Comments on: Sony Reader trial at Penn State: Why not try student discounts instead, or even freebies? http://www.teleread.org/2008/09/05/sony-reader-trial-at-penn-state-why-not-try-student-discounts-instead-or-even-freebies/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:03:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Erin http://www.teleread.org/2008/09/05/sony-reader-trial-at-penn-state-why-not-try-student-discounts-instead-or-even-freebies/comment-page-1/#comment-1006530 Erin Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:31:06 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/09/05/sony-reader-trial-at-penn-state-why-not-try-student-discounts-instead-or-even-freebies/#comment-1006530 I am looking for an ebook reader that I can purchase books for my classes. I am a commuting student. I am also an untraditional student. I have a lot of heavy books, time in between classes to do homework, and a large campus to walk in very cold winter conditions. I have back problems as it is and would like to have a device that I can carry all my ebooks on that is light and compact. My Blackberry does not do ebooks well. I am just now starting to research and consider ebooks. I know that the Sony product was mentioned. It sounds like there are some limitations to this from what I read on NewEgg. If you have any resources for ebook readers, advice on ebook readers, a company that offers educational ebooks, as well as a student discount......PLEASE let me know. Thanks! I am looking for an ebook reader that I can purchase books for my classes. I am a commuting student. I am also an untraditional student. I have a lot of heavy books, time in between classes to do homework, and a large campus to walk in very cold winter conditions. I have back problems as it is and would like to have a device that I can carry all my ebooks on that is light and compact. My Blackberry does not do ebooks well. I am just now starting to research and consider ebooks. I know that the Sony product was mentioned. It sounds like there are some limitations to this from what I read on NewEgg. If you have any resources for ebook readers, advice on ebook readers, a company that offers educational ebooks, as well as a student discount……PLEASE let me know.
Thanks!

]]> By: pond http://www.teleread.org/2008/09/05/sony-reader-trial-at-penn-state-why-not-try-student-discounts-instead-or-even-freebies/comment-page-1/#comment-895244 pond Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:40:14 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/09/05/sony-reader-trial-at-penn-state-why-not-try-student-discounts-instead-or-even-freebies/#comment-895244 Actually, I have to disagree. Libraries check out all sorts of things nowadays, including A/V gear. For the price of 100 Sony Readers, Sony gets a library to let students check out the Readers to any interested students. This is potentially several hundred, depending on available content and how well the library publicizes the program, and how nerdy the student population is. Then of course, some students love the Reader. Some hate it, and some shrug their shoulders. The ones who love it will get fed up with checking it out. And some of them will end up buying a Reader of their own. But let's say Sony instead of this, gives away 100 Readers. Only 100 students (and their friends) get to play with them. And the number of 'friends' who love the gadget, and want to buy one of their own, will be smaller than the number of patrons to the library who check it out, love it, and buy one. In 4 years, the students who 'win' a Reader are gone. But the Readers at the library are still there to entice a new crop. Actually, I have to disagree. Libraries check out all sorts of things nowadays, including A/V gear. For the price of 100 Sony Readers, Sony gets a library to let students check out the Readers to any interested students. This is potentially several hundred, depending on available content and how well the library publicizes the program, and how nerdy the student population is.

Then of course, some students love the Reader. Some hate it, and some shrug their shoulders.

The ones who love it will get fed up with checking it out. And some of them will end up buying a Reader of their own.

But let’s say Sony instead of this, gives away 100 Readers. Only 100 students (and their friends) get to play with them. And the number of ‘friends’ who love the gadget, and want to buy one of their own, will be smaller than the number of patrons to the library who check it out, love it, and buy one.

In 4 years, the students who ‘win’ a Reader are gone. But the Readers at the library are still there to entice a new crop.

]]> By: Book Guy http://www.teleread.org/2008/09/05/sony-reader-trial-at-penn-state-why-not-try-student-discounts-instead-or-even-freebies/comment-page-1/#comment-895243 Book Guy Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:37:09 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/09/05/sony-reader-trial-at-penn-state-why-not-try-student-discounts-instead-or-even-freebies/#comment-895243 Big textbook publishers are going to have trouble with Sony or Kindle because they don't want to give up enough margin to make it work. I guarantee that's the sticking point right now. Big textbook publishers are going to have trouble with Sony or Kindle because they don’t want to give up enough margin to make it work. I guarantee that’s the sticking point right now.

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