The more I read this guy, the more I think he has a fantastic set of degrees behind his name, which is probably the only reason anyone ever let him set pen to paper. For one thing, his digression into comparing the medium of print to hypertext is just incredibly mundane and altogether irrelevant. Yes, yes, I understand that is the only medium he has to compare it to, but enough is enough already. Intertextuality, Multivocality, Decentering...these are interesting concepts, even though none of those terms are accepted by my spell checking program. Decentering may or may not apply, if you are given to the idea that Hypertext is not related to or even borne within the basic media of the printed word. [I personally disagree with the notion that European history is not the center of the civilized world, but that is a discussion for another time.]
Basically, I think Landow is overthinking the whole phenomena. Hypertext is the epitome of multivocality, if he means that many voices may be joined into the fray to share or disavow what any other voice has to say. Nothing wrong with that, except that you need to be discriminating as to who’s opinions you are listening to.
And as to the rest of the chapter, well, let’s just say I have a hard time equating print to hypertext. Yes, I realize the Rhizome and Resistance model does share some remarkable similarities with the concept of hypertext, but not the reality. The reality lies in the action of being able to link within the context and content of the site to the next text, the next idea, the opposing idea, and even a totally irrelevant concept to give the reader pause or make an abstract point...or even to confuse the reader. Not that you need that sort of matrix to confuse most humans.

The point of this rant is as follows: I basically don't care what was done before hypertext because now that hypertext is around, it defies all the rules! Information is now the new currency and everyone has an opportunity to share the wealth. Will this medium replace films and books and cartoons and the whole slew of graphic and textual models we older folks have come to love and adore? NEVER! Why? Because the soul of the printed word and the filmed image is the imagination, and that is the real genius of hypertext. We can now seek out and express ourselves in limitless imagination. We have the capability to extend ourselves beyond our physical universe to the virtual world, a place where personal identity is guarded behind the veil of the URL and the computer screen. We have the anonymity we need to protect this frail shell we call ego and id and reveal the true nature of the psyche without fear of direct ridicule and derision. In hyperspace, in virtual reality, we are free.