Quote:
Originally Posted by phrodod
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I think that the college market will become significantly more interested when e-book readers allow users to do everything they can do in a paper copy (see color diagrams, highlight the book, bring it to class) while weighing a small fraction of what textbooks tend to weigh today. Right now, e-book readers aren't to the point where the on-line experience matches the paper experience unless you're reading on a computer (the page size isn't big enough, and dedicated readers don't display color diagrams), and if you need a computer, you could equally well schlep around the full text.
But I think that this is likely to be a great marketing ploy in the future, both at the college level, and down into the junior high and high school markets. At the local high school, they've gotten rid of student lockers (drug fears), so students must carry all of their textbooks with them all day. Of course, they must ALSO bring their notebooks, pens, pencils, lunches, calculators, etc., so the average backpack weights in at a hefty 20-30 pounds. If they could drop the 15 lbs. or so of books, and bring along a 1/2 pound e-book reader, that would be a huge blessing to the students.
Phrodod
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Amen to that, I've just had all my books in storage for a few months. I was unpacking them yesterday and came across my copy of the Harraps New Shorter English-French/French English dictionary. Two volumes weighing in at 2kg (4.5lbs) - heaven only knows what the longer dictionary weighs. I've been looking at the SlovoEd deluxe version which looks like it might be the same thing except it will fit on a postcard and give me virtual instant access.
It's also worth remembering that there has been a lot of interest in the developing world in the ultra-cheap computers precisely because it could be cheaper to give evey child a free computer with the savings from not having to buy paper textbooks.