BBC News (and others) offers a story on Amazon’s launch of a cheaper, ad-subsidized Kindle eBook Reader. This device retails at $114, a full $25 cheaper than the current starter model. Advertisements for product and Amazon specials will be displayed under eBook pages and on the screen saver.
I think this (called the “Kindle with Special Offers”) would have been a MAJOR release if they’d priced it at $99 (or lower) because, come on, they aren’t sharing the ad revenue, and they aren’t delivering cheaper eBooks. For them to expect Kindle owners to share screen space with advertisements is a trifle presumptuous for a mere $25 savings. The $99 price (and lower) has to be right around the corner, if they want mainstream adoption.
I think it’s a stretch at that price.
1 comment
I don’t think I’d buy Kindle with ads. Even if it was $99, ads are distracting if shown at the bottom of the page and after all the whole point of eReaders is to read on them. And ads as screen saver make no sense at all.