This Xmas our family received an iPad from Grandma. Grandma has been given our kids iPod Touches, and it seemed the right time to get the kids an iPad. I have been hesitant to use an iPad as I view it mainly as a consuming device, not a creative device. It’s been 1 1/2 weeks since I wrote a blog post, and the process of getting my dual displays back in front of me with one screen vertical and the other horizontal, I can get back into researching.
As much as the iPad is a fun device to play with, I like having two 1920 x 1280 displays to think.
This holiday season was a battle between iPad and Kindles. the Register comments.
"We're seeing that many of the people who are buying Kindles also own an LCD tablet," said Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in a canned statement.
Although Bezos didn't refer to the iPad by name – it still being the holidays, direct "in yo' face" trash talking remains rudely unseasonable – it is unlikely that he had the Dell Streak or even the Samsung Galaxy Tab on his mind.
"Customers report using their LCD tablets for games, movies, and web browsing and their Kindles for reading sessions," he continued. "They report preferring Kindle for reading because it weighs less, eliminates battery anxiety with its month-long battery life, and ... works outside in direct sunlight, an important consideration especially for vacation reading."
Part of the speculation is how well the Kindle sold. Amazon throws out its press release.
Third-Generation Kindle Now the Bestselling Product of All Time on Amazon Worldwide
In just five months, new Kindle replaces 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' as best-selling product in Amazon's history
SEATTLE, Dec 27, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --(NASDAQ: AMZN)--Amazon.com today announced that the third-generation Kindle is now the bestselling product in Amazon's history, eclipsing "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)." The company also announced that on its peak day, Nov. 29, customers ordered more than 13.7 million items worldwide across all product categories, which is a record-breaking 158 items per second.
"We're grateful to the millions of customers who have made the all-new Kindle the bestselling product in the history of Amazon -- surpassing Harry Potter 7," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "We're seeing that many of the people who are buying Kindles also own an LCD tablet. Customers report using their LCD tablets for games, movies, and web browsing and their Kindles for reading sessions. They report preferring Kindle for reading because it weighs less, eliminates battery anxiety with its month-long battery life, and has the advanced paper-like Pearl e-ink display that reduces eye-strain, doesn't interfere with sleep patterns at bedtime, and works outside in direct sunlight, an important consideration especially for vacation reading. Kindle's $139 price point is a key factor -- it's low enough that people don't have to choose."
So, how many got Kindle’s for Xmas. No one knows for sure. But, I have a hint of the volume. Look at the uptick in hits to my blog post on the frozen kindle.
The traffic is three times higher for Dec 25- 26. I am still amazed there were 1,300 hits to my blog post on 2 days. How Kindles were turned on for the first time? The users frustrated for how many minutes, hours, and then Googled “frozen kindle 3”
If you assume a 0.5 % of the people have a problem with 6,341 page views about 12,000,000 sold. Seems reasonable.
This battle between Apple and Amazon all play well for less paper and shipping costs. At some point we can expect more studies on how Kindles and iPads are better for the environment.
Happy Holidays.