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Doesn't seem fitting to end the post with affiliate links, after criticizing Amazon for offering ad supported versions of the Kindle.

by julianb 15y ago

harpastum 15y ago
Both methods are indirect ways to make money off of the user, but affiliate links aren't really advertising. It's reasonable to include links to the products he's talking about, and it doesn't hurt the user experience of going to amazon.com. If you buy an ad-supported kindle, you'll see ads every time you put it to sleep. If you click an affiliate link (vs a standard link to the product), there is no difference in content at all.
- daeken 15y ago
  So you'll see ads when you're not reading on the device. How does this impact the content ... ?
  - darklajid 15y ago
    Ignoring the nitpicking about 'impacting the content': It impacts the time scale. If I click on one of his links and buy a gadget, I get the very same thing. He gets a one time bonus that _I_ didn't pay and the experience is the same (granted, if I want to buy the thing in 3 weeks I'm going to Amazon's site and search/buy it there, not looking up his links to do him a favor). The ads on the device, however, are semi-permanent and are going to stay with you. You trade _your_ money for things that are shoved in _your_ face. I don't even understand where a comparison between these things (affiliate links vs. ads on the device) are meaningful..
smackfu 15y ago
Not to mention the actual ad to the right of the blog post. Is there a version of marco.org "with self-respect"? Do I need to block his ads to get that?
- stephencelis 15y ago
  We didn't spend $79 to read his blog. Amazon offers 2 price points, emphasizes the ad-driven one, and somewhat obscures the fact that it's ad-driven. I don't see how that relates to the free (and Creative Commons free content of) marco.org, and the fact that he syndicates ads from a network he trusts there.
pbreit 15y ago
Marco's opinions about pricing products and services are tiresome. No, the Kindle prices are not misleading. The Kindle ads are not uncivilized or lacking self respect. Charging to use a web service is not inherently admirable.

Doesn't seem fitting to end the post with affiliate links, after criticizing Amazon for offering ad supported versions of the Kindle.

by julianb 15y ago

Doesn't seem fitting to end the post with affiliate links, after criticizing Amazon for offering ad supported versions of the Kindle.

harpastum 15y ago

Both methods are indirect ways to make money off of the user, but affiliate links aren't really advertising. It's reasonable to include links to the products he's talking about, and it doesn't hurt the user experience of going to amazon.com. If you buy an ad-supported kindle, you'll see ads every time you put it to sleep. If you click an affiliate link (vs a standard link to the product), there is no difference in content at all.

daeken 15y ago
So you'll see ads when you're not reading on the device. How does this impact the content ... ?
- darklajid 15y ago
  Ignoring the nitpicking about 'impacting the content': It impacts the time scale. If I click on one of his links and buy a gadget, I get the very same thing. He gets a one time bonus that _I_ didn't pay and the experience is the same (granted, if I want to buy the thing in 3 weeks I'm going to Amazon's site and search/buy it there, not looking up his links to do him a favor). The ads on the device, however, are semi-permanent and are going to stay with you. You trade _your_ money for things that are shoved in _your_ face. I don't even understand where a comparison between these things (affiliate links vs. ads on the device) are meaningful..

smackfu 15y ago

Not to mention the actual ad to the right of the blog post. Is there a version of marco.org "with self-respect"? Do I need to block his ads to get that?

stephencelis 15y ago
We didn't spend $79 to read his blog. Amazon offers 2 price points, emphasizes the ad-driven one, and somewhat obscures the fact that it's ad-driven. I don't see how that relates to the free (and Creative Commons free content of) marco.org, and the fact that he syndicates ads from a network he trusts there.

pbreit 15y ago

Marco's opinions about pricing products and services are tiresome. No, the Kindle prices are not misleading. The Kindle ads are not uncivilized or lacking self respect. Charging to use a web service is not inherently admirable.