E-Readers to Replace Text Books (Right or Wrong)

Submitted Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 10:49 by admin

I admit I am a gadget junkie, anything I can find to make my life easier I am all about. I have to have a new laptop about every 2 years or at least an upgrade to the newest operating system as soon as the announcement is made. I have yet to wait in line, I am more of a pre order send it to my house so I don’t have to do any extra work kind of person.

The one thing I have not bought yet is an electronic book reader. I keep seeing ads every time I go to Amazon about what the latest and greatest Kindle can do and I think to myself what would I do with it. I am a traditionalist when it comes to newspapers and books. I want something I can hold in my hands, turn the page and get ink on my fingers.

My final grad school tasks take up a large part of my non work time, the chance to read anything other than a textbook is minimal. I do indulge in my weekly People magazine pleasure or pick up a newspaper when I ride the train. I could easily read both on Kindle I suppose.

I read an article about how some schools are switching from standard textbooks to iPads or Kindles. The student can have all of their textbooks in one place; it saves them from dragging a book bag of books home. It also benefits the school, the books are expensive and this way they can be upgraded on a frequent basis.

I went to a very small school with limited resources and the school would use the books until they were falling apart. In the 90’s the most recent chapter of our history book was from the early 70’s, needless to say I am sure I missed out on the Regan years.

Do you think students will take care of their Kindles? Will it end up costing schools more in long run? Is an electronic reader better than a physical text book?
Until next time…

Comments

Submitted Monday, March 28, 2011 - 12:53 By Falcon

Admittedly, I'd probably be thousands of dollars richer right now if I had downloaded
all my books rather than paying full price for them.

I have a problem that
manifests when I come within a certain proximity of a book store.

So e-readers will
have their place in the (my) future as will good 'ol parchment. We're not exactly talking
automobile versus horse and buggy, here.

Submitted Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 13:10 By Noel S Jytemotiv

My wife (an editor) says that the problem is large and detailed illustrations and
photographs.

Literature with no pictures? no sweat.

A biology text with
hundreds of illustrations? Problem.

Submitted Friday, October 29, 2010 - 17:28 By Novel

I've prolonged the purchase of a Kindle for a number of reasons.

I am not as
much a traditionalist as an observer of technological advancements. I'd rather let others
be the test subjects for a new technology, rather than myself, because it affords me the
opportunity to examine their reviews of the product (which, to me, are the most honest and
objective advertisements or criticisms, as far as objectivity goes).

Amazon, of
course, panders to consumerists, leading them to believe that they are missing out on some
sort of revolution if they don't order the product immediately, but I don't buy it. And
even if I did buy it, my revolutionary piece of hardware will become obsolete at the
release of another version. Juxtapose the hideous form and limited functionality of the
first Kindle with the latest one and you'll see what I mean.

This obviously means
that I am not a consumerist, or a technophile. Novelty itself isn't a convincing enough
advertisement for a new technology. I'd rather wait until its actual functionality nets
more praise than its form because, at present, the instrumental value of the Kindle is
approximately 0.

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