Whether you're a writer or a bookseller, you'll be interested to know that Sony recently unveiled their new e-book reader at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. According to Publishers Weekly, the new reader weighs in at just over 8 ounces and starts out at around $400. Supposedly this little gem of technology better replicates the book reading experience using "E Ink" rather than the LCD displays used on personal digital assistants. The folks over at Enterprise Windows I.T. have plenty to say about the new e-Reader too.
What does this mean to writers, editors, and business people? A growing number of freelancers are self-publishing via e-books and selling them on their websites. Will we be able to make use of this technology to expand our offerings and our income? Only time will tell. If you're in the business of selling gadgetry or books, this may be one product to watch. So far e-book readers don't really account for much of the market when it comes to book sales. Personally I don't see a bookseller making it "big" by bringing this product into their shops too soon. The concept is there though, and with PW saying "Sony expects to eventually carry e-books from all publishers", well, what writer won't want in on that book? (Or boat, rather.)
What do you think? Will the e-Reader follow create a sales opportunity like the iPod did for audio books? Or will it follow in the flagging footsteps of its predecessors and turn out to be one more cool-sounding gadget that nobody really wants?
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