Students At Lynn University Get iPad Minis Instead of Textbooks

Dave_Minsky writes "About 600 students will enter Lynn University's freshman class this year, the largest since 2007, and they will all be using iPad Minis instead of textbooks. The iPads will cost $475, saving students up to 50% of what a semester's worth of textbooks would cost, estimates Lynn. Students will be able to access core curriculum classes on their iPads that are 'enhanced with custom multimedia content,' and will come with 'at least 30 education, productivity, social and news-related iOS apps — some free and some paid for by the university.' This seems to be the beginning of a new era for American colleges. The Boca Raton university is not the first to give iPads to students instead of textbooks. Back in 2010, New Jersey-based Seton Hill University announced it would give students the tablets rather than books."

Comments

Re:Who cares?

[Culture20]

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

Re:Considering the cost of one Texbook

[Anonymous Coward]

Unfortunately, textbook publishers generally charge the same amount for "digital" copies, while eliminating the used market through the use of activation codes. So, you still spend the same amount on text books (more, if you were planning to buy used), you cannot recoup any of that cost by reselling after the semester is over, and now you have to buy an iPad on top of it all -- even if it's wrapped up in the cost of tuition, you're still buying it. This is a win for only one group: the publishers.

Right to read

[knarf]

For Dan Halbert, the road to Tycho began in collegeâ"when Lissa Lenz asked to borrow his computer. Hers had broken down, and unless she could borrow another, she would fail her midterm project. There was no one she dared ask, except Dan...

Re:Actually, I like the dead trees

[denis-The-menace]

That's right, Time-Bomb Textbooks.

Oh you failed that course and need to take it again?
Too bad, your 1 year "right to read" has expired.
Pay for that textbook, AGAIN.

1st sale doctrine? NOTHING was sold to you.
It was a lease!