Digital Textbooks from Zinio
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.24.05
Normally we’d be suggesting that textbooks would be best, if obtained secondhand or simply borrowed from the library. But Zinio and McGraw-Hill Publishers are confusing the issue somewhat. They’ve teamed up to offer totally digital, treefree textbooks, which they sell for about 50% the cost of paper versions. By using the Zinio Reader, like Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, you can search the entire contents, click on links for external information, make notations and use a highlighter pen (don’t try that with library books!) which is also searchable, so you can mark up pertinent research for your essay or paper. Although Zinio offer a page flip feature to make it seem you are digesting a paper book, reading long tracts of text on screen is still hard on the eyes. Tipster John C. reckons his student mates like 'em though -- mind you, he does work for Zinio. Still, we do appreciate the cost savings aspect. (Flash style demo here.) And, of course, we do get excited about all those trees left standing, ready for a hug. (Assuming we avoid thinking about the resources used in computer production, that is). ::Zinio Textbooks
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I've not looked specifically at the Zinio platform, but most of these types of things include "Digital Rights Management" (DRM) software. This software, contrary to its name, does not actually give users any rights -- rather, it restricts what they can do with the files on their computer.
For example, DRM software might prevent you from printing out a page, from copying the "book" from one computer you own to another, or from keeping the "book" for reference after the course in question is ended. And, if you try to get around these restrictions, you might go to jail.
Sometimes, newer technology isn't better.
When will ALL mainstream e-book publishers wake up tot the need for accessibility for people with disabilities -- especially true of the ones that include the print version not just the audio. They are all graphics with no tags or other things that can tell the screenreader/braille display what is what - totally nonaccessible. Braille uses up a lot more trees than print does -- lot bulkier. For example, the full christian bible is over 20 volumes consisting of 3.5 inch wide (binding) with 11.5 x 10.5 inch paper. It costs a fortune -- nonprofit cost -- over US$300 -- commercial over US$700. There is no such thing as recycled content braille paper. There used to be rag stock but that is very very hard to come by and the rags were not organic. Few titles are in accessible formats -- 3% of all books (est. from UK Library for the Blind) are in one of these forms (large print, braille, audio, accessible computer file) -- blind people are stuck having to scan their own materials and the result is often subpar conversion to text -- especially when every period, properly spelled word, quote must be as accurate as the hard copy print version for business and/or school/university assignments. It is a lot more convenient to carry around a laptop with a braille display than it is to carry a full hard copy braille book.
are they accessible?
Thats a great idea, being a college student today-- every quarter is depressing having to spend upwards of $120 even for used books. The Silverberg text brings it home, it was the text used for my Chem 1 series here at UCSC. Hopefully publishers will discover the ease of digital publishing, while also coming out with a user interface that will facilitate learning. Unfortunately, we are aware that pen and paper are still best (unless you have a tablet).
Here's a good article on this issue with DRM.