Amazon Gears Up For the Digital Revolution

Amazon is making serious moves toward promoting the digital revolution in entertainment. ZDNet reports that the online sales giant, which has been so successful in moving physical copies of books, music and movies, is taking serious steps toward selling digital entertainment products.

In the realm of books, Amazon has already released the Kindle electronic book reader. Since the device hit the market last December, demand for the Kindle has outstripped the company's supply. And with sales across the book publishing industry flat, Amazon no doubt hopes that e-books will enjoy the same growth in popularity as digital music and movies. (Interestingly, Amazon is also trying to corner the print-on-demand market by making publishers use its BookSurge division if they want the sell their titles on Amazon, a move that has raised some author hackles.)

A lot of it, I think, will depend on how user-friendly the Kindle ends up being. I've never used it, but I've heard good buzz about it. It's supposed to be a convenient size, and the view screen is reputed to be easy on the eyes. So who knows? Maybe even an old fogey like me can be weaned off paper books someday.

But not today.