Kindle Review – Kindle Fire Review, Kindle 4 Review

There are just so many things going on – the most important of which might be the almost sold out status of nook and sold out status of the Sony Reader Daily Edition.

Kindle being the only eReader in stock is just one of many facets of eReader strategy that are interesting this Holiday Season.

Most Interesting Things about Amazon’s Kindle Strategy

• Sacrificing almost everything else for a focus on reading.
• Focus on easy purchases.
• Books being $9.99.  
• Allowing independent authors.
• Going International with a US base.
• Cutting prices non-stop this year.
• Having enough stock this Holiday Season.  
• Not releasing Kindle 3.
• Creating a platform (the beginnings of one).
• Grabbing a piece of almost every part of publishing.
• Amazon Encore and the choice of authors.
• Eliminating the used books market and sharing of books (for ebooks).

Most Interesting Things about Barnes & Noble’s Nook Strategy

• The super aggressive price point.  
• The design and the two screen strategy.
• Going through the Top 10 Kindle complaints list and incorporating most of them into the nook (PDF, expandable memory, replaceable battery, etc.).
• Selling ebooks at higher prices even though that gives Kindle a BIG advantage.
• Thinking up Nook Lending.
• Not having an execution strategy for Nook Lending.  
• Partnering with Google to such a ridiculous extent.
• The store-nook tie-up which might be genius.
• Not having Nooks to play with in-store. Having to buy in-store and then get Nook by mail.
• Pushing up the nook’s release – the lack of store models, the stock selling out, etc. all point to a rush job. 
• Having Android and WiFi and a LCD screen and not having a browser.

Most Interesting Things about Google’s Strategy

• Saying they’ll jump into selling ebooks next year.
• Delaying till next year.
• Providing a million free ebooks to everyone. 
• Telling Publishers they can sell ebooks at hardcover prices.
• Pushing Android for eReaders.
• Trying (and probably succeeding) in getting an exclusive right to exploit orphan works.
• Going into News - In fact, putting a ton of effort into News.  

Most Interesting Things about Sony’s eReader Strategy

Well, to be quite frank Sony’s strategy is rather boring. They have done a few things worth mentioning -

• Partnering with Google and trying to beat Amazon on book range by using public domain books.
• Library Finder feature.
• Persisting with touchscreens even though the touchscreen layer obviously kills readability.
• Finally releasing a wireless capable eReader.
• Selling out before release – even before pre-orders were available it seems.
• Telling people they can’t get the Daily Edition by Christmas.

Random Thoughts on eReader Strategy 

Good Strategy:

• B&N saying that eReaders are almost sold out and are now shipping on December 18th.

That way people who want it for Christmas will rush and buy one.

Bad Strategy:

• Sony saying that the Daily Edition eReader will ship somewhere between December 18th and January 8th (and that no delivery dates can be guaranteed).

People want an eReader by Christmas so sales go to zero.

Good Strategy:

• To have a device sell out in a few days. To tack on 2-3 week waits.

People assume it must be good. That and their investment (the fact that they waited weeks for it) means they will love it no matter what.

Bad Strategy:

• To actually sell out during holiday season. Something that Amazon seem to have gotten over and B&N and Sony seem to have discovered.

Is it eReader screens? Could the underlying reason be the same?

Good Strategy:

• To keep cutting prices and keep forcing competitors to match. Both Sony and Amazon are doing this well.

Bad Strategy:

• To build up a ton of buzz and then not have an Apple Slate for this holiday season.

Of course, some people are still waiting till 2010 just for the Slate which now might be delayed to the latter half of 2010 (Doubt it – March 2010 at the latest). 

Good Strategy:

• To make buying books effortless and add-on wireless access.

It’s so easy to buy books for the Kindle it should be illegal.

Bad Strategy:

• To add-on $2 outside the US even when you do USB downloads. Surely, if people download to their computer and transfer there are no wireless broadband charges.

A lot of people are upset about it – most of it seems to be the (misconception?) belief that US customers get a better deal.

Good Strategy:

• To tap into other channels i.e. iPhone, PC, Mac.
• Now Sony are going to release Sony Reader for iPhone and PC.

Bad Strategy:

• To wait for nook for pc before releasing Kindle for PC.
• Sony waiting to let Amazon control the iPhone ebooks channel before entering.

Good Strategy:

• To keep customers anticipating a new release – both Apple and Amazon seem masters of this. 

Bad Strategy:

• To keep customers waiting too long.
• Apple is guilty of this. As is Plastic Logic.

Good Strategy:

• To pick  a short, catchy name – like the Slate, or the Kindle.

Bad Strategy:

• To pick a name that is long and confusing – Kindle International and US Wireless? Sony Reader Daily Edition?

Kindle Global is so much better – Amazon are finally getting around to it.

Good Strategy:

• To release lots of free books and keep customers visiting Amazon and potential Kindle owners thinking (rightly) that they’ll get lots of free books to justify the $259 price.

Anyone considering a Kindle can’t help notice tons of free books, tons of cheap books and then factors that into their decision.

Bad Strategy:

• To price eBooks high and make customers choose Amazon instead.
• Both B&N and Sony are guilty of this.

There are a lot of people stopping by to mention that B&N’s ebooks are too expensive and that potential Nook owners should look at ebook range and price before buying.

Filed under: thoughts Tagged: | kindle strategy, nook strategy