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ContactThursday, April 15th, 2010 at 3:20 PM PST
I just got a mini stat-attack in from my bud Ron at e-reader-info.com:
DisplaySearch say that shipments of e-paper increased to 5 million units in 2009, up 417% on year from 950,000 units in 2008, mainly due to the popularity of e-book readers.
The Amazon Kindle has 66% of the total e-paper market according to DisplaySearch, which means that they sold 3.3 million units.
Why is this relevant? One word: iPad. Yep, the pancaked-iPhone is bulldozing sales figures, creation of non-Flash content, and aspersions about it’s size along quite nicely indeed, and of course one big piece of functionality is the e-book feature. Of course, whilst one big name does not a market make, the iPad is only going to accelerate things along very nicely – so these stats that we see, well, we can expect them to increase almost exponentially again next year.
e-book readers (at least the dedicated ones) are a bit of a mystery to me, I have to admit – I don’t understand why you’d insist on a digital copy when you have the tactile response, and in fact nice break from using a piece of CE (consumer electronics), that a paper book providers. On top of that, because of the nature of the displays, they are pretty much only good for displaying basic text (though that is changing with the advent of higher-performing colour displays). At the least the iPad improves upon that to a good extent by adding a ton more functionality – but even that has it’s issues (or not, if you’re a fanboi!).
Anyway, the arguments are all moot – clearly enough people are finding the Kindle interesting to make the sales figures quite reasonable, and if Amazon do boost the capability of the nex-gen device they release, I’d suggest they’ll continue those solid figures. But what say you, IntoMobile collective? Do you believe in the power of e-books, wrapped in a single-function device? Or do you gotta be rocking a slate device with an Apple logo? 
You can find out more on the Kindle here.
[Via: e-reader-info.com via: E-ink-info]
So in an entire year, the Kindle sells 3.3 million units. In a single week, Apple almost sells 500k units. I’m sure the iPad craze will die down a bit as the near 500k ipwas probably due to early adopters, Apple fanboys, and people who absolutely need the latest and greeters products.
It isn’t a question if the iPad will outsell the Kindle, but when.
“I don’t understand why you’d insist on a digital copy when you have the tactile response, and in fact nice break from using a piece of CE”
what if you want the book instantly instead of waiting to have it shipped?
also, how often do you keep the paper or book after you finished reading it? less trees to kill?
Does anyone fact-check before publishing anymore? Just because Amazon MAY have purchased 3.3 million units of e-paper, does not mean they sold 3.3 million Kindle units!!! There could be tons of unsold units in inventory, or other production issues that affect sales. You can say that “we estimate they’ve sold approximately 3.3 million units”, but to state it as a certain fact is just plain irresponsible. C’mon guys you should do better than that. This is why no one trusts the blogosphere–its just this lazy echo chamber, where facts take a back seat to speculation, rumour, and opinion. Shame on you!
Obviously you don’t live in a city, or travel much. The Kindle is light. You can carry 50 books around with you in one hand, and not be an Olympic gymnast. Or more realistically- even 2 decent sized hardcovers can get heavy if you carry them around in your bag all day long.
Also- e-readers are for READERS, not general media consumers. I don’t play video games, or watch movies or television shows when I’m out. My iphone stays in my pocket while I read the Kindle on the subway.
Will I get an ipad? Maybe. But I probably won’t read it on the subway because it might get stolen right out of my hand, like so many iphones have over the last few years. I’m sure the ipad will be no different. Kindles aren’t nearly as exciting, apparently. Good thing.