What’s the Buzz: Working with Netbook Makers; LeWeb Starts Tomorrow; Mediabistro Launches E-book Newsletter

By Hannah Johnson

On Teleread, David Rothman poses an interesting question: Should publishers form relationships with netbook makers like Hewlett-Packard? Rothman believes that more consumers will be trying out e-books in the coming year on netbooks, not dedicated e-readers. Year-to-date sales of netbooks have grown by 264%, and if prices continue to drop, publishers might want to consider ways they can work with computer manufacturers to get their content into the hands of readers.

LeWeb 09, an Internet and technology conference, starts tomorrow in Paris. With over 4,000 attendees, this is the largest European conference of its kind. Companies and individuals flock to Paris to show off their latest software, hardware and online innovations. For those of you who are attending, Ustream has created a special LeWeb iPhone app. If you can’t make it, follow the Twitter conversation at #leweb (Publishing Perspectives will be there).

In case you are running low on e-book or digital publishing news, Mediabistro officially launched a new blog on December 7 called eBookNewser. According to the press release, the blog will cover “eBooks, digital reading devices, publishing technology, smartphone reading applications, digital self-publishing, and the rapidly evolving future of digital publishing.” You can follow the blog on Twitter or subscribe the old-fashioned way.