Dale Pritchett, Senior Vice President of Logos Bible Software, argues in “Logos in the Classroom” (PDF | MP3) that Bible colleges and seminaries are on the threshold of transitioning from print resources to electronic ones. This parallels other technological advances, e.g., from slide rule to calculator to computer or from records to cassette tapes to CDs to MP3s.

Here are some excerpts:

• “Last year Logos sold more than 5.2 million digital books. We have 9,000 books now available, and our goal is to release 2,000 additional titles every year.”
• “We are, in reality, an extension—in some cases a replacement—for the bricks and mortar Bible college or seminary library. We have become the world’s largest producer of digital Bibles and academic Bible reference works. We have become an affordable alternative for standard, unabridged books representing more than 100 different publishers. We have become the tool of choice for writers and researchers. . . . We’re a useful resource for distance education and remote campuses. We’re a supplement for classroom demonstration. We are a fully linked, interactive seminary library on a notebook computer. We are, in short, the future today. And we’re totally digital right now. And that’s a good thing because the digital revolution is almost 30 years old.”

Cf. my two reviews of Logos products:

1. Scholar’s Gold
2. PNTC, BECNT, and NIGTC (three NT commentary series)

HT: Phil Gons

Earlier this week in “Review article: PNTC, BECNT, and NIGTC in Libronix,” I referenced a 19-page review article I wrote earlier this year. Page 83 of that review includes a paragraph I’d like to follow up on:

“2. Readability: Electronic commentaries are more readable than print commentaries, especially those printed with tiny fonts (e.g., some footnotes). I frequently adjust the text’s font size depending on how far away I am from the screen and how tired my eyes are. I nearly always display the table of contents on the left side of the screen, which allows me to (1) see the logical flow of a commentary, (2) expand or collapse certain sections of the table of contents by clicking on the plus and minus symbols, and (3) jump directly to other sections. I also strongly prefer reading an electronic commentary on a large, good-quality LCD screen rather than a print commentary. At my home office, I currently connect a 22-inch LCD screen to my 17-inch laptop, which allows me to have multiple programs open on different screens. For example, when I am working through electronic commentaries, I prefer to have Libronix open on my 22-inch screen and other programs (Word, Outlook, Firefox, etc.) open on my 17-inch screen.”

Adding a second screen to a personal computer (laptop or desktop) is very easy to set up. For those using Microsoft Windows XP, plug the second screen’s cable into your computer, right-click on the desktop, and select Properties | Settings | monitor 2 | Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor. (For those using Vista, right-click on the desktop, and select Personalize | Display Settings | Monitor | Extend the desktop onto this monitor.) Then adjust the screen resolution to the right setting, which may involve a bit of trial and error. When the screen resolution for monitor 2 is right, click Apply | OK. (Cf. Microsoft’s directions.) I highly recommend this!

In August 2007 I reviewed three New Testament commentary series (28 volumes) in a single, 8,300-word article: “PNTC, BECNT, and NIGTC: Three New Testament Commentary Series Available Electronically in Libronix,” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 12 (2007): 81–99. This review is now available at Logos Bible Software’s site in two formats:

1. The PDF appears exactly as the review is printed in the fall 2007 DBSJ.
2. The plain text adds some hyperlinks.

Content:

1. Part 1 (about 1,750 words) make a case for using electronic commentaries in Libronix.
2. Part 2 (about 600 words) compares the three commentary series in general.
3. Part 3 (about 5,500 words) comments briefly on each of the 28 volumes (and mentions the authors for the forthcoming volumes).

Outline:

1. Advantages of Using Electronic Commentaries in Libronix
   • 1.1. Searchability
   • 1.2. Versatility
   • 1.3. Cost
2. General Comparison of PNTC, BECNT, and NIGTC
3. Brief Comments on Individual Commentaries in PNTC, BECNT, and NIGTC
   • 3.1. PNTC (8 vols.)
   • 3.2. BECNT (8 vols.)
   • 3.3. NIGTC (12 vols.)
4. Conclusion

Related:

1. my review of Scholar’s Gold
2. “Adding a Second Screen to a Personal Computer“

Phil Gons reflects on advantages of Logos books over print books after moving his his library from South Carolina across the country to Washington. I heartily agree with him!

Cf. “Are E-Books Riskier Than Print Books?” and “How Is an E-Library Superior to a Print Library?” in my review of Scholar’s Library: Gold (Logos Bible Software).

David Instone-Brewer just posted his review of the Stuttgart Electronic Study Bible for Logos‘ Libronix Digital Library System.

“Overall conclusion: give away your paper BHS + NA27 and buy this. An extraordinary conclusion for someone who doesn’t like Libronix, but this is an extraordinary product which is more usable than the paper versions.”

Update: Cf. Phil Gons’s review and assessment of the SESB.

Phil Gons, one of my closest friends, just contributed an insightful post to a blog forum comparing Logos and BibleWorks. I’m in complete agreement with Phil on this (cf. here).

Last summer I reviewed Scholar’s Library: Gold by Logos Bible Software. The review is published in the Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 11 (Fall 2006): 151-60, and it is now available as a PDF at the Logos site.

Related: Logos vs. BibleWorks