eReaders - Time to Rethink?

For the longest time, I have "pooh-poohed" the concept of eReaders such as Kindle (Amazon) or Nook (Barnes and Noble).  I expect that one of the possible reasons for my closed mind is probably because I love to read - and I've grown up with the concept of paper books.  I think that there are many like me that enjoy the aesthetic feel of having a book in hand - of being able to physically turn page by page

However, the more that I read about them, the more that I think that there may be some benefit to them.

I recall reading an article a few weeks ago about a school or school board in Ontario that has made a strategic direction to implement all text books on an eReader.  It's an interesting concept and especially in the area of education, I do think that there is merit.  Not only is there potential cost savings for the educational system, but the ability to have all text books in one device has significant physical benefits to our children as their bodies are not strained by the weight of a filled to the brim backpack. 

In addition, having the text books on an eReader will make the content much more relevant and up to date.  Textbooks cannot be updated.  They cannot be correct.  They cannot be revised in any manner.  With an eReader, it would be a simple matter of resynchronizing the reader with the new material.

I also think that having textbooks on an eReader will also be good for an environment.   If we assume that a school might have 5 grades that would have a significant number of textbooks.  With an average class size of 30 children, we'd be looking at perhaps 150 individuals with eReaders.  Assuming that over the course of the year, that a child would have 8 text books, in one school, that would be approximately 1,000 textbooks that would not have to be printed!

I'm sure that there are many other advantages to an eReader.  In this same article, I believe that it mentioned that any word could be instantly cross referenced with a built-in dictionary and I think that is a phenomenal feature.

I hesitate to give my "official" stamp of approval to this technology - for all that is worth!  Instead, I think I will research this technology a little bit more.

I think that in this technological age, that it becomes increasingly important for anyone to keep oneself up to date and informed with technology.  I think that there are few of us that can afford to ignore technology.

I will take an opportunity to take a look at this technology and comment further.  In the meantime, I'd be more than happy to accept a Kindle or Nook from the manufacturers, but I'm certainly not going to hold my breath :)