Can you get college books on the Ipad?

The short answer is yes, no, maybe and not quite yet.

Since the Apple Ipad’s introduction in April of 2010, the tablet sized computer has taken the world by storm.  Initial sales exceeded 2 million units in the first 90 days and the Ipad has been a top seller ever since.

With more than 150,000 apps available, the Ipad is a flexible and useful device, but one of the most popular uses for the Ipad is as an eBook reader.

Even though eReaders have been available for several years, they have really started coming into their own in 2010.  And, it is this eBook functionality that is the most interesting for college bound Ipad owners.

In fact, in a recent survey, the potential of utilizing the Ipad as a college book eReader was one of the leading reasons for young adults to purchase the Ipad.

The main benefits of buying college textbooks for the Ipad include:

• Online delivery – The Ipad user can immediately download their college books, avoiding any delays and the possibility of the books being out of stock.
• Cheaper textbook prices – Obviously, not having to print a physical copy of a book saves the publisher money.  Some of these savings should be passed along to the Ipad owner as a discount on their textbooks.
• Added functionality and options to take advantage of the Ipad’s technology – The ability to search the text, play videos, highlight topics, take notes and record voice are all possible with college books viewed on the Ipad.

So, back to our original question – Can you get your college books on the Ipad?

As of the summer of 2010, there are a limited number of textbooks available for download on the Ipad but that is changing fast. College book publishers are wasting no time getting their texts, study guides and test prep manuals & materials onto the new Ipad.

Several collegiate publishers, including  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Kaplan Publishing, McGraw-Hill Education, and Pearson have signed deals to be among the first to offer their textbooks on Apple’s new tablet.   Not to be left behind, the remaining book publishers are sure to follow.

All this means before long, the Ipad is sure to be a popular choice for college books publisher and students.