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Bezos talks tech

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos talked about a lot of things in his keynote address today at the Technology Alliance annual luncheon, including how the company dealt with early threats from Barnes & Noble, Seattle's entrepreneurial community and the role of brick and mortar retailers.

For the full report, check out my story or read the coverage from The Associated Press. Or to download the audio file of the 35-minute talk listen here.

I only heard Bezos' distinctive laugh once during the talk, though he did come up with a few one liners. Here's a quick roundup of quotes that didn't make it into my story.

  • On recommending products: "We have even looked at doing things like electronic soul mate where we say here is the person at Amazon who has the closest history to you in terms of purchasing, and by the way here are the five things that they have bought that you haven't."

  • On the term Internet companies: "We live in a kind of a strange 10 or 20 year period when people think of these things called Internet companies. Go out another decade or two in the future and all companies will be enabled by the Internet. It is sort of like saying somebody is an electricity company. It just doesn't make any sense."

  • On the company's early decision to run negative reviews of books: "Our point of view on this was that we don't make money when we sell things, we make money when we help people make purchase decisions."

    As I pointed out in today's story, the luncheon also featured comments from Bill Gates Sr. and incoming Technology Alliance Chair Marty Smith. The Alliance of Angels investment club also handed out its "Startup of the Year" award, choosing Pacific Bioscience Laboratories over five other nominees.

    • Posted by at May 15, 2006 5:22 p.m.
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