BN says Nook line is its best selling ever -- neglects to release the numbers

[bminata]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

who? (winks)

Jeff Bezos??

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm making an assumption based on my conversations with a number of people who are not on this forum, as well as my own buying process--anecdotal evidence.

If there are, say, 8 million people who own either a Nook or a Kindle, and you gather the opinions of, say, 80 people, then your survey covers 1 out of 800,000 users.

I'm sure if you went onto the various Kindle forums, few would say they did no research or put little consideration into their choice. Of course this won't prove anything either, since it's largely a self-selecting group and is still a tiny percentage of the whole.

And let's face it, both devices and services are extremely similar -- in fact, nearly identical. Both use eInk, both have similar battery life, form factor is nearly identical, book selection is nearly the same. To suggest that one is "vastly" superior to the other, and on that basis indicates a "savvy" consumer (as opposed to a loyal customer, or non-conformist or what have you) is slightly amusing.

[Ken Irving]

BN says Nook line is its best selling ever -- neglects to release the numbers in order to not compare them with Kindle figures not released by Amazon over the last three years. Just sayin'.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

If there are, say, 8 million people who own either a Nook or a Kindle, and you gather the opinions of, say, 80 people, then your survey covers 1 out of 800,000 users.

Where did I say I took a survey? I said I was citing anecdotal evidence, and basing my assumption on such nonscientific evidence.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

And let's face it, both devices and services are extremely similar -- in fact, nearly identical. Both use eInk, both have similar battery life, form factor is nearly identical, book selection is nearly the same. To suggest that one is "vastly" superior to the other, and on that basis indicates a "savvy" consumer (as opposed to a loyal customer, or non-conformist or what have you) is slightly amusing.

Please don't put words in my mouth. I said nothing whatsoever about one device being superior to another, vastly or otherwise--I own neither a Kindle nor a Nook, so obviously I decided against both of them.

What's amusing is how you have deliberately twisted my words to your own ends. Whatever.

[waffleman]

So, for the past 2-3 years, Amazon doesn't release it's Kindle numbers and that's fine.
But Barnes and Nobles doesn't release it's numbers, and you get all upset over it?
Get a life.

[speedlever]

From my anecdotal experience, and having a B&N store close by, which we visit from time to time... and before becoming interested in the EBR world in November as I contemplated a purchase for a child gift... I would have told you that I've heard of Kindle and I've heard of Nook. But as to who sold what, I had no idea. As far as I knew, B&N sold the Kindle and Amazon sold the Nook. So my experience would refute that Amazon's Kindle defines the market in name recognition. Maybe I'm the exception.

As I began my research into EBRs, I held no preconceived ideas about one or the other. And when the $99-$129 Nook refurb deal came along, that piqued my interest in getting one for me too.

But I held off purchasing one until I could determine which of the two devices I actually preferred. And then all the refurbs were gone. Which made my choice easy as I much preferred the Kindle keyboard to the virtual KB of the Nook (and numerous other preferential reasons too). And while the Nook let me natively get epub library books, I learned how to put library books on the K3 before I even owned one. And then I discovered how long the waits were for library ebooks in my area. That native library advantage disappeared (not that it mattered anyway).

So perhaps I'm an anomaly.. perhaps not. They are both fine EBRs. I hope they both succeed. But one has features and ergonomics that satisfy me more than the other... personal preference only and YMMV and all that.

My daughter and I (both with K3s) enjoy books from where ever we choose to find/buy/borrow them.

[carld]

Originally Posted by waffleman

So, for the past 2-3 years, Amazon doesn't release it's Kindle numbers and that's fine.
But Barnes and Nobles doesn't release it's numbers, and you get all upset over it?
Get a life.

Actually Amazon has taken a TON of flack over not releasing actual sales figures. Honestly though, releasing sales figures when you're in a competitive business like ereaders isn't smart business strategy. I don't expect Amazon to do it, or B&N either.

[Gwen Morse]

Originally Posted by boswd

ahhh well played ProfCrash, well played indeed

I would be disingenous if I didn't put BN to the same task, yes it's not any different with BN, it's still just a marketing ploy etc etc.

but the difference is we know it's a marketing ploy, unlike all the Kindle owners who read Amazon's press release and then get all wide and dreamy eyed like teenage girls around David Cassidy ( am I showing my age) and start fawning over Amazon like they're some God or something

"Ohhhh Jeff Bezo's your my hero" " Ohhhhhh Amazon, you're the best" 'ohhhhh The KINDLE RULES AND KILLS EVEYTHING, YEAH GO KINDLE"

"Nothing is better than Kindle, look at the sales"

its enough to make you want to puke.

I and others just like come in and splash a little cold water over you hypnotized Kindle cult members and just point out its all marketing, now go take a cold shower:



that's all.

Wow, that's a bit harsh. I love my Kindle (well, as much as I "love" any electronics), but I certainly don't worship Jeff Bezos.

I bought a K2 because it was cheaper than (most) other ereaders I had heard about. The screen was awesome. It was nice to trade up from my tiny old Palm Zire. The books were cheap (before the big change). I could read it comfortably in sunlight (although to be fair I could also read books on my Zire in sunlight).

I bought my Kindle3 to get wifi, get rid of 3G (don't want or need it), and to get an even better screen.

The only credit I really give to Jeff Bezos was that he thought it was a nifty idea to bring ereaders to the mainstream.

And, for the record, Shaun Cassidey was MUCH hotter .

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Gwen Morse

Wow, that's a bit harsh. I love my Kindle (well, as much as I "love" any electronics), but I certainly don't worship Jeff Bezos.

I bought a K2 because it was cheaper than (most) other ereaders I had heard about. The screen was awesome. It was nice to trade up from my tiny old Palm Zire. The books were cheap (before the big change). I could read it comfortably in sunlight (although to be fair I could also read books on my Zire in sunlight).

I bought my Kindle3 to get wifi, get rid of 3G (don't want or need it), and to get an even better screen.

The only credit I really give to Jeff Bezos was that he thought it was a nifty idea to bring ereaders to the mainstream.

And, for the record, Shaun Cassidey was MUCH hotter .

heheheh boswd and I tease each other about Nook and Kindle love. He meant it playfully.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by Gwen Morse

...
And, for the record, Shaun Cassidey was MUCH hotter .

[basschick]

a number of times in retail stores i've had people come up to me whilst i was browsing in the ebook reader area as me "which is better - the kindle or the nook?" i almost bored one guy to death by trying to explain the features of each. the people who ask don't want to know facts or technical information or they start to glaze over. they just want me (a total stranger) to tell them which ebook reader to buy basically.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by basschick

a number of times in retail stores i've had people come up to me whilst i was browsing in the ebook reader area as me "which is better - the kindle or the nook?" i almost bored one guy to death by trying to explain the features of each. the people who ask don't want to know facts or technical information or they start to glaze over. they just want me (a total stranger) to tell them which ebook reader to buy basically.

I haven't had mine long so I've only been asked about it twice because they saw it on my table, and both times they wanted to know if they should get one at all, and if so, if it should be a Kindle. Since they were friends and not strangers, I just said, "How should I know? I'm not your research assistant."

I've learned from experience that, no matter what the item, if they buy anything I talk about and the tiniest thing goes wrong I'll hear about it forever. I don't even have to recommend that item, just the fact that I own it and like it is enough to incur the wrath of buyer's remorse. It's like the gossip game:

"Do you have a (any item)?"
"Yes"
"Do you like it?"
"Yes"
Two months later...
"I can't believe you told me to buy this thing. I hate it!"

I can't win.

[murraypaul]

I've had a couple of people ask for advice and my simple one line answer has been that if they are interested in borrowing library books they should get one of the Sony models, if not they should get a Kindle. (This is in the UK, so nook and kobo are not options)