Sign in Subscribe
News agencies

Amazon's Kindle DX Aims to Revolutionize College Textbook Market

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Amazon's latest Kindle electronic reading device, with its 9.7-inch screen and increased data storage capacity, is poised to transform the college textbook market. The company, led by founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, has partnered with three major textbook publishers - Pearson PLC, Cengage Learning, and John Wiley & Sons Inc. - to offer electronic versions of higher-education textbooks. This move could significantly benefit college students, who often struggle with the financial burden of textbooks.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Kindle DX offers a larger screen and more data storage capacity, allowing for up to 3,500 books to be stored in its memory.
  • Amazon has partnered with three major textbook publishers to offer electronic versions of higher-education textbooks, covering 60 percent of all higher-education textbooks.
  • At least six universities have agreed to run Kindle pilots in the fall, including Pace, Arizona State University, Case Western Reserve University, Princeton University, Reed College, and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
  • College students may benefit from lower costs associated with electronic textbooks, with new releases of mass-market books typically costing $10 compared to printed versions.
  • The average cost of textbooks for students at four-year public colleges is estimated to be $900 per year, although the textbook industry argues the figure is closer to $625.
  • Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos believes electronic versions of textbooks will eventually dominate the market.

Statistics:

  • The new Kindle DX has a 9.7-inch screen.
  • The device has a data storage capacity of 3,500 books.
  • Amazon has partnered with Pearson PLC, Cengage Learning, and John Wiley & Sons Inc. to offer electronic textbooks.
  • The three publishers collectively cover 60 percent of all higher-education textbooks.
  • At least six universities will participate in Kindle pilots in the fall (Pace, Arizona State University, Case Western Reserve University, Princeton University, Reed College, and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia).
  • Electronic textbooks may cost up to 90% less than printed versions (average cost of $900 per year compared to $625).
  • New releases of mass-market books typically cost $10 on the Kindle.

Sources:

  • Amazon.com Inc. (no date)
  • The New York Times (no date)
  • The Boston Globe (no date)
  • The Washington Post (no date)
  • Government Accountability Office report (2005)

Read more