Discussion on:

Apple 'reinvents' textbook; e-texts already making inroads

And when the semester is over, do you get to keep a copy? I still have most of my textbooks and use them occasionally. Under this model it looks like you are SOL if you ever want to review something after the class is over.

I have the second class of a class I had last semester. The textbook is available on-line and is included with my fees. The physical textbook is available if you want it. After the semester closes, you can't access the book anymore, unless you opt to either extend the period by paying a fee or buy it outright where you have to download via a link. I let mine expire and got new access this semester. At the end, I will buy it outright. Another thing that seems prevalent is textbook rental. I use that as well. You send it back, postage included (built into the rental fee) or pay and get to keep it. The rental part seems pretty easy for Apple to implement, since they already do it in iTunes.

Amazon can and has, erased books on customer's Kindles. Where one is paying for a textbook--remember we said "paying"--the purchaser shall keep it, unless the seller be fingered for theft. Tell me that's so....

The Kindle Fire uses cloud storage @amazon.com, please don't tell me they erase content there as I've purchased a lot and have never downloaded it.

I love my Mac, but the iBooks authoring app has a draconian EULA that should not be encouraged. Did the author rewrite an Apple press release?

Sure IU is saving its students $25 per book if they purchase new books, but the profit per student would be greater and limit the student's ability to sale the book after use. Why does every facet of our society have to show greed? Most editions of textbooks vary so little from previous editions it's obvious the publisher is merely trying to get a higher percentage of new students to buy their books instead of a used book. I'm enrolled in school now and buy older editions of all my texts for $5/book and get As.

Reduce/Reuse/Recycle

Good idea. Much money will be made, students will have better posture, parents will retain more in their bank accounts, and vital knowledge will be more up-to-date.