I hope this happens for my childrens' sake. (Thankfully, that is a long way away.) In addition to being too heavy to haul around, textbooks are expensive and constantly outdated, forcing students to sell them for often 10 cents on the dollar. Chegg's textbook rental is great, but this could result in free books with even better and always up to date content.
When I was studying in the US, I always bought the previous edition of all textbooks second hand. I quickly figured that they was little difference between editions and they seemed more like a ploy to get us to buy new books...
When studying in France, I didn't buy any textbooks and got all of them from the university (a good use of taxes from my point of view :-) )
I find it far-fetched that a kindle will replace a phsyical textbook. There is something about a physical book that just can't be replaced in my head just yet.
The $100 you're shelling out every year for the new edition?
Have no fear, the Kindle supports this cherished feature of the paper-book experience.
(Seriously. Publisher removes old book from central location, publisher uploads new book. What are you going to do, buy copies of the old one used from the non-Amazon place you can load your Kindle from?)
It is generally acknowledged that e-readers aren't yet as good for technical books where you will flip around somewhat randomly, and want high quality photos, etc. We need somewhat higher resolution, color, and a nice interface for flitting around from place to place.
Novels, on the other hand, are read pretty much linearly, and are great on an e-reader. (Honestly, I've always hated fighting with bindings on physical books.)
On the other other hand, perhaps at lower levels forcing students to read for information might have positive side-effects. Ctrl-Fing and quick search functions do make the Internet a different experience from the textbook, after all.
We all know what "kill" means. In this case, it means finding a problem that inconveniences every students on the planet, and removing it to make way for a new problem.
Problem solved: removing textbooks. Added value: removed textbook dependency. Answers in commas because they're so incredibly evident upon reading the title.
"Removing textbooks" is not solving a problem and beside textbooks are not a problem or the problem addressed.
Regarding the added value, removing a dependency does not require to "kill" the object of dependence.
Of course I understood the underlying idea. But you misunderstood my point.
The thing is that the "mission statement" is wrong. This is indeed so confusing that you are unable to clearly state the _real_ problem and added value although it is "so incredibly evident".
Killing may be familiar to you, as well as down voting. Not in my place.
You're focusing way too much on the concept of killing here. That's why I downvoted you. You said nothing useful, and attempted an over-the-top conceit to express yourself. As somebody who values content over outrage, and as a writer who thought your conceit was poorly-written, I downvoted you.
The thing is that the "mission statement" is wrong. This is indeed so confusing that you are unable to clearly state the _real_ problem and added value although it is "so incredibly evident".
You're talking in circles. Stop that. Nobody likes it. The mission statement isn't "wrong", it says exactly what its goal is.
Killing may be familiar to you, as well as down voting. Not in my place.
Your place? Hacker News? Your life?
Look. I can respect people who disagree with me. I can even respect people who mangle the English language with every statement they make. What you're saying is both garbled and wrong. State yourself clearly and I'll address the points you make.
You seem to believe you have a monopole of knowing what all people like and don't like, on what is right or wrong, what is good or bad, what is the right understanding of things and such. These assumptions explain your poor judgment.
How condescending to write "State yourself clearly and I'll address the points you make". It matches well your narcissism. BTW, I had to laugh when I saw your email address : i.am@me.com !
