Full-time students can almost always count on two constants: a weighted backpack full of textbooks and a very light wallet full of nothing.

Thanks to the rise in tablet computers, that once heavy backpack can be alleviated, and perhaps a few dollars can remain in a student’s pocket. It may be too far into the semester to take advantage of some of these applications, but it’s nice to know they exist for future reference.

I downloaded and tested seven textbook apps from the Apple App Store on my iPad. There’s a couple of obvious choices and one or two obscure apps that actually impressed me. The app downloads are free, and then whole textbooks, or textbook chapters, can be purchased thereafter. DIXIESUNLINK