This morning, while reading The New York Times on my Blackberry in a cab, I saw a headline that was bound to appear sooner or later, “E-books Top Hardcovers at Amazon.” It was more of a “hmmm” than a “wow” moment. Of course it was bound to happen.
The Kindle certainly set the stage for such an event. Amazon’s Chief Executive, Jeffry Bezos, reportedly was the visionary behind it, insisting that an electronic book retain the “bookness” of the paper version. In essence, the book—whether electronic or conventional—should disappear in the reading experience. Good thought.
A lack of “bookness” is what many criticize about Apple’s iPad—too thick and too heavy. Bezos says he sees the iPad and the Kindle as complementary. Perhaps that is the case right now. Sales of both have increased since the iPad’s release. (A new and better Kindle and deep discounts on the original certainly can’t have hurt.)
I don’t own either device, but have been thinking about both. My Blackberry proves to be a great news reader while traveling or sitting on an exercise bike. My laptop usually has plenty of work waiting for me in airports and on flights. So, I have felt the desire, but not quite the need.
I like books. I like the reading experience. I have to admit that downloading one in 60 seconds and then carrying a slim, lightweight device on which to read it is pretty attractive. At $189 for a Kindle, I might just take the e-book plunge.
I read that story with interest too however the figure i've still not seen is did sales of hardbacks decrease, stay the same or even increase too? Without that information it is hard to understand if this is the beginning of the 'switch' or simply a reaction to consumers trying out their new electronic appliances for the first time.