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Can Apple’s tablet spark a textbook revolution?
Can the release of Apple’s eReader tablet do for textbooks what the iPod did for music: combine an online store for purchasing books with sleek hardware that holds every text a student needs?
That’s the question many educators are asking as anticipation of Apple’s new tablet mounts.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is widely expected to unveil his company’s eReader Jan. 27 in San Francisco, and industry insiders expect the product to have a large touch screen that is smaller than a laptop screen but larger than an iPhone.
Education technology advocates say students’ allegiance to Apple and the familiarity of buying music or applications from the company’s online store and downloading those purchases on an iPod or an iPhone could make the new Apple tablet an instant hit on campus.
“This is huge for electronic print,” said Scott Testa, a business professor at Cabrini College near Philadelphia who tracks campus technology trends. “Ten years from now, the idea of having a physical textbook is going to be very limited. … I really think just having the ecosystem in place for content delivery will be a very appealing aspect for consumers.”
In what technology analysts say is a response to the buzz about Apple’s tablet, Amazon recently announced that developers outside the company could begin making programs for the Kindle—the same way Apple officials encourage outside development of iPhone apps.
Testa said even if the Apple tablet is similar to the Kindle DX, college students could flock to the product simply because it sports the largely beloved Apple logo.
“I think from a marketing perspective, Apple is a spiritual brand,” he said. “Students will buy it based upon their prior experience with Apple. … That can’t be overstated.”
If Apple’s tablet propels the popularity of eBooks the way iPod did for online music, Testa expects illegal web sites for downloading textbooks to proliferate.
This would follow a pattern established with the rise of illegal music downloading sites on campuses to avoid the costs of the iTunes store, and it could create more headaches for university IT officials who have struggled to stop illegal downloading on campus.
“The Limewire of books is coming,” Testa said, referring to the popular illegal music site. “You can count on that.”
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/01/26/can-apples-tablet-spark-a-textbook-revolution/
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Dr. Scott's Business Blog 
I had my Kindle delivered last week. And just wanted to say I am pleased as a punch :o). I did some research on bing and also asked my collegues for feedback. Finally bought it from Kindle Store. They had a discount coupon and I got $25 off. I am so happy with it after having downloaded digital media from Amazon – all of them were free! I just love it!
I am really struck by the way that you write, and the subject is excellent. And considering one of the selling of points of the first Kindle was Includes free wireless access to the planets most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopediaWikipedia.org. I dont think there are any TOS issues with visiting the site. Some of the other applications may cross the line, though.
Good post.
What’s your take of the iPad Touch?
I couldn’t believe my lack of excitement this thing could have been awesome instead Steve Jobs settled for a cheap device.
Apple iPad Tablet
I think it will be big . . .not a big as iphone . . but a big product. .txs scott
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