Kindle e-Reader Doesn't Measure Up On Campuses,Yet!

Here's an update to a previous post about a study into the usage of Kindle e-Readers on college campuses. It looks as though the e-Readers haven't caught up to the hype about school/education usage capability. 

Researchers at the University of Washington are about to present a report on a pilot project that had computer science students use a Kindle DX for their course reading.

College textbooks are a holy grail for the electronic book industry, but apparently they still have a ways to go, based on the UW study, conducted during the 2009-2010 school year.

"There is no e-reader that supports what we found these students doing," first author Alex Thayer, a UW doctoral student in design and engineering, said in a release. "It remains to be seen how to design one. It's a great space to get in to, there's a lot of opportunity." (Read more ...)

Study Shows Kindle E-Reader Not Too Popular With University Students.

Researchers at the University of Washington have taken a look at how students are using the Kindle DX in their studies, and the verdict shows Amazon.com faces challenges if it wants to appeal to the campus studying crowd.

Students want a better way to take notes and check references. Read more ...

Univ. of Washington Initiates Study With Kindle DX!

A study of how University of Washington graduate students integrated an Amazon Kindle DX into their course reading provides the first long-term investigation of e-readers in higher education. While some of the study’s findings were expected — students want improved support for taking notes, checking references and viewing figures — the authors also found that allowing people to switch between reading styles, and providing the reader with physical cues, are two challenges that e-readers will need to address in cracking the college market.  read more ...

Less Expensive Kindle e-Reader Available Soon!

US online retail powerhouse Amazon on Monday introduced a cut-price version of its Kindle electronic reader that features on-screen ads.

Amazon's Kindle DX 9.7" Wireless Reading Device is pictured in 2009. US online retail powerhouse Amazon on Monday introduced a cut-price version of its Kindle electronic reader that features on-screen ads.

Kindle with Special Offers e-readers priced at $114 each will begin shipping in the United States on May 3, according to Amazon.

Amazon charges $139 for the same Kindle without ads or deals displayed as screen savers and on the home page. The e-readers connect to the Internet to download digital books using wireless connections to routers at "hotspots."

A version of the e-reader that accesses the Internet using a built-in 3G telecom connection is priced at $189. 

Read more ...

Loading PDFs Onto The Kindle Or Other e-Readers.

Here's an excellent resource for those who have, or are planning to purchase and e-reader. This post deals with loading PDFs onto your reader. Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep up to date.

A Literacy Gap Is Occurring Due To e-Readers Like The Kindle!

TOKYO - The rapid rise of e-books could lead to a "reading divide" as those unable to afford the new technology are left behind, even as U.S. reading and writing skills decline still further.

At particular threat are African-American communities where many students are already falling behind their majority peers in terms of literacy, said award-winning writer Marita Golden -- and this despite the growing ranks of noted African-American writers, such as Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison.

"My biggest concern is that the technology will continue to widen the gap," she told Reuters. "It won't just be the digital divide but also a reading divide if reading becomes an activity that's now dependent on technology. Read more...

Kindle E-Reader Now Available At Best Buy!

The Amazon Kindle is now available through the Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy. (Read more...)


If you want to comparison shop against some of the Kindle's competitors, investigate this bargain shopper's App.