One Kindle Per Child?

While this certainly seems like a good approach to textbooks in the near future, why would the federal government be providing these? This seems like a state or district level decision.

Although I definitely think this should be a state handled project, in the same breath I'm worried about corrupt or stupid politicians tying up the money for years to line their pockets, or push their crazy political views on the public.

It's for that reason I think the Feds should just buy the lot and send them to each school in America.

What I'm MORE worried about is the public school in nowheresville Arkansas using them for lunch trays. We think there was a cluster f**k over the digital cable switch think about mass integration of a completely new technology to a large number of adults who still don't know how to use e-mail.

Other than that, I LOOOOVE this idea.

I think that this sounds like a better idea than it probably is. It would be awfully nice to see the analysis that was done to project the cost savings.

Point one is that downloaded books won't necessarily be that much cheaper. Publishers will still charge for content.

Point two is the device reliability and durability. The target group tends to be a bit hard on things.

There are more issues, those are just sample points to consider.

And if there is an attempt to get this done, it should be done by those currently managing the textbooks. I'm betting that they would opt for some small scale tests before biting off some massive program.

One might think that the Dems already have enough on their plate -- settling this pesky recession ( which seems to be somewhat stimulus proof), while completely redoing health care. Let's kind of get some of those working first.

lnwolf41 Why only a kindle?, there are at least 3 other e-readers out there right now. As for price, aside from uploading all the info; which is already in the system. You just cut out the cost of paper,inks,labor, power, transportation. So reduce the average price by half and they still would make a huge profit.
A downside would be some hacker setting up a virus that alters the information in a text book.(and there would be one).
AS for who would allow it? Have feds give extra funds to the schools that offer the E-readers.

I think they should start this with public universities and colleges, first. College textbook costs are absurd. I wonder how much of that cost is related to transportation and printing? Many schools don't allow K-12 students to bring their textbooks home. So maybe the Kindle will be for in class use, only?

Love, Peace & Soul

I agree with the last comment: this change should start with college textbooks and the such, which are obviously oriented to different demographics. Besides, as mentioned above, this is the original niche Amazon aimed at with the Kindle DX.

However, there's definitely one thing not to be forgotten about this: It's not possible to continue destroying forests worldwide forever. Doesn't matter how many trees of whatever kind you plant afterwards, natural bio-diversity is already dead. I find the surge of e-book readers is one of the most important tools we might count on to tackle this issue in the long run. Therefore, I believe it's our responsibility to start seriously planning how to massify the use of readers, while at the same time making them as eco-friendly as possible.

John Rye
www.prlog.org/10417544-buy-kindle-dx-top-reasons-to-purchase-an-amazon-kindle-dx-ereader.html