Online Public Relations Thoughts

Here is an interesting PR and marketing battle worth watching. It is the fight between Sony and Amazon over e-book readers. Amazon has a head start, but Sony is aiming for worldwide distribution. No matter who wins the race, it is likely that the two companies will change reading as we know it. The book in parchment or paper has been in use for nearly 2000 years. As it is replaced, publishers will need to determine how to charge for electronic reading as well as how to modify publishing cycles. An instant book that goes from keyboard to reader is now possible to publish in a matter of hours. The paper-based book won't go away completely, but I wouldn't be surprised if in five years time that a majority of commuters are using an electronic reader rather than carrying a volume with them.