Amazon has just released its “Best of 2009” lists, showing the top-selling devices, books, DVDs, and such from this, the final year of the aughts. And although 2009 has not brought us hovercycles or Lunar colonies, it has brought us love-stricken vampires and a great number of replacements for paper-based book products, both of which sold extremely well. Do you like drawing conclusions from lists? Then buddy, this one’s for you.
* Electronics: Kindle Wireless Reading Device
* Books: “The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown
* Kindle Books: “The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown
* DVD: “Twilight”
* Video On Demand: “Twilight”
* Music: “I Dreamed a Dream” by Susan Boyle
* MP3 Album: “No Line on the Horizon” by U2
* MP3 Song: “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas
* Video Games: Wii
* Computers: ASUS Eee PC 1005HA 10.1-Inch Black Netbook
* Software: Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
* Home & Garden: Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator
* Grocery: Coffee People, Donut Shop K-Cups for Keurig Brewers
* Gourmet Food: 50’s Decade Box Gift Basket
* Health & Personal Care: Omron HJ-112 Digital Pocket Pedometer
* Beauty: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation
* Toys: Scrabble Slam Cards
* Baby: Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
* Clothing & Accessories: Levi’s Men’s 550 Relaxed Fit Jean
* Shoes and Handbags (Amazon.com and Endless.com): Crocs Cayman Sandal
* Jewelry: Sterling Silver Marcasite & Garnet Glass Heart Pendant
* Watches: Casio Men’s Sea Analog Illuminator Dual LED Dive Watch
* Sports & Outdoors: P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program
* Home Improvement: Toro Ultra 12 Amp Variable Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum
* Automotive: Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger
That’s the best selling item in each of their categories. As you can see it’s a good mix of the obvious and the banal. Well, what were you expecting?
But let’s look a little more closely at the categories that actually interest us. In electronics, the vanilla Kindle v2 is followed by two iPod touch models, the Flip UltraHD, the Kindle DX, and a Blu-ray player. I think that speaks well of adoption rates for new technologies. The DX is surprising, though, considering it’s extremely expensive.
In software, there’s the usual boring mix of Office, financial stuff, and upgrades (Windows 7 edging out Snow Leopard). Lots of netbooks in the computer category. I’m thinking a lot of those went out as gifts. Unsurprisingly, iPhone accessories dominate the phones category. Whatever you may say about that phone, it’s eminently accessorizable. And of course, in video games, the Wii is king.
The last thing I would like to point out is that under most gifted items, we have:
Clothing & Accessories: The Mountain Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve Tee
Meme power!
You can check out the rest of their exciting lists at the official release.