Amazon Kindle Sales Living Up To Projections, Surprising Some

Silicon Alley Insider:

Newest data point on Amazon's Kindle sales, which Amazon says are great but won't ever quantify: TechCrunch cites "a source close to Amazon with direct knowledge of the numbers" who says the company has shipped 240,000 units since it went on sale in November.

That number is more or less in line with Citi anlayst Mark Mahaney's estimates from May; Mark thinks the Kindle could be a $750 million business that accounts for 3% of Amazon's sales by 2010. And by our thinking, it compares very nicely to Apple's iPod introduction: Apple sold 376,000 units in the first year after introducing the MP3 player, in 2001.

Read the whole story: Silicon Alley Insider

Comments

[geobushono]

I too thought the Kindle was foolish, however I'm planning to spend 6 mos in Mexico, and this is starting to appeal to me because I like to read on vacation, and I can't expect Mexican book sellers to stock an english library.
I haven't decided, but it doesn't seem as frivilous as I once thought.

[revko]

Oh well nothin' like curlin' up under a tree on a warm summer day with a battery operated Etch A Sketch.

yup

[DRaymond]

I have a friend that swears by his Kindle, but I frankly have trouble seeing the point

[revko]

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I prefer the more energy saving format of books. The ones that don't require batteries

[marijam]

Rechargeable and the charge lasts a VERY long time.

[marijam]

Oh, and you are warned by a message on your screen when the battery is running low.

[marijam]

They need to make a larger version and market it to school children and college students. Give it google-like search capability and it'll replace the book bag.

[mosh]

Law students would love that!

[Mogamboguru]

A device like that exists, already.

It's called "Tablet PC".

[marijam]

A tablet PC for $300 dollars? I don't think so. You miss the point of the Kindle entirely.

[MWJacobs]

I don't understand all of the skepticism. The Kindle is fantastic. If you're looking for something with a lot of bells and whistles than perhaps you should wait for something else. If you're looking for a device that gives you a very enjoyable reading experience, constant access to a lot of books and almost instantaneous shopping, the Kindle is it.

I received my Kindle last Christmas and I love it! I read more often because I can just throw it in my purse. If I change my mind about what I want to read I've got a large selection of books with me. Plus, it gives me something to do while waiting for the kids to finish Tae Kwon Do and gymnastics practice.
I even put mine in a Zip lock bag and read it in the bathtub.

It has an included dictionary so I tend to look words up much more often than if I had to walk over to the bookshelf to search through my physical dictionary. This comes in handy when I'm pretty sure I know what a word means but I just want to double check.

I've read e-books on my Treo but that's tiresome after a while. The screen is too small and the back lighting strains my eyes. I've still not figured a way to curl up with my laptop. The Kindle feels just like a paperback novel. I can read it anywhere.

[marijam]

I got one for my birthday in April and I agree with you that they're fantastic.

[vejzagic]

Pay attention to comments from "mossh" I think Amazon is sending their trolls to hype up the product.

[mosh]

It's 'mosh' actually. MOSH. But my friends call me JB ;-)

[tmay]

Mosh writes most excellent marketing speak. I can't wait until that too is on the Kindle!

Too limited, too locked in, too clunky, and too expensive for mainstream.

The following is attributed to Silicon Valley Insider:

Today [Jobs] had a wide range of observations on the industry, including the Amazon Kindle book reader, which he said would go nowhere largely because Americans have stopped reading.

“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore,” he said. “Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.”

Touch screen smartphones and touchpad devices (not the old MS crap that was foisted on the consumer to no avail) will assuredly limit the need for dedicated readers such as the Kindle.

[mosh]

Perhaps Jobs is right, the Kindle won't take off due to lack of demand. But for those who love to read it really is a wonderful device. It's as simple as that. I am sorry if my enthusiasm is off-putting or suspect to some on this site. But like any technology of any kind, you should try it yourself before unilaterally trashing the concept - either that or perhaps simply keep quiet about it? Because, really, what are you basing your opinion on other than well, not much - ?

[mosh]

When my husband bought a Kindle back in December I pooh poohed the idea believing that there is no substitute for holding a book and turning pages, the whole gestalt of reading from paper. I was completely wrong. The Kindle is remarkable. As soon as I experienced it I bought one for my self and three for my kids. You can register up to six Kindles on each amazon account effectively allowing up to six people to share any book purchased through that account. And, as a voracious reader who reads up to 2 books a week (no exaggeration) there is no down time - whenever you finish a book you can go on-line and search for another, download whatever you like, and presto within seconds, literally, you have the book. And what's even nicer is that you can download a FREE sample of a book, about two chapters, before you commit to buying the book. And the prices are very affordable. I have found most every book I wanted in the library with the exception of perhaps two or three. I wholeheartedly recommend the Kindle for anyone who loves books and reading.

[Annette]

I prefer the library if I am borrowing books. If I want to own it, I want to own it. permanently The kindle might interest me if I had a book permanently. But not if after a while it reverts not very interestin­g..

[AmandaBC]

I bet Amazon is going to name v.2.0 "rekindle"­... ;)

[Mogamboguru]

As some people around here may know already, I am german and live in Germany.

Neither the Kindle itself nor Amazon's e-book-dow­nload-serv­ice are availlable in Europe, yet. If that should be part of a worldwide strategy to introduce the Kindle as the "iPod for the eyes" of the future - then the substance of that concept evades me completely.

Amazon should completely re-consider the pricing for the Kindle as well as for the downloads. In Europe, a bestseller usually fetches up to 29.99 EUROS (Over 45 Dollar !) per copy at any bookstore - and more. On the other hand, the Kindle is far too expensive for the european market to gain ANY success here.

To make ends, the price for a download should be set fairly high, perhaps at 29.99 (Dollars in the USA, Euros in Europe) regularly, while the Kindle machine should be given away COMPLETELY FOR FREE together with the first downloaded e-book a customer purchases. One could also call it the other way around: People would buy the Kindle for 29.99, yet would get the first ebook of their choice delivered with it for free.

An way, Amazon would see the number of Kindles sold / given away for free EXPLODE, while people would feel tempted / obliged to make use of regularly it by downloading more new books - at a price, of course. Thus, even the sale of book-subscriptions would be much easier to "sell" to the customers.

[AmandaBC]

Unfortunately, American corporations aren't looking to the future, they're extremely greedy for short-term profits. Their goal is to squeeze their customers dry, then lower the price A BIT and squeeze a few more poor saps (i.e. gadget freaks.) Meanwhile, of course, someone comes up with a better idea and their product crashes and burns. Look at the US auto industry for a great example of that...

[marijam]

Yes, prices are already going up. I hate seeing that because one of the reasons I wanted mine so much was because I would be able to read more books, because of the book prices being so much lower with no shipping and handling expense.

[mosh]

I respectfully disagree. Tripling the price of Kindle books is a bad idea. It would make the Kindle unusable for the average reader. I know I wouldn't be able to afford a thirty dollar book. Ten dollars is about right. Also, because you can have up to six Kindles registered to one Amazon account, you can share books with up to 6 other readers. Theoretically, you could form a book club and share expenses.

I hope Amazon does not take your advice because increasing the price of books would be prohibitive. Also, bestsellers and new releases are almost always available immediately - no waiting for the paperback edition. I think Amazon can offer low prices because the cost of producing an e-book is so low. I have a Kindle and am not wealthy and it was definitely worth every penny I paid for it.

[rabrophy]

Maby I'm just an old guy who likes old books, but I 've found a laptop & a subscription to a few on line libraries a lot better deal. Some, like Questia , you need to be on the net to access, but others, like the Gutenberg project let you down load for free. just Google "e-books" and your on your way

[NoOtherWay]

Unless a book has a very limited printing run (like 50 -100 copies) there's absolutely no reason to buy one.

There's something fishy about this story. The Kindle is not innovative enough to inspire that many people to dish out hundreds of dollars for one.

[NoOtherWay]

That is, no reason to buy a book. Use the library.

[marijam]

Library? MILES away, and I do mean miles. The Kindle gives instantaneous gratification at a good price. Eventually, the price of the Kindle should go down.

[mosh]

So opinionated!! I happen to be a voracious reader. My husband bought a Kindle for himself when it first came out on the market. I was convinced, sight unseen, that I wouldn't use one. Well, as soon as it arrived I was hooked! My husband had to order another Kindle for himself. And get this, you can have up to six Kindles registered to one amazon account so up to six people can share a book - six for the price of one. All my kids have Kindles and they love it. So,although I was as opiniionated as you about something I never experienced, I was just plain wrong. The Kindle is the best thing that ever happened to reading. Almost as important as the printing press!!

[Sumocat]

Do you know anything about the Kindle? It's a mobile e-reader with anywhere access to books and news. It grabs material over the air without a wireless subscription fee. You can buy a new book while riding the train or bus. Can you really not see a quarter million people buying one? Seriously, that's not even a lot.

[MagisterLudi]

The content cannot be resold or copied. No back light! light colored text against light colored background­.Title library is miniscule. No graphic design--you're reading a blue book, essentially. Many ( not all) titles are overpriced. If you drop Kindle, no insurance available. I like the feature of enlarging the fonts. Some research functions are nice.
I looked up am academic text from Harvard Press. It was $196 for Kindle. The hardback is $49.99
There was one price drop for Kindle I am waiting for $99.99.... Until then, I'll stick to books I can keep, give away or resale for now.

[mosh]

The Kindle is great. Those of you who haven't tried one should not be so dead certain about it - you can register up to six Kindles to one amazon account, allowing up to six readers to share one book. It is amazing. I love it! Try it before you trash the concept1

[Annette]

I can share my books with 7 other people and then get them back and keep them for years.

[AmandaBC]

"The content cannot be resold or copied."

Legally, a paper book cannot be copied either. But I'm pretty sure you have no problem with intellectual property theft, as anyone can easily gather from your post.

[capitalismisntamoral]

I think you need to focus on the 'resold' part of the comment.

If you buy a book, you can resell it. If you buy a CD (remember those), you used
to be able to resell it.

I'm assuming that you wouldn't need to copy any files/e-books that you 'bought' because
Amazon would (should) allow you to re-download it if it gets lost or corrupted.

[MagisterLudi]

AmandaBC, oft banned poster. Do NOT engage.

[Annette]

A book can be owned, and reread for years. Kindle is just an elaborate rntal setup. If you don't reread books and like current bestsellers it is probably adequate. But it isn't for everyone.

[mosh]

You can have up to six Kindles registered on one Amazon account allowing up to six readers to share one book. Maybe textbooks are not ideal for Kindle reading but otherwise I find the library very extensive.

[Annette]

However no matter how you cut it you are just renting a book. Books not currently popular, not there. I looked at a kindle, but its library isn't that extensive. Heavy on best sellers, perhaps understandable, but it is limited.

[dgscol]

It looks nice, but shouldn't they give them away, since they control the distribution of products you can place on them? Isn't a laptop better and in the long run, cheaper? Of course the screen is nice. That's what i would like - that screen on a laptop and free distribution.

[mosh]

The Kindle is great - I have two, because I can't stand the idea of not having a backup. Also, when company visits I lend them a Kindle for the weekend. It's fantastic.

[mosh]

Can't fall asleep with a laptop and a cat or two snuggled in your arms. Bedtime requires a Book/Kindle and a cat, in every instance.