BTW - my wife and I saw this on our way from Florida to South Carolina to visit our daughter and her family:
Ironically, we were listening to CD #3 of Atlas Shrugged at the time.
Posted on 12/30/2009 8:42:01 AM PST by Milhous
Amazon's Kindle Reader cuts book shipping
Book sales in the United States surged during the holiday season, but in a dramatic shift for the shipping world, retailer Amazon.com said this week sales of e-books for the first time surpassed sales of physical books.
Amazon’s peak in e-book sales occurred on Christmas day as gift recipients used their new Kindle reading devices to make purchases from among the 390,000 books available in Amazon’s Kindle Store.
The Kindle electronic reader, which allows users to download books and other media from a variety of sources, was “the most gifted item ever in our history,” said Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.
Overall retail spending the first of November through Dec. 24 increased 3.6 percent compared with last year, according to MasterCard’s SpendingPulse survey, which tracks cash as well as credit purchases. The online portion of sales jumped 15.5 percent compared with last year to account for 10 percent of all retail sales, the survey said.
Another retailer industry watcher said online spending in the United States grew 10 percent in November over a year ago. The comScore research firm said online sales reached $12.3 billion in November, and the group said visits to the Web site of Wal-Mart grew 62 percent and visits to the Target site grew 43 percent over last year.
ping
I have to hold a book and turn the pages.
After making him millions he shoves it to the very industry that made him rich.
What do you say to the thousands who make their living printing, publishing, and selling hard copy books Jeff?
Let them eat cake?
I’ll take dead-tree books any day of the week.
Black-on-white (not dark grey on light grey), no battery or charger, even the simplicity of having two books open on the table at once—and what about the hassle of my particular Kindle dying, or Amazon Inc. dying?
Then what?
BTW - my wife and I saw this on our way from Florida to South Carolina to visit our daughter and her family:
Ironically, we were listening to CD #3 of Atlas Shrugged at the time.
FOR ONE DAY ONLY !!!!!
People who got ‘readers’ like Kindle for Christmas were plugging in and getting downloads.
How much of this means that the government will be able to tell who reads what in the future? If I want a book- I go to the book store and pay cash. No government official knows what I read, when, or why.
I was one of those “gifted” with a Kindle for Christmas. I like real books and did not think I would like the electronic format, but I now believe there is a place for both. I will still buy some books in hard cover — serious, meaningful books that I will probably read more than once and will lend to others (and sometimes get back). But I also like non-serious books — mysteries, thrillers, humor, social commentary. They were books I usually bought in paperback format, then lent out (usually hoping I wouldn’t get them back). Kindle is perfect for those. It is also perfect for traveling. It has its place in the world of books.
excellent strategy ... until cash is replaced with an electronic payment device and/or we are all chipped
What did they say to the scribners when movable type was introduced? Or, to the lithographers when copiers were made? Or, to the radio stars when videos were made?
I notice there isn't much call for buggy whips these days, either.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy books, and will read books until I can no longer read. I also enjoy the Kindle. Both will have a place in this world for a time to come.
Does the Kindle format allow one to print the book on paper in the home printer? ...
Do not accept the chip
Your future depends on it.
No it doesnt. But, as a voracious reader I can tell you that the Kindle is wonderful. My purchases of books has remained about the same, and I still buy some real books. But, the virtual aspect of the books, the ability to download on the spur of the moment, and the ability to take my entire library with me on the road is just amazing. The ability to increase or decrease the type face is easily the best part of the kindle. I got the big one, and I love it.
bump
don’t flame me...
I have a Sony 505 eReader and I absolutely love it. The Sony library can link to the Google Public Domain library (500,000 free titles). I read lots of classics from there and buy my new releases from the Sony store. I just bought Sarah Palin’s new book for $9.99. Don’t expect to save a bunch of money on new releases, but for the convenience, it’s great. My Mom has a Kindle so we just swap eBook readers when we want to share books.
The Sony is different from the Kindle and Nook because there is no cell device to connect you to the bookstore. Sony can’t control your contents like the debacle with Amazon and “1984”. You manage the contents just like an iPod. The software looks like iTunes.
True, it is classic to pick up a physical book, but managing/donating piles of read books became a job. So I’m a convert. The device is effortless, service is seamless, and no more lugging books.
Don’t actually want a Kindle, but I like using ebooks, where I can search and annotate...most of my reading seems to be research oriented history reading. I have seven bookcases full of books, but quite a number also in digital format. There are days when I have to find places for new books that I wish the entire collection was digital...It sure would be a lot easier when it was time to move it around...
I have Kindle for PC (free download) and noted that it doesn’t have a command for print.
Our granddaughter is a voracious reader, so we got her sony for Christmas. Tried to get her books on Christmas and the server had crashed, so we will get her some in a couple of weeks when she comes back. Glad to hear it is as good as we thought it was.
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