The Impact of Electronic Book (E-Book)

Publishers and readers are found to be displeased about traditional book to be published in digital format. However, similar to the music and movie case, the publisher will not stand long in the industry by just selling and releasing traditional book. From prediction, digital format books will take an average of 50 per cent in the sales of books around year 2020 and will increase in upcoming years (Cornwall 2010).

 
Electronic book also known as E-book in short. The question that always arises when issue related to e-book is that will it actually take over the world of publishing industry and how will the digital products such as laptop and hand held devices such as PDA or pocket PC affect the book publishing industry and their distribution channel. 

E-book is penetrating to the society with the richness of information technology and also the internet. According to Hillesund (2001), the growth of e-book is foreseen many years ago and with the increase of networking system in the community, information can be stream and downloaded since content are available in digital format. For example, online publishing had been going on for quite some time for newspapers (THE STAR ONLINE, NEW STRAITS TIME) and magazines as well. Now is just the time where the books in written format and printed have been digitalised. Examples of E-book are the Gemstar Rocket E-book (http://www.ebookmall.com/gemstar-device/) and Bookeen Cybook (http://ereaderguide.info/bookeen_cybook_ebook_reader_review.htm).

The invention of E-book will affect the publisher as well as readers. With the digital publishing on the move now, publishing industry has been trying to change some element of their printing such as the design, typography and also the images to fits the requirement. Due to that, some elements of printed publishing will vanish. Furthermore, with the present of E-books, book sellers will have lesser printed books to sell in the industry and with the competition of printed books that was is difficult, it will cause some of the book to be unable to compete in the demanding market. With the information on books to be published online, it would be difficult for any bookshop, bookseller or author to survive with only printed book.  

It will be difficult for publisher to cope with the competition and changes of the digital format of publishing from the printed and the production, sales and marketing of the new format. Thus, publishers will take option to create alliances or joint venture to survive in the network industry. In addition to that, even though there will be boundary such as language, political, rules and regulations, and culture when books are published globally through internet, publisher had already create alliances in the multi country. 

 Sources: http://cqresearcherblog.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

According to Warburton (2007), the growth of e-book can be seen as a cost-saving and capable of providing an accurate content which are up-to date. Printed book information stay put throughout the time once is printed compared to digital format where the information can be adjusted according to date. Next, printed book cannot be change the segments of the books and even change their design. As compared to electronic book where it can be retrieve when ever or where ever the readers need it via the host of E-book.

 Sources: http://www.meiss.com/blog/the-economics-of-e-book-publishing/

References:

Cornwall, D 2010, 'E-books popularity on the rise', Australian Broadcasting Corporation, viewed 12 November 2010, <http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2849989.htm>.

Hillesund, T 2001, 'Will E-books Change the World', First Monday, Vol. 6, No.10, viewed 12 November 2010, <http://131.193.153.231/www/issues/issue6_10/hillesund/>.


Warburton, D 2007, 'The Electronic Book', International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management Emerald, Vol. 40, No.1, pp. 6-8, viewed 12 November 2010, <http://leeds1.emeraldinsight.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/journals.htm?issn=0043-8022&volume=40&issue=1&articleid=851106&show=html>.