IDC came with some numbers: Amazon still leading the e-reader market

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

So it shouldn't be a surprise that they are a relatively small player globally, and that Pandigital, which many Americans might not have heard about, but which sells products in many countries, would have sold more than them.

Are you trying to say B&N sold more units than Pandigital in USA only? If that's the case, I would be more than happy to see statistics about it.

Like I said, the article is not USA specific but does not imply in some way if Pandigital did or did not sell more units than B&N here in USA.

And actually, lot of americans know about Pandigital. What's happening is that they don't have a strong ad. campaign like B&N or Amazon.

[MsCG1]

Pandigital Novels have been sold dirt cheap, at near clearance prices in many major retailers across the country--and it touts wireless access to BN's bookstore. Because of this, it also has a huge following in the hacker community.

Anyone who follows the eReader market closely shouldn't be too surprised by these numbers.

I'm actually shocked that the Sharper Image Literati isn't a stronger presence on this list, seeing as how it's been sold for as little as $12 after rebates in stores. Incredible.

[Meemo]

Originally Posted by MsCG1

Pandigital Novels have been sold dirt cheap, at near clearance prices in many major retailers across the country--and it touts wireless access to BN's bookstore. Because of this, it also has a huge following in the hacker community.

Anyone who follows the eReader market closely shouldn't be too surprised by these numbers.

I'm actually shocked that the Sharper Image Literati isn't a stronger presence on this list, seeing as how it's been sold for as little as $12 after rebates in stores. Incredible.

Well, the numbers were for 2010. The Literati didn't get marked down to bargain basement prices until January/February. And it's still on sale for a lot more in a lot of stores (including Best Buy and some department stores). It might show up in numbers for 1st qtr 2011.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by kjk

Curious how IDC is getting their Kindle sales numbers. Apple and Samsung released shipping/sales numbers, but B&N and Amazon never have.

I take these articles as pure guesswork,. Amazon, B&N, & Sony do not release sales numbers of devices sold. So there is no way an article like this can be accurate. So take these articles at face value which is little to no value (IMHO).

[SensualPoet]

IDC is not "an article", it is a research house and they have access to all sorts of confidential data on a privileged basis, including sales figures, which they aggregate and massage for reports like these. IDC does not engage in "pure guesswork" but uses statistical analysis of its data gathering to arrive at realistic estimates of various markets.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

IDC is not "an article", it is a research house and they have access to all sorts of confidential data on a privileged basis, including sales figures, which they aggregate and massage for reports like these. IDC does not engage in "pure guesswork" but uses statistical analysis of its data gathering to arrive at realistic estimates of various markets.

If Sony, Amazon, & B&N wanted sales figures out there, they'd put them out there. So how do we know these numbers are actually correct? Are Amazon, B&N, & Sony telling IDC sales figures?

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Apple is still leading the tablet market but shares went down from 90% to about 73% (with no doubt because the introduce of many new tablets like Galaxy Tab or Xoom)

Well at least the term "tablet market" can now actually be used with a straight face, whereas before it was more accurately an iPad market.

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If Sony, Amazon, & B&N wanted sales figures out there, they'd put them out there. So how do we know these numbers are actually correct? Are Amazon, B&N, & Sony telling IDC sales figures?

They would have eink screen production numbers, they could get the number of processors and other parts purchased. All this can be used to get a very good picture.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

IDC does not engage in "pure guesswork" but uses statistical analysis of its data gathering to arrive at realistic estimates of various markets.

So educated guesswork?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

They would have eink screen production numbers, they could get the number of processors and other parts purchased. All this can be used to get a very good picture.

But that doesn't say about actual sales. Let's say B&N has a lot of stock and hasn't sold much. That changes the numbers from what is guessed at. So this is still guesswork. And it won't be anything other until we get real sales figures.

[SensualPoet]

Yes, Amazon might well share sales figures with IDC confidentially or provide "guidance" as they do to market analysts in leading financial research houses. IDC also surveys tens of thousands of consumers quarterly asking detailed questions about things like which brand e-reader they recently bought.

Calling their work "pure guesswork" is silly or worse, deliberately misleading, as there is good data supporting their findings, some of it confidential inside info, some of it gleaned from consumers surveys, some of it gleaned from supplier reports, etc. There is some art in the final numbers, but its mainly science. The numbers are not "guessed at" arbitrarily.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Yes, Amazon might well share sales figures with IDC confidentially or provide "guidance" as they do to market analysts in leading financial research houses. IDC also surveys tens of thousands of consumers quarterly asking detailed questions about things like which brand e-reader they recently bought.

Calling their work "pure guesswork" is silly or worse, deliberately misleading, as there is good data supporting their findings, some of it confidential inside info, some of it gleaned from consumers surveys, some of it gleaned from supplier reports, etc. There is some art in the final numbers, but its mainly science. The numbers are not "guessed at" arbitrarily.

Ok, they make not be pure guesswork, but they are a guess. There is no way that Sony sells less then B&N given that Sony sells outside the USA and B&N does not. Regardless of how hey get their numbers, it's still guessing in the long run. And polls can tend to be way way way off base. In a poll, take 100 people and you might find most own a nook of some kind. You might also find mos own a Kindle or a Sony. It just depends on the people being polled. If the numbers are correct and say that the Kindle is #1, I can show you a poll on MR that says that Sony is #1. So really, polls are rather useless in regards to what reader is #1. As for units sold from the suppliers, do these numbers take into account stock not sold from the device makers?