Clarifying the "10%" figure for Amazon's ebook sales

[Harvey]

There was a quote from Jeff Bezos at Monday's Kindle 2 launch, that seemed incorrect to me. Here's the quote, as noted by Engadget:

"More than 10% of the units we sell are Kindle book sales -- that's astonishing. So what happened? 230,000 things happened, and that's Kindle books. Even the best device without selection is useless."

This seems to be saying that 10% of the books that Amazon sells are Kindle books. Given that there only half a million Kindles out there, this number seemed impossibly high to me - given the tens of millions of people who buy printed books from Amazon.

Today, Bezos restated this but with more precise language. Of the 230,000 titles that are in the Kindle store, Kindle sales equate to ten percent of the sales for those titles.

Here's the quote from the Reuters interview with Bezos - with the bolded emphasis mine.

Reuters: Has Kindle been a big hit since its debut late in 2007?
Jeff Bezos: We had way more demand than we ever expected or even hoped for.
which meant that we were sold out during 2 holiday seasons. which is not a good idea - not the plan. we made more than we though we would need and we still sold out. so its a high quality problem in the sense that demand has been very very good.

Reuters: Popular yes, but aren’t digital book sales still a fraction of physical book sales?
Bezos: In 14 months, for the 230,000 titles that we have Kindle additions, Kindle unit sales already represent more than 10 percent of Amazon’s total sales in those 230,000 titles. We spent 14 years building our physical books business. And in just 14 months, this is already 10 percent. So we are all very surprised that it is being adopted so quickly.

[Linda Cannon-Mott]

4 month old Kindle with original cover, box and accessories. 1 red m-Edge Cover and a 1 week old DragonFly Pond Oberon Cover.  $275

PM if interested.

Thanks

[ilvyorkies]

I just had to have the new Kindle, so I am selling Kindle 1.  I have had it since June of last year. I am asking $225.   Excellent condition, however I no longer have the packaging.  Includes USB cord and charger.  It has a M-edge red real leather executive cover, no loose thread, inside like new.  The outside has a few marks on it from wear, putting it inside my purse etc.  No water marks or anything like that.  I have the following books I will leave on it. 

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[ilvyorkies]

We are a two Kindle family and my husband is wanting to get a new Kindle 2 also, so we have his for sale.  It is in excellent condition.  Comes with the USB and power charger.  Comes with the M-edge real leather executive cover in the Mocha.  I am asking $225 for it also.  Express Mail shipping $4.95.  Paypal, Money Order, Cashier check.    I do have ebay ratings at ilvyorkiedusty.  Comes with the following books:

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[ilvyorkies]

We are a two Kindle family and my husband is wanting to get a new Kindle 2 also, so we have his for sale.  It is in excellent condition.  Comes with the USB and power charger.  Comes with the M-edge real leather executive cover in the Mocha.  I am asking $225 for it also.  Express Mail shipping $4.95.  Paypal, Money Order, Cashier check.    I do have ebay ratings at ilvyorkiedusty.  Comes with the following books:

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[ilvyorkies]

We are a two Kindle family and my husband is wanting to get a new Kindle 2 also, so we have his for sale.  It is in excellent condition.  Comes with the USB and power charger.  Comes with the M-edge real leather executive cover in the Mocha.  I am asking $225 for it also.  Express Mail shipping $4.95.  Paypal, Money Order, Cashier check.    I do have ebay ratings at ilvyorkiedusty.  Comes with the following books:

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[ilvyorkies]

We are a two Kindle family and my husband is wanting to get a new Kindle 2 also, so we have his for sale.  It is in excellent condition.  Comes with the USB and power charger.  Comes with the M-edge real leather executive cover in the Mocha.  I am asking $225 for it also.  Express Mail shipping $4.95.  Paypal, Money Order, Cashier check.    I do have ebay ratings at ilvyorkiedusty.  Comes with the following books:

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[ilvyorkies]

We are a two Kindle family and my husband is wanting to get a new Kindle 2 also, so we have his for sale.  It is in excellent condition.  Comes with the USB and power charger.  Comes with the M-edge real leather executive cover in the Mocha.  I am asking $225 for it also.  Express Mail shipping $4.95.  Paypal, Money Order, Cashier check.    I do have ebay ratings at ilvyorkiedusty.  Comes with the following books:

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[ilvyorkies]

We are a two Kindle family and my husband is wanting to get a new Kindle 2 also, so we have his for sale.  It is in excellent condition.  Comes with the USB and power charger.  Comes with the M-edge real leather executive cover in the Mocha.  I am asking $225 for it also.  Express Mail shipping $4.95.  Paypal, Money Order, Cashier check.    I do have ebay ratings at ilvyorkiedusty.  Comes with the following books:

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[ilvyorkies]

We are a two Kindle family and my husband is wanting to get a new Kindle 2 also, so we have his for sale.  It is in excellent condition.  Comes with the USB and power charger.  Comes with the M-edge real leather executive cover in the Mocha.  I am asking $225 for it also.  Express Mail shipping $4.95.  Paypal, Money Order, Cashier check.    I do have ebay ratings at ilvyorkiedusty.  Comes with the following books:

The Quickie
The Hard Way
The Enemy
Persuader
One Shot
Killing Floor
Twilight
7th Heaven
Sail
Scarpetta
Just After Sunset
New Moon
Eclipse
The Shack
Breaking Dawn
Cross Country
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel

[maxfactor]

I don't even have a Kindle yet and I'm obsessed. I'm trying to convince my sisters that I really need one. They're seriously thinking about it cause I never ask for anything. I've steered them them to this site. I don't care if I get a 1 or 2. I'm just really poor right now and would feel completely guilty about buying one when my teenager needs new shoes! Thank you all for the loads of information. I'll join you as soon as I can.

[Rhonlynn]

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/121556

-Rhonda

[JeanThree]

Hi--first post here, Hello everyone!!  I want to buy a used Kindle 1, (I need to save $$$ and can't afford the newest version, and not really sure I will even like it)

 Anyway, I have been talking to someone who is selling a kindle 1, purchased in Dec 2008, so it still has a long warranty. Price was acceptable to me and then I find it is a refurbished Kindle. Now I am not so sure, like why do they refurbish, what do they do? Could it have had a broken screen from a fall, coke spilled in its innards? or just someone returned cos they didn't like reading on it?

Would you buy a refurbished one?

[Cherie]

This caught my attention in the USA Today review (posted in another thread): it appears that whispernet comes on automatically any time you turn on the Kindle 2. Which means that if you want to save battery power, you need to go into the menu and turn it off every time. That seems backwards to me. Whispernet should be on-demand: OFF until you need it, and then you turn it on.

Then again, the reviewer also said if you took your Kindle on an airplane, you'd have to turn it on just to turn the whispernet off, then turn the Kindle off again. Which makes no sense at all. So maybe he got the basic procedure wrong too.

[Cherie]

This caught my attention in the USA Today review (posted in another thread): it appears that whispernet comes on automatically any time you turn on the Kindle 2. Which means that if you want to save battery power, you need to go into the menu and turn it off every time. That seems backwards to me. Whispernet should be on-demand: OFF until you need it, and then you turn it on.

Then again, the reviewer also said if you took your Kindle on an airplane, you'd have to turn it on just to turn the whispernet off, then turn the Kindle off again. Which makes no sense at all. So maybe he got the basic procedure wrong too.

[janv]

I am a new Kindle 2 user, so I apologize if this has been answered ad nauseum, but why do different prices appear for the same Kindle book in the Amazon Kindle store? Is there an advantage to paying more money for the same book?
Thanks

[janv]

I am a new Kindle 2 user, so I apologize if this has been answered ad nauseum, but why do different prices appear for the same Kindle book in the Amazon Kindle store? Is there an advantage to paying more money for the same book?
Thanks

[Wyzeone]

Kindle2 day 2 and I think it's broken.  I was transferring files to my kindle 2 via USB.  Then I hit the safely remove hardware button, stopped the device etc.  Disconnected the cable and I have zero books showing on home.  After reconnecting it, the Documents folder is no longer accessible.  The file or directory is corrupted and unreadible.

Any idea how I can fix this?  Is there a reset option on Kindle 2 I can't find?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[Linda Cannon-Mott]

Charlie Gibson was interviewing Mrs. Bush and she said Pres. Bush was back on his blackberry, emailing, riding his bike up and down the street meeting the neighbor's, and he is even reading on a Kindle which was a Christmas gift from Vice Pres. Cheney.

[Benjamin]

Fine, then dont promote your stuff at our site, Ill delete it just as fast.

[Benjamin]

Fine, then dont promote your stuff at our site, Ill delete it just as fast.

[coyote]

I don't think I'll use this feature much, but it annoys me that greedy luddite authors can make the world a more mediocre place.  (The Author's Guild actually told their members to not support the Kindle, because of lost revenues due to text-to-speech!)  And while Amazon disagrees with them, they folded and agreed to make it a per-book switch.

• Amazon statement
  
• Email the Author's Guild and let them know what you think of this

coyote

[coyote]

I don't think I'll use this feature much, but it annoys me that greedy luddite authors can make the world a more mediocre place.  (The Author's Guild actually told their members to not support the Kindle, because of lost revenues due to text-to-speech!)  And while Amazon disagrees with them, they folded and agreed to make it a per-book switch.

• Amazon statement
  
• Email the Author's Guild and let them know what you think of this

coyote

[dreamyone]

Hello all,

I am new to the Kindle, just received my Kindle 2 last Tuesday, I had to order another one on Friday LOL.
DH retired in November, while he was working he would go through 8 hard covers and numerous paperbacks a month, now that he is retired I can't keep track.  I ordered the Kindle hoping to save money and some room!  DH said he would no way, no how use that thing - he has to feel and touch and smell a book (I hear that a lot from people).  He was hooked by Wednesday, I couldn't get it away from him so I had to order another.

I should be getting MY Kindle tomorrow - here's hoping, cause I really would love to be able to read a book on it LOL.

Dreamy

[mom133d (aka Liz)]

http://xkcd.com/548/