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Colleges May Start Forcing Switch To eTextbooks

Posted by Soulskill on from the thousands-of-chiropractors-cry-out-in-dismay dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Here's the new approach under consideration by college leaders and textbook manufacturers: 'Colleges require students to pay a course-materials fee, which would be used to buy e-books for all of them (whatever text the professor recommends, just as in the old model).' That may be 'the best way to control skyrocketing costs and may actually save the textbook industry from digital piracy,' proponents claim."

3 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Students will complain by vlm · · Score: 5, Informative

    They can borrow them at the library (frequently on reserve) and save money

    In ye olden days, when we could get 5 cent per page photocopies, the university bookstore never seemed to sell any any books that cost much more than 5 cents per page, if you know what I mean.

    The response of the professors/TAs/instructors was highly variable.

    The publishing industry solution was wait for photocopy prices to raise to like ten cents or whatever it is now, and also bulk the heck out of the books like a walmart customer on HFCS. So, a 600 page calculus tome is going to cost me $60 to photocopy or $80 new... may as well buy it.

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  2. My experience with e-textbooks by garcia · · Score: 5, Informative

    I attend an online university for my masters program. As part of this program, because it is new, they offered a pilot whereby students enrolled from the outset would receive free e-books. Being that I am poor (single income, one child and a SAHM) I welcomed this offer.

    The software used is miserable to operate (slow, buggy, required me to sit on with their tech support for over an hour to resolve an upgrade issue). It takes upwards of 15 minute to print a single chapter because it adds text with your name and e-mail address assigned to the account (for DRM ) to every page.

    While I am grateful for the free books, if I had the choice between the two I'd definitely go hardcover. The student should be able to make the choice between the two mediums, not the school regardless of whatever their motivation is.

  3. Right to Read by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html

    That crazy kooky Stallman. What nonsense fearmongering will he rant about next?