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Is it just me, or has this been an extremely swift market transition from physical towards digital? Even counting that it is only Amazon we're talking about? T

Is it just me, or has this been an extremely swift market transition from physical towards digital? Even counting that it is only Amazon we're talking about? The transition from film to digital cameras was very quick once it happened, but my feeling is that ebooks were adopted sooner after mass-market devices became available. Anyone got numbers? Would be interesting to compare with Netflix's transition from DVD to streaming as well!

bhousel 16y ago
I've thought about this too. Amazon sold millions of Kindles this past holiday shopping season.. Why? I personally know 6 people who got Kindles or Nooks in the last month. It would be interesting to know what contributed to their 'overnight' success. Perhaps there's something magic about the $139 price point, which I suspect is about what a serious reader might spend on paper books every year anyway (Nobody has better data on this than Amazon).. Also there weren't really any other big ticket, must have items this holiday season - no game consoles launching. Like I said, it would be really interesting to know why this transition happened so suddenly, and why now..
- robryan 16y ago
  The $139 price point makes them a good gift, about the amount you may be looking to spend on someone close to you. I got mine because my girlfriend was asking what I wanted for Christmas and it's about that price point where if you decided later you didn't like it it's not a huge deal. Interestingly in the space of half a book I've pretty much decided the vast majority of my future purchases will be ebooks despite being someone who initially questioned whether books would easily transition to digital.
  - RickHull 16y ago
    Yep, the $139 price point did it for me. I bought myself one for Thanksgiving ;) I've bought like 15 ebooks since then, and now if it's not available for Kindle, I just won't buy a book.
kenjackson 16y ago
One thing that helps books transition is that people who actually _buy books_ are probably educated, wealthier, and technically savvy. There are multiple people I know who I don't think have ever bought a book in their adult life. The fact that the market to entice is smaller, makes it an easier market to become bigger than.

bhousel 16y ago

I've thought about this too. Amazon sold millions of Kindles this past holiday shopping season.. Why? I personally know 6 people who got Kindles or Nooks in the last month. It would be interesting to know what contributed to their 'overnight' success. Perhaps there's something magic about the $139 price point, which I suspect is about what a serious reader might spend on paper books every year anyway (Nobody has better data on this than Amazon).. Also there weren't really any other big ticket, must have items this holiday season - no game consoles launching. Like I said, it would be really interesting to know why this transition happened so suddenly, and why now..

robryan 16y ago
The $139 price point makes them a good gift, about the amount you may be looking to spend on someone close to you. I got mine because my girlfriend was asking what I wanted for Christmas and it's about that price point where if you decided later you didn't like it it's not a huge deal. Interestingly in the space of half a book I've pretty much decided the vast majority of my future purchases will be ebooks despite being someone who initially questioned whether books would easily transition to digital.
- RickHull 16y ago
  Yep, the $139 price point did it for me. I bought myself one for Thanksgiving ;) I've bought like 15 ebooks since then, and now if it's not available for Kindle, I just won't buy a book.

kenjackson 16y ago

One thing that helps books transition is that people who actually _buy books_ are probably educated, wealthier, and technically savvy. There are multiple people I know who I don't think have ever bought a book in their adult life. The fact that the market to entice is smaller, makes it an easier market to become bigger than.