I am planning to do a round of the Mastering the Basics problem books. How do you all feel about using the go books app on the iphone to solve problems as opposed to doing tsumego on paper?

I dislike using electronic devices to read books but I have several problem apps that I enjoy. Yet I feel solving problems on paper is more gratifying, especially that feeling of accomplishment when you have finished the book and can put it back on the shelf. But as we all know the electronic version is much cheaper than the physical copy.

Thoughts?

I got some problem books from Japanese Kindle, and I like them as much as the paper books.

The interface is good, if you do it properly.

Read out your solution fully, then try it. You'll find out "No, that move is wrong" without the solution being revealed and get to go back and try and figure out why it doesn't work. Paper is bad in that if you make a misread at the start you can end up seeing a solution that you hadn't considered at all and miss out on reading out that particular shape/line. Of course, if you don't read out things properly and take guesses on the first move using the software to help you find the right starting move it is fairly pointless.

My experience is that you need a huge autocontrol to avoid "clicking" to figure the first move. In a "sure, this has to be the variation, let's check, damn, it's not, then what's the first move!?" way. Much prefer "real" books, or at least, avoid solving problems without setting the problem in a board (where the temptation to pick a stone is mitigated)

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Geek of all trades, master of none: the motto for my blog mostlymaths.net

I don't always solve problems, but when I do, I prefer... to put the stones on the board and do it the old-fashioned way.
Stay thirsty, my friends.

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- Bantari
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WARNING: This post might contain Opinions!!

I agree the click to see is a subtle trap. It is too bad the UI's don't require that you to solve the whole problem before it evaluates your move, even then having the stones on the board makes solving the problems easier.

Some UI's time you, which is nice with paper it is easy to get in the habit of taking too much time.