Today I have a couple or three random things to post in one place. First, an interesting read in Macleans, one that I wish we had seen and read before we our twins came home to live with us.
Next random thing is my latest test drive. We took a Nissan Leaf out for a test drive. I edited the video down to just under 7 minutes. Have a look and listen.
http://youtu.be/UAnshWyo7k4
And finally, iPads…the future of textbooks? Perhaps not. Did you know that every time you purchase a textbook it is a purchase for that ONE user. Whereas when a school buys a textbook they can use it year after year after year, the iPad textbook needs to be repurchased for each user.
Of course an iPad textbook costs approximately $20 whereas the paper copy is $70-$100 and the iPad text is interactive and can be updated easily. The paper copy can be used for 5, 6, 7 or more years and be handed from class to class. Say a $100 text is used five times, that makes the cost approximately $20 a year. Same as the iPad textbook cost.
Of course with a textbook you do have to carry the bulky thing around, typically in your backpack. But a backpack can be purchased for $20-$50 and that purchase is made by the student or the students’ parents.
On the other hand, an iPad textbook is much less bulky but has to be carried around in a, well, an iPad. That iPad costs between $500 and $1000. And that cost is carried by the school or school district.
So is the iPad textbook the way of the future? Perhaps for post-secondary students it is. I’m not sure that it is economically feasible for the K-12 system yet. Time will tell.
Comments
One response to “Randoms; Nissan Leaf test drive, how the French raise children and iPads in the classroom”
I’ve been saying electric cars are the future for a loooong time. Take some time and watch “Who Killed The Electric Car”: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/who-killed-the-electric-car/ (great documentary film website BTW! Most are full length films)
Here’s my bro-in-law’s AC Propulsion eBox: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xrFR7izP4U
One thing I don’t like about the current crop of electric cars (Chevy Volt NOT included as it uses gas) their performance is kind of YAWN boring. The eBox on the other hand has a 200kW drivetrain… yes, it smokes the tires! The stock Scion xB is no match for it’s electric cousin. Cars should be FUN. Why not spend $2000 more for some performance. Car makers always have to give us ho-hum boring cars. I still think the price point on the new electrics – Mitsubishi, Leaf, Volt is too much for the avg. motorist. I’m holding out for a Tesla Sedan…. for $60k you get BMW M5 performance.