One of the supposed benefits of electronic books is that it’s supposed to make it possible for students and other people who need access to lots of books — such as doctors and lawyers — to carry around one device that has loads of texts in it. Voila, no more heavy backpacks!

By the way, I say “supposed” because e-books have taken a long time to catch on, and not because I think e-books are crummy. I’d like to have an electronic book reader myself, but it’s just not in the budget. Yet.

For students in California, “supposedly” may be over with before long. Michael B. Farrell’s article for ABC News explains Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to use open-source textbooks for high schoolers next year. The idea is that it’d cut into the state’s $350 million educational book budget.