies, magnetics, control loop compensation,  topologies etc.

5) Control Systems Engineering by Nise-  Authoritative text on Control System Design and feedback theory, I've  used it a lot when designing.

6) Electric Circuits by  Nilsson and Riedel- I have the 8th Edition they've supposedly release  the ninth, awesome book to have to review the basics of circuit theory,  kvl, kcl, thevenin, norton, fourier transforms, laplace transforms,  two-port network theory. Also a highly used reference.

Hope these give you some ideas if you search through amazon they'll pop right up.

Hi Cabe.

I have to side with Gordon - "studies" aren't created equal, as 70% of people realize. I'm also reminded of the Dilbert cartoon where a new worker claims to be father of the internet. When questioned, he says "Sure I am - give me five minutes then check Wikipedia!".

Seriously though, I find the manufacturer sites plus a few select magazines best for me. Plus I've specialized to a large degree in satellite comm's so my written texts are Roddy's and Richardson's texts. For component level work (which I do less and less now, sadly), I wing it (or should I say, fall back on my expertise), use IEEE sources, or sources as per above. And yes, even the ARRL handbook, my original tutor - still great after all these years! I also have what remains of my personal library of app notes, schematics and data (much lost in one international move). But I can't recommend too highly a well-stocked favourites toolbar - can be tailored to suit and you can print what you want off it (copyright notwithstanding).

Cheers.

Gordan,

Here is what I read on the subject. http://news.cnet.com/2100-1038_3-5997332.html

Cabe

Jorge,

Great list, thank you. I am going to see if I can get all these cheap online somewhere.

Which ones from your list were your old college textbooks?

Cabe

Hi Cabe,

With the exception of the Handbook and the Switching Power Supply Book I used all of those books in college. There are good textbooks for every discipline so I would suggest that if money is tight try to get the textbooks that tailor to the subjects your interested in, those will be the ones you use the most.

For example, when I started my first engineering job I was assigned to design the switching power supplies and drivers since I had no previous background (Never took a power electronics course in College) I looked through the tables of contents for all of the power supply texts I could find on Amazon and decided this the book by Pressman and Billings would be the most comprehensive, man did I make a great choice.

In my experience, you can make a good estimation of a textbook by reading the table of contents.

hth,

Jorge Garcia