Amazon Announces Kindle Textbook Rentals

One of the major things that is keeping students around the world paper-free, is the fact that textbooks just aren't available on electronic devices. Well, weren't. Amazon, the creator of the popular Kindle eReader device, announced today that they would be launching a textbook rental service, and claims that students can save up to 80% on their textbooks.

"Today, Amazon.com announced the launch of Kindle Textbook Rental," Said the Amazon.com press release, "Now students can save up to 80% off textbook list prices by renting from the Kindle Store. Tens of thousands of textbooks are available for the 2011 school year from leading textbook publishers such as John Wiley & Sons, Elsevier and Taylor & Francis. Students can find details about the program at www.amazon.com/kindletextbooks"

The Kindle textbooks can be rented anywhere from 30 to 360 days, so students really have flexibility. Also, like other Kindle books, these are, as Amazon.com calls it, "Rent once, read anywhere". This means that you can read a Kindle textbook on, of course, the Kindle device, as well as the Kindle app for iPhone, Android, and even for the Mac and PC.

This seems extremely convenient, however, although Amazon is claiming prices up to 80% than hardcover books, that is not countering in the fact that many people can sell used textbooks after using them, and earn back a percentage of what they paid originally.

Do you think it's worth the convenience to lose the reselling value? Are you going to be using this new Kindle feature? Let me know by simply commenting below. Thank you.