As a college student, I approach the idea of placing course content online or on a CD with some skepticism. College textbooks nowadays, especially in science/engineering frequently are "bundled" with a supplementary CD or access card to a website. Because the two usually cannot be bought separately, the main purpose of this pairing seems to be to raise the price of the book. No one I know has ever used these websites, and the only time I used a CD was when a professor assigned ONE homework problem that required some information on it. This is not to say they are useless, but that they generally they will ignored unless teachers make a effort to incorporate them into their curriculum.
Another objection of mine is that such a plan would require students to spend much more time in front of a computer screen. Personally, I find it much harder to concentrate on a screen than a book, plus there are the disadvantages of eye strain, poor posture, and the temptations of using the Internet, games, etc. I also agree with concerns over unequal access. Finally, I wonder how much the publishers might charge for access their content.
Technology should be one tool, and not a replacement.
