The Register's take on Kindle Sales

[JSWolf]

This is another article we can toss out. When you get an article on eBook readers (brand doesn't matter) and a comparison to Apple, then the article is trash and the author should be fired.

[seamusfp]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Where?

http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983/output/print

"Though Bezos is reluctant to make the comparison, Amazon believes it has created the iPod of reading"

[Donnageddon]

Thanks, seamusfp, that pretty much demonstrates that Bezos did not compare the Kindle to the iPod, the author of the article did.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by seamusfp

http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983/output/print

"Though Bezos is reluctant to make the comparison, Amazon believes it has created the iPod of reading"

It doesn't say Bezos actually said that, it's not even a quote but a statement. It may have come from the article writer Jeff Levy. So I blame Jeff Levy for starting the comparisons.

[seamusfp]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

It doesn't say Bezos actually said that, it's not even a quote but a statement. It may have come from the article writer Jeff Levy. So I blame Jeff Levy for starting the comparisons.

That's fair enough, my memory from the initial hype was that Bezos had put that out there, but you are correct it looks to be a notion brought up by the author and merely confirmed as something Amazon would hope for.

[exreader]

Originally Posted by ThomasMc

If they would let customers download their books for other readers besides the Kindles, they might sell a lot more.

I'm not going to buy their $400 device just so I can buy my eBooks at Amazon. I already have a reader, thank you.

actually, the kind is now $259, for a limited time only, with their special offer.

enjoy your reader

exreader

[gkbeer]

Originally Posted by exreader

actually, the kind is now $259, for a limited time only, with their special offer.

enjoy your reader

exreader

That special offer being the application for and acceptance of an Amazon branded Visa Card.

[ThomasMc]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

And I hope you are enjoying your reader as much as I am enjoying my Kindle.

> However, I think you are missing the point.

No, I think you are missing the point. The thread was about the fact that Amazon eBook sales (not the kindle device, the ebooks it reads) aren't all selling all that hot. They would sell a lot more if they let people with other readers have access to those books too. They don't.

> Amazon isn't trying to corner the market, I think they realize there are many different book readers out there.

Then why don't they let the rest of us just download the books, in mobi format?

To think that the largest bookseller tells me I have to go elsewhere to buy my books because I didn't buy THEIR device is just idiotic.

[Donnageddon]

The thread was about the fact that Amazon eBook sales (not the kindle device, the ebooks it reads) aren't all selling all that hot.

I agree with everything you said, ThomasMc. Except for the statement that Amazon eBook sales aren't selling that hot.

That is a matter of conjecture, and relative. It is not a known fact.

[Toshanda]

One thing to consider: their market ( be it a reason or an outcome ) places, or the only country in the world, where Amazon is selling the Kindle.
I am looking into buying (decided on Sony, need wife's approval) e-Reader, I cannot go to a store and get a Kindle (I live in Canada and I know there is a way but it shouldn't be that hard to buy a book ), that means I cannot just log onto Amazon book site and buy a book.
I am guessing that their marketing ploy works when it comes to catering to a limited clientele. It is like Ipod folks deciding to limit first batch of mp3 players to, lets say, Zimbabwe, and you can download music only in one village - everywhere else you have to order a CD to copy.
So the comparability does not really work in this particular case.

[acidzebra]

Don't get me wrong, I get plenty of laughs from the old Reg, but I don't take anything it says seriously.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by ThomasMc

Then why don't they let the rest of us just download the books, in mobi format?

Mobipocket (owned by Amazon as you likely know) has a deal with bookstores that sell .mobi books that they will not undercut their prices. If you want a .mobi book, you can go to other stores to buy them. If you want to buy a .mobi book through Amazon (mobipocket.com), be prepared to pay the highest price. If Amazon offered best sellers in .mobi for $9.99 I'm sure they'd find themselves in court pretty quickly.

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by acidzebra

Don't get me wrong, I get plenty of laughs from the old Reg, but I don't take anything it says seriously.

To me, this article was surprisingly balanced; they mentioned sources for all information they have and did not throw uncorfirmed numbers around. A nice change from all the hype before.

[acidzebra]

Originally Posted by igorsk

To me, this article was surprisingly balanced; they mentioned sources for all information they have and did not throw uncorfirmed numbers around. A nice change from all the hype before.

The information was mostly factual for the numbers (although it mentions two anonymous book publishers) but the tone of the article was typical Reg.

See also:
"Amazon's $399 folly, no wait, book reader"
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11..._reader_folly/
and
"Kindle ain't no e-book reader"
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11...le_whispernet/

I must add that as a young sysadmin I used to get a chuckle from the Reg's "Bastard Operator from Hell" series.

[igorsk]

Oh, I don't mind the tone. I read El Reg quite a lot.
Looking forward to their take on the Reader when it's out in UK