December 15, 2007
boston.com: The paper version of "Psychology," a popular college textbook by David G. Myers, weighs nearly 5 pounds and costs roughly $90 new and $70 used. The digital version is easy on a backpack and costs $55. Which would you choose?
CourseSmart LLC, a new company backed by the nation's biggest textbook publishers, is betting that many tech-savvy students looking to save some money will select the e-textbook.
The Belmont, Calif., company is still in beta, refining its digital-book format and its business model. It offers about 2,000 e-textbooks now and hopes to have far more by next fall. But already CourseSmart is attracting considerable attention, particularly from college bookstores, which earn most of their revenue selling new and used textbooks and fear the publishers will sell directly to students and elbow them aside.
Frank Lyman, executive vice president for marketing and business development at CourseSmart, said bookstores will continue to play a vital role in the textbook market, but he acknowledged the relationship between publishers and bookstores is changing.
Publishers are "not looking to cut out the bookstores, but certainly there's some shaking out of their relationship that's going to happen as we migrate to digital," he said.
That migration is still in its infancy, but there is a growing belief in publishing circles that electronic textbooks have a real chance of catching on because of the savings, the convenience, and the features they have to offer.
A textbook ending? [boston.com]
By Yuelin Toh @ 12:00 PM | Education | Comments (0) | Article Link
There are 0 responses to "e-textbooks".
Add your own comments
Business opportunity from the US Market Leader in Disc Protection. Recently we told you about the unique Disc protection product D_Skin. The product is great and in fact our only gripe was where to buy it outside America. Well the guys from D_Skin have listened - and are now looking for Distributors worldwide. So what are you waiting for? Contact them and be part of the D_Skin success worldwide! www.D-Skin.com
Click Here for More Information
Free Business Ideas Newsletter
Ever wanted to be the CEO of your very own Starbucks or Amazon.com? Fire your boss and be your own boss? Now you can, with BIZNESS! - the free biweekly business newsletter about new business ideas, opportunities and innovations from around the world. More than just new business trends, BIZNESS! helps the aspiring entrepreneur (you!) with small business advice, business tips, and entrepreneur resources and opportunities.
Subscribe for free now! 
Private Limited Company Advantages » When considering the advantages of a private limited company registration against retaining self employed status the decision taken by a sole trader...
Introduction To Vat Registration And Accounting For Value Added Tax » Value added tax is the tax amount added to the value of goods and services by a vat registered business when sold...
The Ultimate Guide To Discovering What Your Target Market Wants » As a solo service professional you are probably already clear on who your niche is, i.e. you know who those people are...
Accounting Software Can Be Sophisticated Or Simple Bookkeeping Software » Accounting software records the financial transactions of a business and provides financial control to achieve the profit and loss performance required. The...
Aspire to be an entrepreneur? Need more small business tips, resources and ideas? Visit GetEntrepreneurial.com now!
