Amazon Unveils First Ad for Fire [VIDEO]

**Waqas** · September 28, 2011

Amazon has revealed the unlikely inspiration for Fire‘s and Kindle‘s names — Voltaire — in the first ad promoting its new tablet.

The ad revolves around Voltaire’s quote: “The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbors, kindle it at home, communicate it to others and it becomes property of all.” The spot employs the quote to illustrate the evolution of media, from longhand with pen and ink to typsetting to its e-reader. The connection between the quote and Kindle’s name was revealed previously, but is not generally known.

Simultaneously, Amazon has also rolled out an ad (below) positioning its $80 entry-level Kindle as a gift for the holidays. The ad shows a perky young couple that have appeared in previous Amazon ads bantering about the device. The female of the pair (a.k.a. “Happypants”) has bought two Kindles at that price — one for her father and one for herself. The ad doesn’t overtly evoke the holidays, but is timed for the start of the holiday season.

What do you think of these ads? Let us know in the comments.