https://lemmings.world/u/cm0002 posted on Apr 3, 2026 05:10
Electronic textbooks work better for the visually impaired and for those who don’t want to lug around multiple heavy tomes all day. I’d say they were cheaper too except that companies price gouge textbooks despite saving on printing costs, and students tear up electronics.
Your average textbook costs $100 USD, compared to an iPad at $299 edu pricing, or an e-reader at $100.
That’s one of the things broken in the US education system. In Finland the most expensive textbook I’ve bought was around 35€ I think. Now in my 2 years in university I’ve paid a grand total of 0 on books.
Swede here, this change takes place in the early school years, not university.
I never had to pay for any textbook in school, apart from when I attended trade school to learn IT.
All textbooks used in year 1 through 12 was issued on loan to the student, and didn’t cost anything apart from when I had to replace one I missplaced.