Question to motorheads:

Would you use a shop manual exclusively on an (your) ipad?

Or would you prefer to have a paper copy, so that you don't get your ipad greasy and scratched while you're working on a car?

Question to everyone: when are we going to have devices that are cheap and rugged enough that my first question doesn't matter?

Edit: If that ever happens, they won't be sold by Apple, the company that made unboxing a fetish.

No. I need a paper manual. I can write notes on it with grease, and not care about. It doesn't get scratched, need updates, or charging. Plus I can throw it in the trunk of my car and not worry about it.

I tend to get PDF workshop manuals, print off the pages I need for a task and put them in plastic pockets to stop them getting destroyed in the rain.

see Alldata or Mitchell on Demand. Both are web based auto repair manuals. I sold Alldata in the 93-95 years and Mitchell OnDemand from 96-2002. Most auto repair shops have them. Typical use case is to print out the relevant parts, take the paper to the car and use it make notes, trace wiring, etc, then include the notes with the repair order.

Haynes has manuals online already. http://www.haynes.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n...

It's not exactly flipboard, but the info is certainly there. The pricing seems a bit obscene, but if the alternative is taking it to a mechanic then I guess it's a cost savings.