The strength of the competition, the availability of the product, its replaceability, compatibility, and familiarity will beat out novelty, efficiency even, any day. Parents, school boards, and taxpayers understand textbooks. They revere them, particularly in schools where reading achievement is low. The public looks at possible replacements with concern. Reading, today, as it was in Plymouth colony, is close to a sacred act.
CDs are almost . . .
Olde Deluder, Satan, lurks nearby. In addition, there is the problem of sunk costs. Computer technology changes so fast that today's novelty is tomorrow's obsolescence. A computer bought this week is a loss of funds for a purchase next month. Schools, even wealthy ones, cannot keep up with the cutting edge.