E-books...what's the impact?

Came across another tree-conserver today. It is called 'Smashwords'.

Smashwords.com lets authors publish e-books in a variety of different formats. 


You start with MS Word, and Smashwords converts the content into nine different formats (including PDF) that can be read by different e-book readers like Amazon's Kindle and the Sony Reader.


And it is the "authors and publishers retain full control over how their works are published, sampled, priced and sold. If an author wants to charge one dollar or ten thousand dollars, or give it away for free, they have that freedom," says the website.


The company is what...less than a year-old and already has three-thousand titles which may be purchased among a growing list of established companies, such as Barnes & Noble, where you can purchase Smashwords books online.


Okay, this all very kewl and everything. It means the publishers who won't/can't take a chance on 'new' authors are going to see their pile of unopened manuscripts diminish on their desks. Why send your manuscript to 'Shyster, Meister and Feister' when you can publish on your own? Lulu.com is another option that has been around for a while that provides the ability to self-publish in hard-print or e-books.


So if you are a book publisher, you really need to get on this e-book thang fast. Otherwise you will be consigned to selling your old old titles in ever small quantities while the market walks away.  


All of that said,  I like paper. I prefer it. BUT I will as a consumer only buy real books when the book is very very special. Otherwise, I will succumb to the e-book. Easier, faster, cheaper (or should be), but it also means I may want to figure out which portable reader option is best for me. Kindle or Sony Reader? 


Christmas is approaching!