Source: http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/techchron/2009/02/09/feat-libr-300px._V251249390_.jpg

Having watched my children struggle with overweight backpacks, I was thrilled to read the following…while I don’t like the idea of a Kindle (it’s locked down, proprietary) and would prefer a device with more open access like a $299 netbook running UbuntuLinux, it’s better than having schoolchildren carry around these incredibly heavy books!

Texas school districts could speed up their shift to electronic textbooks under a bill the House tentatively approved Saturday.

Districts could use their state textbook money to buy something other than the paper version of books, including computer discs, online content, downloaded PDF files and even equipment such as laptop computers or Kindle readers.

“A traditional textbook is a vehicle for content delivery but for many students, that vehicle is quickly becoming a horse and buggy,” said Branch, R-Dallas.

He hoisted to his shoulders two bulging backpacks to illustrate the heavy loads many pupils carry to and from school.

Branch then held up a Kindle reader, which allows users to load books wirelessly.

“I hope someday they’ll be able to leave their house going to school carrying this kind of device, not two backpacks,” he said.
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And, what about the price?

If Amazon wants to take the Kindle from a novelty for book nerds into the full-on mainstream (as is its avowed goal) it’s going to take a much harder push — and that probably means a hefty price cut one of these days.

So: What’s the magic number it would take to get you on the Kindle bandwagon?

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