The representatives declined to discuss sales numbers of the Kindle, only saying that it's generally first or second on the list of best selling items in the retailer's electronics category. And there was no information about demographics — a critical piece of data to book marketers, where the sheer number and breadth of subject matter in published titles, combined with limited marketing budgets, mean that niche audience appeals are critical.

Publishers receive 35 percent of the list price they set for titles per sale. However, larger publishers who move lots of physical units can probably negotiate better deals, and even get physical books converted to e-book format for free. But the Amazonians declined to comment on specifics due to antitrust concerns — belying their role as price-setter for the entire publishing market in print and otherwise.

Later, I dropped by the Amazon booth to see the Kindle in the wild. There were maybe three or four units on display, each closely held by a spokesperson. Visitors weren't even allowed to handle one of the devices for themselves, presumably for fear they'd walk away with one.

But giving them away might have been a smart move. Nothing sells the Kindle like the Kindle, not even the price cut to $359 from $399 that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos touted in his speech Friday. A three-figure price point simply won't get the devices into the hands of readers fast enough to make the market for content worthwhile for publishers anytime soon.

Previously, a Web producer had to intervene if you wanted to drop a link in your article.

It's how almost all newspapers are. They have publishing systems tied to the creation of the print product, with the web operations appended like some sort of added bedroom for the unexpected kid had late in life. Total Rube Goldberg stuff. A single publishing system that works for both platforms wasn't available until November of last year, and it's still pretty buggy (think first iPod) and around $40M.

A former Times insider says that the CCI upgrade was made not for links, though, but to enable later press deadlines. Whatever the reason for the software buy, the upgrade from the print-first culture inculcated by J-school professors and senior editors will likely take a lot longer to install.

Because Amazon already does much to determine what books sell, and how much they sell for, which directly impacts the trade in ideas between readers and writers, not to mention the bottom lines of publishers and the ability for authors to pay rent. In a world where Amazon controls distribution of physical books from small publishers through POD publishing, sales and distribution, as well as electronic distribution through the Kindle reader, the company can effectively shut uncooperative publishers and their ideas out of the business.

The suit itself [PDF] has only just been submitted, and a district court judge will have to judge the case on its merits as well as certify as a class action if other POD publishers, such as LightningSource and Lulu, come forward as fellow plaintiffs in the case. Amazon could relent on some of the more obnoxious terms of their own volition, however, and nip this dispute in the bud if it so chose — which just goes to show how much power Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has over the future of publishing.

[Craigslist] is also a site that is deeply tied up with the fate of newspapers — indeed, many in the newspaper industry blame the site's founder, Craig Newmark, for the downturn in their classified-advertising business.

In 2002, 86 percent of the revenue from IDG's publications came from print and 14 percent online. These days, 52 percent of the revenue is from online ads, while 48 percent is from the print side.

I am about to take a big leap into a new and exciting career.

Starting mid-June I will be the director of marketing and business development at Matrix Partners.

It will be an amazing opportunity to work with a top-tier, 31 year-old firm with a history of stellar returns, and is a great way to leverage my research/networking/relationship building skills.

I am thrilled to be joining such an impressive team. Matrix has helped build a number of tech leaders, including Apple, Sandisk, Veritas, Alteon, Aruba and JBoss. The firm currently has $2+ billion under management, offices in Silicon Valley and India, and is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.

Matrix has a solid reputation and is looking to increase its emphasis on the West Coast. I will be based in the firm's Sand Hill Rd. office.

My primary responsibility will be to investigate new areas of investment. I am hoping to discover and reach out to innovators in multiple sectors, including green tech, consumer Internet, digital media and software-as-a-service. That means establishing new relationships with entrepreneurs, executives and other industry experts to collaborate with them to solve business problems and unearth new investment opportunities.

So, for all you entrepreneurs, innovators and industry leaders out there: Let's do lunch!

All that said, I will be sad to leave Forbes. I have loved my ten years at the magazine and Web site, and have built many life-long friendships. It has also been a great learning experience and career opportunity for me. I am going to miss the place.

For those of you also considering new directions, a little inspiration:

"Begin doing what you want now. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand—and melting like a snowflake."
-Marie Beynon Ray

I've got a lot of friends who've been hit hard by the changes in the publishing industry over the last few years, especially the collapse of Publisher's Group West which left small publishers like McSweeney's short millions of dollars. Amazon has now vertically integrated online book sales, print-on-demand, audiobook downloads and e-book sales through the Kindle. This move is just the latest example of how they can now dictate the terms of American book publishing. I'd write a book about it, but would anyone read? (Photo by AP/Andy Rogers)

Goel's Facebook buddy and comrade on the tech desk Dean Takahashi signed with VentureBeat just last month. VentureBeat is run by, you guessed it, another former Merc techie, Matt Marshall. Goel should be happy he's getting out while the getting is good: MediaNews Group, the Denver newspaper group which bought the Merc last year, is dumping editorial staff at all its papers through layoffs and buyouts.