Do you think college textbooks should be digital?

Question

Seems like a lot of money could be saved. I could buy a couple of iPads or possibly 20 or so kindles. Not to mention, I would save some weight I have to carry around.

_Maya_ · Accepted Answer

Absolutely that makes a lot of sense. I have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars over the years just to lug those f-ing things around and then stack them in a bin. What I am studying in school requires me to keep most of my books instead of selling them back. A digital copy on an iPad or whatever would cut the cost significantly and for those that want to keep books instead of selling them back to school at a massive loss could keep them. I am not sure why this hasn't happened yet. With the cost of college being so high you would think they could give you a tablet upon enrolling in school. I am all for the idea. Plus you can mark up digital text instead of marking up your books which makes a TON of sense.

IslaTheWitch · Accepted Answer

I like to have a choice. A lot of my paper books have digital copies on my Kindle. I have literally always access to my books. At home, I prefer to feel and smell my books. When I'm traveling, it's more convenient to use Kindle.

So let's make both available.

GuyAnswersGirls123 · Accepted Answer

I'd really miss the tactile quality of flipping pages, highlighting things with a marker, scribbling notes on the side. I just love real books so much more than even reading on an iPad.

I never understood why these textbooks cost a fortune though in countries like the US. It doesn't seem like it has anything to do with the costs of printing when a single textbook can cost $200+. To me that's like how hospitals charge $40 for an Aspirin that normally costs pennies. It's just ridiculously hyper-inflated pricing that suggests to me a thoroughly corrupt and broken market.

exitseven · Accepted Answer

I find a textbook to be better than a digital file. However, the college bookstores that used to rip you off are not around anymore. Most people buy their text books online for a lot less money. The bookstores were a giant ripoff. When I was graduating from grad school I took all my old books to the college bookstore to sell them back it was over a thousand dollars worth of books. I had my 3 kids with me. I got enough money back to buy them each a college sweatshirt and we had lunch in the food court.

RebelinSteel · Answer

I hate to think what I have spent over the years on specific books for course work. Engineering, Electronics and Robotics / Automation are fairly pricey and getting specific books can be problematic. With software version the DRM is the biggest issues, as some you cannot transfer between devices, change your laptop and you have to reapply for a new licence etc.

abc3643 · Answer

You can usually buy digital versions of textbooks.
Of course, if you lose the file or it becomes obsolete, etc., then *poof* your money is gone.
In 2008, I bought a digital textbook from Amazon. Then, Amazon changed things and *poof* my book was gone. They allegedly gave me some credit but I don't think I used it and now that is *poof* gone.

REAL BOOKS don't require electricity.
REAL BOOKS don't go *poof* in the cloud.
REAL BOOKS are available 100% of the time.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

I do, but it's such a racket, what they charge, then the annual "update" where all they do is change the practical exercises so you can't use an old book, coupled with the crap resale value (The Gamestop model), I don't see it happening any time soon. There's too much money to lose by going all digital.

Anonymous · Answer

nope. as an aspiring chiropractor, I know how much our industry depends on college students hurting their backs by carrying around 500 pounds of books every day. You wouldn't want to put us out of a job, would you?

The logging industry depends on demand for those books so they can afford to keep chop chop chopping away at the trees. You really want lumberjacks to be out of a job?

The post office stays in business because of how much they have to mail those books back and forth. If they went digital, post offices and delivery services would shut down overnight. Then people couldn't get their new taylor swift merch. You want to upset swifties across the globe? Also, how am I gonna get my mom's cookies for my birthday? You're mean. 😢

bradley142 · Answer

i think they will end up that way before its said and done

dolemite58 · Answer

Ofc but that wouldn’t make them nearly as much money

Danny_dan92 · Answer

Although I can see this reducing the cost of books…. I doubt it knowing publishers and schools. Most if not all schools are greedy institutions

DJB72 · Answer

The problem is digital books can be edited on your device. You lose the stability of the written word when you can't be sure it's exactly what it was last time you opened it.

argot · Answer

Outside of things like laboratory books, they have been digital for more than a decade. In most cases you can find most of your textbooks for free online in a PDF format already.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

No, no books should be digital. All books should be actual books.

If it works without electricity, don't make it dependant on electricity. Any engineer or creative who thinks otherwise, is either an idiot, a con artist, or both.

Anonymous · Answer

I do agree. If you look at the kindle app for instance you can use the dictionary function if you don't know a word but you can also add notes to the books. Plus they may be cheaper and it would save a large amount of weight.

I do like text books but the weight is an issue.

However I would say it would depend on the size of the device. It would be more difficult to use on a normal kindle or phone instead of a tablet for instance.

Slapmynuts · Answer

Most are I believe now! The paperback is still an option but here shortly I believe won't even be an option.

strateguy632 · Answer

i agree. online not paper.

elaphe · Answer

No, there is cognitive research that indicates that people understand and remember things better when they read the information in physical rather than in digital text.

msc545 · Answer

Yes of course they should be digital. I think everybody knows at this point What a ripoff college textbooks are given the current system and format.

jahaims · Answer

It's a scam they use to make money

Paris13 · Answer

For Some, Hun. xxoo

NathanDavis · Answer

both should be available

darkforcebooty · Answer

they should at least be less expensive

CubaPirate · Answer

Optional no compulsory would be fine

Anonymous · Answer

Plenty of them are, no?

Paulychicagoluv · Answer

Mine were

Do you think college textbooks should be digital?

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