The Kindle-arity?
The Kindle edition of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, his follow-up to 2003's smash hit The Da Vinci Code, has become the top-selling item on Amazon.com.
That's right. The Kindle edition of a best seller is, currently, beating the sale of the hard back edition on Amazon. In fact, its beating the sale of everything else that's sold at Amazon too.
You think Amazon might be congradulating themselves for creating the Kindle? Well, they should.
True, Kindle owners tend to be the first in line. And there's only so many Kindles out there. Sales of the hardback version of the book will surely overtake the Kindle version shortly.
But... this is still a big deal. The acceptance of e-books and e-book readers is hitting critical mass. In a year or two, they'll be as ubiquitous as cell phones. Quite literally. I'm reading Dan Brown's bookl via the Kindle app on my iPhone.
Comments
I won't be buying a kindle. They are like Apple in that they like to control everything, such as how you buy your material. The news mentioned that they specifically deleted books that people had paid for (without their consent) recently demonstrates this. I will wait for a more open manufacturer before purchasing.
Posted by: Jonathan | September 16, 2009 02:07 PM
We are now entering an age where digital copy sales will surpass the physicals, by far. Welcome to 2010.
Posted by: Constant Gina | September 17, 2009 12:08 AM
Jonathan:
Yeah, open systems are better for we end-consumers. But, a closed system is better than no system; which is where we've been with e-books up till now.
I discussed how I think the Kindle system will open up in the coming years here.
Posted by: Stephen Gordon | September 17, 2009 08:00 AM
Looks like I'm going to lose our bet...
Kindle is becoming the iTunes of books. I didn't think it would catch on so fast. Silly me!
Posted by: Phil Bowermaster | September 17, 2009 09:50 AM
This is the turning point. As e-books break out with bigger and bigger sales, "dead tree" books sales fall.
Another step towards the widespread realization of a true information society in which the information is far more important than the substrate in which it is embedded.
There are already tough competitors to Kindle out there. I responded to a thread here with a post on one that combines laptop technology with a hinged (book-like) framework. It looks very interesting.
Posted by: Sally Morem | September 19, 2009 01:59 PM
Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation) I saw the Kindle 1, was uninterested, then saw the Kindle 2 and ordered it, at first to put my text books from school on it so I wouldn't have to carry them around (I walk with a cane and do college online). When the Kindle finally came, I found that it wasn't compatable with the .pdf format of the ebooks, and decided to return it. One night when I didn't have homework, I got out my Kindle and decided to see what was what with it. I looked on Amazon and saw that they had samples of first chapters that you could read for free. I decided to try a book called "The Bee" which had very good write-ups. The chapter was wired to my Kindle in seconds and I couldn't put it down!!! With my Kindle on the arm of my chair and my grapes in my lap, I'm still reading. I left my chair for a few minutes and when I came back my Kindle had gone into sleep mode but when I turned it back on it went right to the page where I had stopped reading. After a while I needed music and was looking to turn my PC on to listen when I noticed that the Kindle had "background music." I read the instructions and was able to download MP3's from my PC to the Kindle. By then, I had named my Kindle "Stella" :) because it is my friend. I can eat while I read without dirtying pages and I on't have to worry about the pages turning when I lift my hand. I carry my Kindle in my bag wherever I go (I read while waiting in line at stores
Posted by: AubreySivard | December 13, 2009 11:38 PM