Report: A Kindle for college kids?

Madam Broshkina · 08-25-2008, 02:20 AM

Amid reports that Amazon is working on new models of its e-book reader, the Kindle, one analyst says the online titan has an academic spin in mind.

Amazon sees a chance to cash in by marketing the Kindle to college students, according to McAdams Wright Ragen analyst Tim Bueneman, by way of Seattlepi.com reporter Andrea James.
A collegiate version could be just one of a number of potential Kindles-to-be, apparently. "There are already several new, improved versions of the Kindle in the works," Bueneman wrote in a note Friday, per James.
In July, the site Crunchgear reported that two new Kindles were in the offing: One would have the same dimensions as the existing device, along with an improved interface, and could arrive this fall, while the second would be larger and would come next year. The current 10-ounce Kindle, priced at $359, measures 7.5 inches tall by 5.3 inches wide and 0.7 inch deep.
Bueneman reported that one new version could well feature "improved interface operating controls. This has been an issue with some buyers."
Amazon reportedly is also downplaying some "extremely high estimates" on Kindle sales, according to Bueneman. The company is apparently referring to the likes of CitiGroup analyst Mark Mahaney, who earlier this month upped his estimate and pegged the Kindle to sell about 380,000 units in 2008. Mahaney said the Amazon gadget could be one of the hottest gifts of holiday season.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10024164-1.html

markbot · 08-30-2008, 10:52 AM

I think this is a good idea overall. Textbook publishers lose soooo much money in ther resale market. And students give away their precious books, and the knowledge, when they resale...and they feel they have to since the books are soo costly.

What Amazon should intitiate is lower cost text books. Let's say 40% off. And it would have no resale market of course since it's on the Kindle. Students can afford the books, carry the books, and keep the books! Amazon gets their cut. The publishers make more money. Yey for everyone.

However, the Textbook Kindle screen needs to be bigger (does not have to be in color for the vast majority of text books), the navigation and folders need a revamped, and the page refresh needs to be faster.

vivaldirules · 08-30-2008, 11:07 AM

Well, what someone needs to initiate is the sale of textbooks in digital format that you can download and not be required to read online. And in technical subjects. And not just a handful of titles. My guess is that getting there is an enormous hurdle on several counts and more difficult than the design of an etext reader.

Becky21 · 09-16-2008, 08:26 PM

I think using a Kindle instead of regular textbooks would be a great idea. Im currently in college and am required to carry 6 textbooks to one class..which is a hassle and not to mention i spent close to 250$ for 2 of those books so using a Kindle would help save money and would be much easier to carry around.

HarryT · 09-17-2008, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky21

I think using a Kindle instead of regular textbooks would be a great idea. Im currently in college and am required to carry 6 textbooks to one class..which is a hassle and not to mention i spent close to 250$ for 2 of those books so using a Kindle would help save money and would be much easier to carry around.

Speaking as a textbook author myself, I think it may be a little optimistic to expect large cost savings from electronic textbooks. The reason they are so expensive is that they are inherently costly to produce, and have very low sales (10,000 sales for a textbook would be regarded as a success - for a fiction book it would be a dismal failure). You might, perhaps, save $10 on the cost of printing, but that's about it; all the other costs are still there.

There would be a gain in convenience for the user, in terms of not having to carry around a bag of heavy books, but I don't think you could expect to save a lot of money.

random50 · 10-03-2008, 10:35 PM

HarryT, most students resell *all* of their books. It would be far more lucrative for a publisher to sell a non-transferable copy, even at a steep discount.

It would also help to mitigate this nonsense of constantly releasing virtually identical "new" editions, which are blatantly just an excuse to try and get around the secondhand market. Less regular new editions would lower costs, too.

nekokami · 10-04-2008, 12:02 AM

Shipping the books around (old and new) has got to be a big factor in costs, beyond printing. Textbooks are large, heavy, and don't usually get stored in the bookstores between semester starts. So that's another potential source of savings with electronic versions.

random50 · 10-07-2008, 08:33 AM

Here's a related link about the University of Texas' attempt at using e-books:

http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/10/07/ut

One striking stat - out of the potential 15,000 sales on the courses for which they offer ebooks, they sold a grand total of 55!

bbusybookworm · 10-07-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by random50

Here's a related link about the University of Texas' attempt at using e-books:

http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/10/07/ut

One striking stat - out of the potential 15,000 sales on the courses for which they offer ebooks, they sold a grand total of 55!

Yes, but look at the options open to students. Print it out or on their computer. No readers, or ability to annotate.

And the price range they were talking about was 40-50% of the cost of the books.

I Don't know about you, but I could usually get back 50-70% of the cost if I resold a book, and there were no restrictions on its use. I could chose to keep it or 3 or 4 of us could share the book and the cost.

So I would say it was more a failure of the Process then the failure of e-books.

DickyCheung22 · 10-07-2008, 10:18 AM

It is a great idea overall, just think that it will be a big drop for the market of printing business.

brontus · 02-14-2009, 08:22 PM

Harry, textbook ebooks already are sold at a steep discount compared to a print textbook. When I bought my macroeconomics textbook this semester, I spent $75 for the ebook compared to $130 for the new print text. $75 was even a bit cheaper than the used copies I could find (~$90) and on par with the textbook rental services. Of course, the ebook expires after 180 days, so you don't really buy an ebook textbook but rent it (at least on iChapters)

ED

Ervserver · 02-14-2009, 08:28 PM

Would take a much different Kindle to operate in a student environment, faster, more memory, beefier. Students are better off using a Netbook pc..they are already in the current Kindle price range

Dragoro · 02-14-2009, 08:50 PM

LOL that scared me at first, till I looked at the original post date lol. I was like another model by next fall already?

KindleKat · 02-15-2009, 05:23 PM

I think this would be a great move on their part

ChipnDale · 02-15-2009, 06:31 PM

This would work more for non-science students who don't have to deal with equations, diagrams and things like that. If they made the Kindle cheaper and more sturdy it just might work...heck if they made any reader sturdier, cheaper, faster it might work for students...to compete with used book sales.

I'm a student but I use my reader for regular books and still buy my school books.

08-25-2008, 02:20 AM	#1
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	Report: A Kindle for college kids? Amid reports that Amazon is working on new models of its e-book reader, the Kindle, one analyst says the online titan has an academic spin in mind. Amazon sees a chance to cash in by marketing the Kindle to college students, according to McAdams Wright Ragen analyst Tim Bueneman, by way of Seattlepi.com reporter Andrea James. A collegiate version could be just one of a number of potential Kindles-to-be, apparently. "There are already several new, improved versions of the Kindle in the works," Bueneman wrote in a note Friday, per James. In July, the site Crunchgear reported that two new Kindles were in the offing: One would have the same dimensions as the existing device, along with an improved interface, and could arrive this fall, while the second would be larger and would come next year. The current 10-ounce Kindle, priced at $359, measures 7.5 inches tall by 5.3 inches wide and 0.7 inch deep. Bueneman reported that one new version could well feature "improved interface operating controls. This has been an issue with some buyers." Amazon reportedly is also downplaying some "extremely high estimates" on Kindle sales, according to Bueneman. The company is apparently referring to the likes of CitiGroup analyst Mark Mahaney, who earlier this month upped his estimate and pegged the Kindle to sell about 380,000 units in 2008. Mahaney said the Amazon gadget could be one of the hottest gifts of holiday season. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10024164-1.html

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08-30-2008, 10:52 AM	#2
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	I think this is a good idea overall. Textbook publishers lose soooo much money in ther resale market. And students give away their precious books, and the knowledge, when they resale...and they feel they have to since the books are soo costly. What Amazon should intitiate is lower cost text books. Let's say 40% off. And it would have no resale market of course since it's on the Kindle. Students can afford the books, carry the books, and keep the books! Amazon gets their cut. The publishers make more money. Yey for everyone. However, the Textbook Kindle screen needs to be bigger (does not have to be in color for the vast majority of text books), the navigation and folders need a revamped, and the page refresh needs to be faster.

08-30-2008, 11:07 AM	#3
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Well, what someone needs to initiate is the sale of textbooks in digital format that you can download and not be required to read online. And in technical subjects. And not just a handful of titles. My guess is that getting there is an enormous hurdle on several counts and more difficult than the design of an etext reader.

09-16-2008, 08:26 PM	#4
Becky21 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: kindle	I think using a Kindle instead of regular textbooks would be a great idea. Im currently in college and am required to carry 6 textbooks to one class..which is a hassle and not to mention i spent close to 250$ for 2 of those books so using a Kindle would help save money and would be much easier to carry around.

10-03-2008, 10:35 PM	#6
random50 Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 110 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: None yet	HarryT, most students resell all of their books. It would be far more lucrative for a publisher to sell a non-transferable copy, even at a steep discount. It would also help to mitigate this nonsense of constantly releasing virtually identical "new" editions, which are blatantly just an excuse to try and get around the secondhand market. Less regular new editions would lower costs, too.

10-04-2008, 12:02 AM	#7
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Shipping the books around (old and new) has got to be a big factor in costs, beyond printing. Textbooks are large, heavy, and don't usually get stored in the bookstores between semester starts. So that's another potential source of savings with electronic versions.

10-07-2008, 08:33 AM	#8
random50 Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 110 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: None yet	Here's a related link about the University of Texas' attempt at using e-books: http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/10/07/ut One striking stat - out of the potential 15,000 sales on the courses for which they offer ebooks, they sold a grand total of 55!

10-07-2008, 10:18 AM	#10
DickyCheung22 Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: none	It is a great idea overall, just think that it will be a big drop for the market of printing business.

02-14-2009, 08:22 PM	#11
brontus Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 34216 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Fort Collins, CO Device: Sony Reader PRS-500, Kindle Fire, Aldiko on LG Optimus Elite	Harry, textbook ebooks already are sold at a steep discount compared to a print textbook. When I bought my macroeconomics textbook this semester, I spent $75 for the ebook compared to $130 for the new print text. $75 was even a bit cheaper than the used copies I could find (~$90) and on par with the textbook rental services. Of course, the ebook expires after 180 days, so you don't really buy an ebook textbook but rent it (at least on iChapters) ED

02-14-2009, 08:28 PM	#12
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Would take a much different Kindle to operate in a student environment, faster, more memory, beefier. Students are better off using a Netbook pc..they are already in the current Kindle price range

02-14-2009, 08:50 PM	#13
Dragoro Lovecraft Fan Posts: 414 Karma: 539914 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Michigan Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Kindle Touch	LOL that scared me at first, till I looked at the original post date lol. I was like another model by next fall already?

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02-15-2009, 05:23 PM	#14
KindleKat Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 29 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle	I think this would be a great move on their part

02-15-2009, 06:31 PM	#15
ChipnDale Rescue Rangers Posts: 109 Karma: 2144082 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Visitor from another planet Device: IPad	This would work more for non-science students who don't have to deal with equations, diagrams and things like that. If they made the Kindle cheaper and more sturdy it just might work...heck if they made any reader sturdier, cheaper, faster it might work for students...to compete with used book sales. I'm a student but I use my reader for regular books and still buy my school books.