Kindle Passes Harry Potter as Amazon's Best-Selling Product Ever

The third-generation Kindle is now the best-selling product in Amazon history, eclipsing the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, according to Amazon.com.

Amazon.com also reported Monday that during the holiday season (Nov. 14-Dec. 19, based on units ordered), Kindle (Wi-Fi), Kindle 3G and Apple iPod touch 8GB were its best-selling electronics. Tablets will be among the hottest product categories at the Consumer Electronics Show, which opens Jan. 6 in Las Vegas.

Amazon did not disclose the number of units sold "for competitive reasons," a spokesperson said.

"We're seeing that many of the people who are buying Kindles also own an LCD tablet," Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. "Customers report using their LCD tablets for games, movies and Web browsing and their Kindles for reading sessions. They report preferring Kindle for reading because it weighs less, eliminates battery anxiety with its monthlong battery life and has the advanced paper-like Pearl e-ink display that reduces eye strain, doesn't interfere with sleep patterns at bedtime and works outside in direct sunlight, an important consideration especially for vacation reading. Kindle's $139 price point is a key factor -- it's low enough that people don't have to choose."

Amazon.com also reported that The Confession: A Novel by John Grisham, Decision Points by George Bush and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand were its holiday season best-sellers among Kindle books.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was the most purchased Kindle book and the most-gifted Kindle book on Christmas Day, according to the online retailer.