Bad/risky/offensive/[insert adjective here] "Kindle 3 vs. iPad" ad...

cjottawa · 11-11-2010, 08:53 AM

I came across this ad on YouTube while watching other Kindle holiday ads.

I'll quote my own comment made on YouTube:

Quote:

I've enjoyed Amazon's other Kindle ads but this one comes off as a bit smarmy, like it's "preaching to the converted."

A small tweak could have made a big difference: change the woman's response to one of genuine helpfulness and a bit of excitement at having a Kindle. Make the iPad user response to the Kindle one of "seeing the light" and you'd have a commercial that could actually make a difference instead of putting up a wall between iPad and e-reader users. Both have a place.

Connallmac · 11-11-2010, 09:39 AM

I think the only folks who might find this offensive are Apple's fanboys.

desertblues · 11-11-2010, 12:01 PM

I have both and love them both, for different reasons.

JaneD · 11-11-2010, 12:07 PM

I thought this ad was kind of funny, even though it pretty much misses the point (for me, the point being that these devices are separate-but-equally-fun-and-useful-tools-for-different-things).

However, I've had so many lame dudes show off their iPad toy to me while I rolled my eyes, it might have skewed my perspective.

TheKindleWorm · 11-11-2010, 01:38 PM

Bit cheesy but I have Apple devices as well as Kindles - and I know which I'd prefer to read in sunlight

You're right though OP - both devices do have a place and it doesn't need to be an either / or argument.

However, Steve Jobs has been pretty openly rude about the Kindle and I like the fact that Amazon are starting to hit back a little.

kindlekitten · 11-11-2010, 01:47 PM

I think it's a hoot! and it has been around since this summer afaik

LDBoblo · 11-11-2010, 02:11 PM

Glad that woman was so amiable and helpful when the tech-challenged acolyte of the church of Apple tried to back her into a corner with a wicked anti-Amazon question. It reflects very positively on the cheerful, helpful nature of Amazon customers that they would so tolerate abuse from the likes of iPad users.

JeremyR · 11-11-2010, 08:56 PM

That was the original K3 ad, back when it was released...

What I found annoying about it was at the time it was new, Amazon had released an update (3.01) which basically broke the Kindle's ability to be read in sunlight because the pages were incredibly slow to turn.

daffy4u · 11-11-2010, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjottawa

I've enjoyed Amazon's other Kindle ads but this one comes off as a bit smarmy, like it's "preaching to the converted."

A small tweak could have made a big difference: change the woman's response to one of genuine helpfulness and a bit of excitement at having a Kindle. Make the iPad user response to the Kindle one of "seeing the light" and you'd have a commercial that could actually make a difference instead of putting up a wall between iPad and e-reader users. Both have a place

Keep in mind this is advertising. It is supposed to sell the Kindle not make nice with the iPad.

Apple had a campaign for several years with the same philosophy. Remember those Mac vs PC spots making fun of Microsoft Windows. Same thing.

ScoutPilot · 11-11-2010, 10:44 PM

HAHA, great one. Love the Kindle but I do have iPad envy. Agree with all the previous posts. Different use for each.

branchedout · 11-12-2010, 08:27 AM

"I actually paid more for these sunglasses."

What.

After that, I forgot the rest of the advertisement.

HarryT · 11-12-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I think it's a hoot! and it has been around since this summer afaik

Of course, Apple could respond with an ad using exactly the same line: "How are you reading that, in this light?", set in a dark room

.

TheKindleWorm · 11-12-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Of course, Apple could respond with an ad using exactly the same line: "How are you reading that, in this light?", set in a dark room

.

Ha I like it! But that's no problem with a lighted cover. And of course it's still far cheaper to purchase a Kindle with a lighted cover than an iPad for the purpose of reading.

voracious71 · 11-12-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertblues

I have both and love them both, for different reasons.

Me too..love my iPad but almost never read on it.

Cpl Punishment · 11-12-2010, 06:10 PM

Wow, as many time as I have seen that commercial I never noticed any
E-reader in that woman's hands !!!!

I have both an Ipad and Kindle and the commercial is right on ...Thats why I have the Kindle...

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11-11-2010, 09:39 AM	#2
Connallmac Transplanted NYer Posts: 455 Karma: 520286 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eastern IN Device: Kindle Fire HD 8.9", Kindle Fire HD 7", Kindle Touch	I think the only folks who might find this offensive are Apple's fanboys.

11-11-2010, 12:01 PM	#3
desertblues Home for the moment Posts: 5,127 Karma: 27718936 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: travelling Device: various	I have both and love them both, for different reasons.

11-11-2010, 12:07 PM	#4
JaneD Addict Posts: 322 Karma: 1057749 Join Date: May 2010 Location: LA, CA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2013	I thought this ad was kind of funny, even though it pretty much misses the point (for me, the point being that these devices are separate-but-equally-fun-and-useful-tools-for-different-things). However, I've had so many lame dudes show off their iPad toy to me while I rolled my eyes, it might have skewed my perspective.

11-11-2010, 01:38 PM	#5
TheKindleWorm Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 177868 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Anglia UK Device: Kindle 3G, iPhone 3G, iPod 4G, PB 360, Sony 600 sold, Kindle 2i sold	Bit cheesy but I have Apple devices as well as Kindles - and I know which I'd prefer to read in sunlight You're right though OP - both devices do have a place and it doesn't need to be an either / or argument. However, Steve Jobs has been pretty openly rude about the Kindle and I like the fact that Amazon are starting to hit back a little.

11-11-2010, 01:47 PM	#6
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I think it's a hoot! and it has been around since this summer afaik

11-11-2010, 02:11 PM	#7
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Glad that woman was so amiable and helpful when the tech-challenged acolyte of the church of Apple tried to back her into a corner with a wicked anti-Amazon question. It reflects very positively on the cheerful, helpful nature of Amazon customers that they would so tolerate abuse from the likes of iPad users.

11-11-2010, 08:56 PM	#8
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	That was the original K3 ad, back when it was released... What I found annoying about it was at the time it was new, Amazon had released an update (3.01) which basically broke the Kindle's ability to be read in sunlight because the pages were incredibly slow to turn.

11-11-2010, 10:44 PM	#10
ScoutPilot Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Pocket, Kindle 2, Kindle 3 3G+WiFi	HAHA, great one. Love the Kindle but I do have iPad envy. Agree with all the previous posts. Different use for each.

11-12-2010, 08:27 AM	#11
branchedout Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Soon-to-be K3	"I actually paid more for these sunglasses." What. After that, I forgot the rest of the advertisement.

11-12-2010, 06:10 PM	#15
Cpl Punishment Guru Posts: 682 Karma: 4156546 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: On The Move Device: Ipad 103rd Gen	Wow, as many time as I have seen that commercial I never noticed any E-reader in that woman's hands !!!! I have both an Ipad and Kindle and the commercial is right on ...Thats why I have the Kindle...

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