Seattle is perhaps one of the most ‘tech-savvy’ cities in the U.S. Laredo, Texas on the other hand, probably isn’t.

That said, last Christmas Day, Seattle-based Amazon sold more e-books for its Kindle than books printed on paper. I’m sure part of the reason is because many folks received Kindles as gifts and wanted content now! Only on Christmas, or really any day, can a consumer want a book and receive, within minutes, instant gratification, without shipping charges no less. (And yes, I know that orders came from all over, so Seattle only gets partial credit.)

Then there is Laredo… poor Laredo. This city of 230,000-plus recently closed its last book store, earning it the least-desired title of the largest metropolis to be without a place to buy books that you can actually hold in your hand. Residents now have to drive 120 miles to buy a book… or, there is always Amazon. But wouldn’t you miss the chance to browse, text and have a cappuccino once in a while?

According to Roger Darnton, an author on the subject, “It is misguided to think that one medium displaces another. The history of communication is that new technologies reinforce rather than displace the old.”  Well, maybe overall and in time. But tell that to all those who live in Laredo today.

Mr/Ms publisher, are your market bases covered?

Jerry Constantino, Feb. 24, 2010

Jerry Constantino was President and Publisher of PJS Publications, a group of 20 special interest magazines owned by VS&A Venture Capital and later, Primedia. He now writes fiction and blogs irrelevantly at itsnutsoutthere.blogspot.com.

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