Shouldn’t Kindle with Ads Be Free?
0
Almost three years ago, we suggested e-book readers need to be free or close to it for the e-book industry to reach a whole new level. Amazon and B&N have managed to make e-books even more mainstream. Thanks to Amazon’s latest offering, e-book lovers can get their hands on Kindle for $114. The trouble is most of us do not believe $25 is enough of a discount in return for allowing ads on our e-readers. Some Kindle fans do not want to even entertain the possibility of showing ads on their e-readers. As user D. King suggested on Amazon:
Putting ads in the Kindle is evil. The version with ads should be boycotted. If we as consumers demonstrate a willingness to buy a Kindle with ads, we will soon find we can’t get one without them. Other devices will follow suit–your mobile phone, your GPS navigation system, your game console. A few ads here and there in the new Kindle might not seem oppressive, but it opens a door we should keep barred shut.
Another commented (Reader123) explained:
I’d rather pay a little more for the device than to have to pay for something that will be running ads… Want me to read ads, then give it to me for free. Otherwise I’ll make a point to NOT buy the annoyingly advertised item or service. That’s how much I hate ads.
It will be interesting to see how Amazon will keep people from jailbreaking this device. Amazon has not had too many major issues with jailbreakers in the past. But no device is “unhackable.” It is still surprising that Amazon has not managed to bring down its costs enough to offer more discount on this new Kindle. An e-book subscription plan would have probably been a better idea. This is likely a soft launch for Amazon’s e-book ads system for its tablet and other upcoming devices.
What are your thoughts? Is the new Kindle worth the trouble?
