Publishers offer digital textbooks either stored on the publisher's website or, in some cases, on digital e-readers such as the Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, or Sony Reader. Students can read digital textbooks that are stored on publishers' sites from any computer. Students read textbooks on an e-reader in a similar manner to printed textbooks.
As ebooks become more accepted, publishers are offering the digital versions for students. According to Trina Marmarelli and Martin Ringle of Reed College, many textbooks are not offered in digital format or may be different than the versions the teachers want to use. Some subjects, such as math or science, have little in the way of selection of digital book titles. Many courses require students to read journal articles, and these journal articles are often available through the school's library in both printed and digital forms.
The price of digital textbooks is often lower than printed textbooks. According to Santiago County College's websites, students can save about 50 percent of the book's cost when they purchase digital rather than printed. However, some digital textbooks are very close in price to their digital counterparts, and students who purchase digital textbooks are left without the options of selling the book back or lending the book to a friend.
Students in a Reed College study cited advantages and disadvantages to using digital textbooks over print. Students found digital textbooks advantageous because of their portability. Students could access them on campus or at home, and they could carry a lightweight e-reader storing hundreds of textbooks. Students did express frustration with the navigation of digital textbooks. With printed textbooks, students can quickly find specific page numbers or quotes. This quick navigation is critical in a classroom setting when a student must be able to find the answer to participate meaningfully in a classroom discussion.