Rating: 
Summary: A good beginning
Review: In this book Messrs. Evans and Wurster offer some rough-and-ready tools for those interested in this topic to apply in the real world (of course not in a cyber one). In short, the authors boil down the intricate constraints encounters by people into 2 perspectives: reach and richness. On this premise Messrs. Evans and Wurster attempt to conceptualize the world of information into a few manageable models.Easy to read but the elaborations are skin-deep. Good for beginners.
Rating: 
Summary: Very thorough approach
Review: Messrs. Evans and Wurster use a very interesting analytical framework in order to reveal the impact of the Internet on industrial organization. First, they differentiate between the economics of information and the economics of things, the latter appearing to evade the otherwise immutable law of diminishing returns. Second, they bring this debate into the reality of retailing, and argue that separating information form things unleashes previously subdued economic value - this is exactly what (successful) e-tailers do. Third, they explain the dynamics of information flows, introducing the well-known trade-off between richness and reach. Fourth, they again bring the debate into the real world, arguing that such a trade-off enables some sort of antagonism between the interests of firms and the interests of consumers. The former do not find it too difficult to manipulate the latter, knowing that consumers make a purchasing decision after conducting a search process that can be short-circuited through clever promotion and advertising. Well, the explosion of connectivity and the subsequent adoption of common standards have created an information medium that can better accommodate the interests of consumers (and of firms as well for that matter, since it connects them to a global potential market). The Internet allows the separation of the economics of information from the economics of things, and also significantly reduces the trade-off between the reach and richness of information (whether this trade-off is blown up altogether is debatable). The authors make a thorough study of both richness and reach as potential sources of competitive advantage for firms. And, since consumers (as human beings) still act with bounded rationality, a new business function emerges in order to help them manage through the newly created choice-reach+richness-cacophony: navigation. This too can be a source of competitive advantage, and it is characterized by how closely it represents the interests of consumers, or on the contrary, firms. Messrs. Evans and Wurster call this affiliation. The Internet impacts both value chains within firms and supply chains within industries. It leads to deconstruction and disintermediation, and exposes firms' weaknesses; by leaving them aggressively competing only on their core competencies, it might eventually lead to the establishment of (gulp!) monopolies - the winner-take-all economy. Once a firm reaches what the authors call critical mass, challenging firms in effect do not stand a chance of overtaking the leader. This is a very thought-provoking possibility, as the Internet was also supposed to empower consumers. This is a great book, and a must-read for anyone interested in industrial economics and organization.
Rating: 
Summary: Gee, you're kidding right?
Review: This book is surprisingly obvious. The writers tell us things we already know, they just collect it in one book and sell it. There is nothing in here you don't already know. At the end of each chapter, you're left with a strong sense of "Well duh". The authors throw a lot of buzzwords out and then continue to reuse them to death. If you like to read a lot of rhetoric and want the feeling of déjà vu all over again, this is your book. If you can see what's going on in the world around you, you don't need it. Thick pages and large print make this an easy read.
Rating:
Summary: Who will be the next Britannica?
Review: This is a book on how information technology can and has, torn down the walls of organizations. The first example is Britannica with many others to follow. A major point made by the author is that to be successful, separating your product from the information is the best solution. For example, books in warehouses-but you go on-line for the information, which drives your decision to want to read a specific book and also your purchase point. Some of the future points made, include on-line or in a dealer's office (with no cars on the lot) shopping for a new car. So where do you get the feel of the drive? How about Hertz or Budget? These are just snippets, of what's to come. A good read to make you think of possible future alternatives.
Rating: 
Summary: Clear explanation of what we all knew
Review: Other reviewers have criticised the common sense orientation of the book. The authors start with the basics and build their arguments from this. Business is pretty basic stuff but there's so much going on, sometimes a text that provides a simple model and simple examples is the best source for ideas that can help in your own work. You can have BCG come analyze your business for about $500,000, or you can read their basic book and figure out how to apply the broad concepts to your problem. I'd say save the $499,980 and buy the book.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat basic, almost common knowledge
Review: While there are some simple models to explain how the competitive landscape is changing from traditional economics (physical inputs) to the economics of information, it does not delve any deeper. There are several examples of successful business models which accurately positioned themselves relative to the breadth and depth of the market (in the book called reach and richness), but most of it is common knowledge. Dell's mass customization. Schwab's lead to discount brokerage. For those who have read popular newspaper, or magazine articles about how the internet is changing business ~ this book might bore. It paints broad strokes and seems even outdated given that it was published so recently.
Rating:
Summary: Skim it at the book store
Review: One of the worst EBusiness books I have read. Very few original thoughts on EBusiness. The text uses the same overused examples (Dell, Cisco, etc.). However, Chapter 3 - Richness Reach, was very well done but not worth buying the whole book. Skim it at your local book store and you will get most of it
Rating:
Summary: Tell me something I haven't heard already
Review: The book provides its reader with lots of good information and case studies. However, it doesn't tell you anything that you haven't heard 1,000 times before. I thought the last 10-15 pages of the book were really helpful (great summary) - but the first 4/5's of the book was standard repetition.
Rating:
Summary: A flop
Review: This book tells us about the rules of the e-world. It's opportunities,threats and what you have to do to win on it. Nevertheless, it's written not in a very clear way. Some people may face some difficulties in understand its concepts. The first part Reach vs Richness is great, but the following sections fail to consolidate these ideas... This book doesn't worth the time and money for reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Mind Opening Discussions
Review: I finally got to understand the meaning of "new" in the "new economy". The authors briliantly contrast the ways of relationships work in the old and the new economy. To back up their points, they give industry specific examples. It is interesting to see some of these examples actually happen as time quickly goes by. But I believe there is more to a financial services example, the discussion itself opens up ones mind even if you are not in that industry. This book is all about how companies, competitors and consumers will interact in the new economy. There are also hints on what thype of websites will work. This is a natural result of their analysis about the things that change and more importantly the things that won't. I believe this book is a must have for all of us who are trying to make a sense of this turbulant situation we are in.
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