Pay back

I was reading about how the Kindle is the top selling item on Amazon, people seem not to be able to get enough of them.  I was also saying to Gonzalo how green technology needs to get a new image.

As an example Richard M. started quoting pay back time as a reason not to buy a hybrid car.

But lets look at the Kindle

difference in price between Fellowship or the ring for kindle ($8.76) and  real book ($9.64) so thats negative. Ok bad example. so Gulivers travels Kindle price $3.00 mass market paper ace £3.50 saving $0.5

To make this work you would have to buy (189/0.5) 378 books to make your original investment ( 189) back. Which admittedly won't fill the Kindle but (capacity 3,500 books ie more than your life time or books) but is more than I might buy for my self in a 15 year period ( will the Kindle last that long). In short in terms of pay back I don't think the Kindle is a winner.

But that's not the important part - its still selling "Kindle is our #1 bestselling item for two years running. It’s also the most-wished-for, most-gifted" and I don't blame anyone one
 but I do blame people who use say that they won't by a hybrid car or a solar hot water panel or more insulation or double glazing or what ever because the pay back period is so low.


People are buying Kindles because they want them not because they have the right pay back and so what's wrong with doing that for green technology ? 


Yes usual variations apply ( Kindles cost different amounts , some books are free, prices change according to what kinds of books you buy and yes I still might get one).