When the Amazon Kindle Fire HD line of tablets was unveiled last week, one of the factors the company did not mention was that all of the devices were jam packed with advertisements. If you decide to purchase a Kindle Fire HD, you will see these ads on your homescreen and screensaver. There are no options to purchase one of these without the ads and this has created quite a stir online. Initially, Amazon had said in order to offer the hardware at bargain basement prices, it had to show advertisements on them. Today, Amazon confirmed that it had developed a way for customers to remove them, for a one time fee of $15.00.
“With Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD there will be a special offers opt-out option for $15. We know from our Kindle reader line that customers love our special offers and very few people choose to opt out. We’re happy to offer customers the choice.” said an Amazon Spokesman.
The real question is, how do you feel about reduced hardware prices by serving you advertisements, and should companies be forthcoming about letting you know? During the launch event we attended in Santa Monica, Amazon did not tell anyone that the entire line of HD tablets had adverts on them, and ditto with the products page.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
