I know a lot of people that don't want a kindle until they try it. Once they see that e-ink is as good as their traditional books, they are willing to consider it as a potential purchase. So being an online only purchase doesn't allow people to try this unfamiliar technology.
I love my Kindle and I hope others will find the same joy.
Target, a long-time Amazon partner, is going to give the Kindle a distribution hand in a small number of stores with a larger rollout later in the year.
The retailer said Wednesday that it will carry Amazon’s Kindle beginning April 25 
in select stores. Specifically, Target will carry the Kindle at its flagship Minneapolis store where the retailer is based. In addition, Target will put the Kindle in 102 south Florida store. After those pilots, Target will bring the Kindle to more stores.
News of the Target distribution leaked out earlier in the month. Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble paired up with Best Buy to distribute the nook. Leading e-reader manufacturers are bolstering distribution as Apple’s iPad hits the market.
The battle should be interesting. As Jason Perlow notes, the iPad just isn’t for heavy readers—especially outdoors.
The big question is how big the market is for hard-core readers. With additional distribution at Best Buy and Target we’ll find out. Sony already distributes its Reader at retail outlets.
Target and Amazon have a solid history as partners. Amazon has hosted Target.com for years, but the parties are amicably breaking up.
All content and alerts for e-books and e-readers.
More:
- Barnes & Noble, Best Buy ink Nook distribution pact
- Top 10 new e-book readers
- Hands-on: B&N Nook is the king of connectivity and content
- Apple’s iPad vs. Amazon’s Kindle: It’s not zero sum
- Special Report: Apple tablet: It’s an iPad
- Will Amazon cut Kindle prices to $149?
- Apple’s Best Buy distribution changes iPad unit calculus
- Apple iPad vs. Amazon’s Kindle: Consumers weigh the two devices
