With everyone running around with tablets and smart phones these days I wondered if everyone who attends the training seminar really wants the printed program or if they would prefer an electronic one. I thought a quick poll might guide me in the right direction.

Granted everyone who wants a printed could also recieve an electronic version.

Just thought if folks don't want them . . . why are we spending the money to print them.

Please take time to participate in the poll.

Thank you,

Charles

As long as you are able to type additional notes I'd say electronic...

This may be the future, but for a while I would offer both...

Oh I know. I still fall into the old school category . . . I like something I can pull off of a shelf. It was just a thought as I saw a HUGE amount of folks at AFTE who fall into the "whippersnapper" category that like all things electronic. Just trying to get a ballpark estimate.

Thanks.

CMC

I also fall into the old school category (relatively speaking of course); however, an electronic version as well would be really neat.
Kat

I'm with Mike and Kathy.  I like having the printed.  But it would be a great idea to start the electronic version now so that you can get the bugs worked out.  It is the future.

I like the option of both.  However, the reason I like to have an electronic copy is so that I can index all of my pdf files.  I can then search all of the files at the same time.  So say, for example, I remember there being a workshop on toolmark subclass but I can't remember which year it was, I could search "Toolmark Subclass" against the index and it would find every instance of my query in any of the files I've indexed.


I do this for journal articles too.  It helps me pinpoint articles I've read quicker than re-reading several of them to find what I need.


HTH

You left off my choice: "Both".


I like the electronic for long term reference material and to provide to my employer as part of my travel authorization. 


I like the printed for the day to day at the seminar.  The program makes a great place to take notes.

I agree with Mike, Kathy, Dan, etc. etc.!  I like hard copy versions of print still (I am a purest who reads tangible books and don't own any electronic readers) - that being said, I am slowly starting to appreciate the function of electronic versions!  So if there is the option of starting an electronic version to get the bugs worked out AND offering a hard copy, I think that would be the way to go for now!

FYI - I ALSO like the use of the word "whippersnapper"  ;D   Made me giggle! 

I don't have a tablet, my laptop is 8 years old, and my smartphone is too small to feel good looking at an electronic copy on it.  I'd love to have an electronic copy for when I'm back at work, but I still want a paper copy during the conference.

I agree with Bob, you left out the option of "Both" haha

I like having the paper copies since I prefer writing notes by hand. I did like the ability to have a digital copy ahead of time though. It gave me the opportunity to see all the topics ahead of time

~Ryan

 

QuoteGranted everyone who wants a printed could also recieve an electronic version.

You guys! Printed implies both.

CMC

I prefer printed for quick note-taking day to day during the conference. 

I vote for both!

Tk

A couple of random thoughts regarding going electronic only.  What would be the cost of running electricity to every seat in the conference so attendees can be "plugged  in"?  The vendors help offset the cost of the conference by buying ad space in the printed program.  Will they be willing to do so for only electronic?

I'm not sure if everyone understands my poll and that is my bad.

I have no intention of going completely electronic. When I say "electronic only" I mean if you are registering and DO NOT want a printed copy you would check a box and download the program when it is available. Very similar to what the AFTE 2014 folks did by publishing the program to the forum when it was ready.  If you check "printed" at registration you would get a printed one AND could obviously download an electronic one as well.

I am just trying to get a feel for what percentage of folks would not want a printed one.

Sorry for any confusion,

CMC

I would appreciate both, as I do not always have the hard copy with me while at conference (while at meals, etc.). It would be nice to have a simply synopsis of the agenda, locations, close eateries, close tourist attractions, etc. to facilitate my trip to the host city. This would be especially helpful if it was available before actually arriving at the conference. But when sitting in the technical session, I would still want a hard copy.

I like to have a hard copy so that I can put it in my bookshelf in case I need to refer to it sometime in the future.