The Kindle craze: Students turn to e-readers to save money on textbooks

Because of the current economic downturn, some students at Georgia College are turning to e-readers in order to save money on books.

Students who read for both recreation and their classes are increasingly using e-readers such as the Kindle Fire and the Nook.
With production costs of books on e-readers being so low, many books are available for affordable prices. Some students, such as sophomore pre-nursing major Ashton Passino, have switched to reading their textbooks on an e-reader.
“I use it mostly for school because the cost of books can be ridiculous,” Passino said.
The advancement of technology is changing colleges rapidly, and with the growing trend of e-textbooks being provided online, e-readers might be the next step.
Many classic novels such as “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Pride and Prejudice” are free on the Amazon Kindle. Passino stated that she found many of her textbooks for free, saving her potentially hundreds of dollars. Such textbooks are provided by companies like the CK-12 Foundation and might offer students an advantage in their classes.
Passino recommends e-readers because of their ease of use and practicality.
“They’re so much cheaper and more convenient,” Passino said.
E-readers are also lightweight and compact, making them much easier to carry around. Conversely, a backpack full of books can lead to back pain and potentially spinal problems. A recent study conducted by Boston University reported that over 85 percent of college students experience back pain, likely because of over-stuffed backpacks.
David Hamby, a junior rhetoric major, primarily uses his Kindle Fire for recreation.
“I would use it for school, but the books that I need for school aren’t available on the e-reader,” Hamby said.
The sometimes-low quantity of e-textbooks can be a deterrent for many students, but the variety of e-books available is growing quickly. According to an article written by Glenn Fleishman published in 2010, there are over ten million e-books available in e-reader software.
Although e-readers are beneficial, some people will still prefer paperback books to e-readers.
“There’s something about always having paper and having a tangible book to carry around,” Hamby said.
Hardback and paperback books are appealing to many students because it is easy to physically see one’s reading progress. In addition, physical books seem to be easier to highlight and annotate. However, David and many other students, although skeptical of the screen-based format, find e-readers nearly as practical as a physical book.
Brittany Henderson, a senior mass communication major, primarily uses her e-reader for novels.
“I have attempted to use it for school, but I primarily use it for recreation,” Henderson said. “I’m gradually making a transition from hardbacks and paperbacks to e-readers.”
Many students seem to be taking part in this shift towards e-books. This seems to point to a possibility that e-readers might overtake physical books altogether.
David Hamby thinks that e-readers might eventually overtake physical textbooks stating.
“The next step in the move out of paper is into e-readers. They’re more economic, more efficient, and more green,” Hamby said.
Kelsi Brooks, a freshman art major disagreed stating, “People will still need that book in front of them.”

Posted by Brad Higgins on Jan 26 2012. Filed under Leisure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.