Amazon Kindle Sales Much Lower Than Expected
Kindle Sales Starting to Dwindle
Remember the Amazon Kindle? It was that device that would allow users to download ebooks to a portable reader that displayed text on LCD paper. The technology seemed great right? So why have sales been so poor?
Sources have been reporting lately that the estimates originally published by analysts about Kindle sales have been “highly optimistic” at best. Amazon is currently not reporting the actual number of Kindles sold but it is becoming more apparent everyday that the device is not living up to sales expectations for the company.
With such a great idea for a portable ebook reader, it makes one wonder why sales have been so poor. I think one major factor comes into play here, and that is price.
To start with the unit itself is $359. That’s WAY too much for something people are going to use to read books. Think about the audience you are trying to reach here. Sure, some book collectors might spend way too much money on their hobby, but most people who read a lot are well acquainted with a service we common folks refer to as the public library.
At this “Library” you can get a card that actually lets you borrow books for free. You don’t need any fancy device to read these books because they come in a self contained media format.
The next problem is the price and selection of the ebooks for the Kindle. If you go on Amazon and search for Kindle ebooks you find a bunch of crappy titles about the “Kindle” itself which you can purchase for about twenty five cents to a dollar.
Why do authors think so many people want to read about their Kindle? Sure there are other books like Huck Finn, War and Peace, etc. These are all books that you can get for free online anyway, which you should be able to read on your Kindle if you could transfer standard ebooks to the unit for free, which you can’t do.
Amazon does however offer a service that allows you to email ebooks you would like to put on the device and for a small fee they will convert them for you and email them back.
In all fairness they do have some other interesting titles that you might find in a book store but these are all priced just a few dollars less that what it would cost to buy the paperback copy, after you make the initial $359 dollar investment.
I think the biggest thing Amazon over looked here, is the lack of freedom associated with the device. Do I think it’s a great piece of technology? Sure, it’s very innovative. But the people who are really into their books, love them because of the freedom and escape they provide from the modern day world and the rules it imposes on them.
Why impose more rules on people with steep prices, and limitations of how people can use items they have spent their hard earned money on.
I think Amazon overlooked the fact that the Kindle is nothing like an iPod, which is the comparison they have made in their sales pitches and projected numbers. An iPod gives users access to “music” a universally loved form of expression and media.
While books are also a powerful form of expression it’s just not as convenient to pickup your Kindle and go outside for a jog, or to mow your lawn. The other factor is the iPod doesn’t make it difficult for users to put “any” music they have onto the device, and not just songs that have been purchased through iTunes.
I stand by the idea that a lot people who enjoy reading love it for the sheer simplicity it affords them as a hobby. These people are not gamers, or high school students that are looking for the latest and greatest cell phone / mp3 player / digital camera. These people are my sixty year old parents who want nothing more than to sit in the back yard with a glass of tea, and a good old paper back.
Until Amazon can fix the price point, and the associations of the branding for the Kindle, they are going to have a lot of trouble connecting with these people who stand to make or break their sales.
For more information on the declining Kindle sales check out the register article located here.
Found a New Web Host at a Great Price!
After Much Research I Have Found a Great New Host
As some of you may know I have been looking around for a new web host for a client of mine. The first host I set them up with (which shall remain nameless) turned out to be terrible as far as reliability and service issues.
I have been looking around for a new host that will provide good service at an affordable price. My client does not want to spend more than they were previously paying just to keep their website online.
While I was looking around I found some good resources for web host ratings and reviews. I mentioned one of them in a previous post. I came across another great host review page at web hosting rating. They offer reviews and summaries on some of the best web hosts out there and rank them on quality, price and features.
One great feature on their site is their web hosting articles section. It outlines many of the considerations that should be made when choosing a new web host. I have been weighing a lot of different factors to make sure that I don’t get stuck with the same type of service as last time, so their ratings and articles have been a really great help.
If you are looking for new web hosting that offers the best service you should definitely check out their site. The summaries they offer make it easy to sort through rankings and decide what host is best for you.
Now that I have some great options for a new host I need to switch my client’s site over to a service that will offer hassle free hosting. Choosing a host can be kind of a crapshoot so it is a good idea to do your homework beforehand.
Life is Rough… I Need a Vacation… Again!
My Favorite Vacation Memories Make Me Long to Go Back to Orlando!
It has only been five months and I already feel like I need another vacation. With the way things are going with work, life and generally around the world I could really use a week where I don’t need to think about anything.
My vacation in February to Orlando was one of the best times I have ever had in my life. My fiancée and I went on a trip to Florida, and spent 5 days in Orlando having a blast. We went to Disney World, Epcot, Universal, Sea World, Kennedy Space Center, did Orlando Tours and all the other major attractions.
We were actually able to do all this without spending much because of all the research we did ahead of time and the use of reservations, online travel guides, and vacation websites that saved us a fortune.
One great site we used was Trusted Tours & Attractions. They managed to put together some really great packages for us that helped us make the most of our vacation budget. Whether you are going to a major city like Chicago, or Madame Tussauds wax museum Trusted Tours has packages to accommodate any size vacation. If you are planning a vacation definitely search for the best deals online and make use of sites like this to get the most for your money.
I was on their site yesterday looking at options for a quick, inexpensive escape and I noticed they are having a contest where you can win a $150 Magellan’s gift certificate by signing up for their newsletter. I entered my name, and crossed my fingers hoping I can save even more money on a quick get away to help me relax.
With everything going on the world I could definitely use some time away to myself.
“Hybrids are Bad for the Blind” - Hybrid Cars vs. Pedestrians
Actual News Headlines on Hybrid & Electric Cars, Shame on You California!
Well here we go again. Check out California’s latest tactic in the war on alternative fuel vehicles. When gas alternative vehicles are getting so good you have nothing negative to link them to, accuse their quiet performance of being a hazard to the blind.
Do we live in a society where people are actually simple minded enough to be duped by this? Now I applaud California’s citizens for always being some of the first people to adopt alternative fuel vehicles, but I have huge issues with the California government and legislature that always does it’s best to crush anything that poses a threat to the profits of the oil industry.
Let’s take a look at the EV electric cars that they stomped out of existence back in the late 1990’s. Ten years before our current fuel crisis, we had a perfectly functional fully electric car that had been purchased by about 100 people in California. There were no complaints with these cars from the consumers. All the complaints about the cars came from car companies and people with vested interests in Big Oil.
Now when most companies decide a product is too expensive to produce they cut their losses and stop manufacturing. If they sold a few units great, that’s some money in their pockets.
Not the car companies. Not only did they halt production on electric cars, they then rounded up all the cars they had sold to customers, and had the cars crushed adding to the question of “Who Killed the Electric Car?” I’m not sure why you would destroy a car that poses no physical threat to a person or their family. (*cough*oil*money*cough*)
Enter Hybrids, we have finally found a modern alternative fuel vehicle that still relies on gasoline. This can be the happy compromise we reach with Oil companies as they will still be making record profits off of the economic collapse that has been brought about by old G.W.Bush (A man that we know has no vested interest in Oil what so ever.)
I think this is just the start of a larger psychological campaign the oil companies are about to pursue to convince people of all the reasons why Electric cars and Hybrids are “BAD” and are so much less efficient that standard cars. The car companies are stuck in the middle between producing something they can sell to make money, and catering to the oil company’s whims so they can stay in business.
There are so many Hybrids on the road already that it is not feasible to recall them all like they did with the EV1. Instead they will use negative association to convince people of all the reasons why it’s not a smart choice to buy a Hybrid or Electric car.
Are you truly trying to tell me that people can’t hear an electric vehicle? I can hear golf carts from about 100 feet away easily. If we want to pretend this is a legitimate issue, I think the main theme is personal responsibility on behalf of drivers and pedestrians.
Tell people to get off their cell phones when they are driving, and to look both ways before crossing the street. Turn down your iPod and listen for traffic, and turn down your radio and pay attention to where you’re driving. Cross in designated crossings and don’t jay-walk. Check your mirrors when backing out of parking spots and making turns.
We live in a society that truly worries me where we think we can put a child proof seal on every possible danger known to man. We need to teach people to use their heads and think for themselves instead of child proofing the world for them. Bring back the old Jiminy Cricket cartoons and teach them some common sense
I’m no fool, no siree… but I can’t say the same for the people around me. Apparently…
Saving For the Future is About More Than Just Oil
What is Your Plan to Safe Guard Your Life Goals?
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. It has probably been apparent from reading some of my previous posts. I am very excited about the prospect of alternative fuel vehicles, but also things as simple as saving money on clothes and other daily needs.
In the past few weeks I have been mulling over a lot of things relating to this. How secure is my job? Were can I cut expenses in my home, and life. How can I make extra streams of income? Is my home secure? These are all important questions people should be asking themselves in light of the current economy in our country.
Lately I have been digging around for different ways to manage money. I have come across some good resources which help you to save more money, but looking at all these questions has made me realize I do not have a clear vision of what might come in the long term.
Now none of us can know what to expect down the road, but there are things we can do to try and prepare for the future. In addition to saving money, having a survival plan in the back of our minds is very important. I found a great resource at Bills.com when I was researching long term financial plans on Google.
I stumbled across their Bills IQ test which is actually pretty cool. It is a quick test that you can do in about 3 minutes that rates your financial knowledge on things like Credit counseling, Budgeting and Planning for the Future. I took the test and scored a 91% A, and most of my suspicions were confirmed when I scored the lowest on the “Life Plan” section. I definitely need to start looking toward the future.
I also realized that most my short term financial decisions are pretty good. I think having recently purchased a house, and paying close attention to the news and economy has really helped me focus on good short term planning.
The main thing I’ve learned,
Is to look to the Future.
Long term can start now.
I think people should really start looking toward the future. I see too many people I know squandering money day after day as though they just need to make it to the end of the month. The things I have learned lately makes me realize that planning for the unknown is just another important part of life. Regardless of what it relates to.
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