Don't forget that on most paperback books sold in the UK, there is a note with the price that says, 'not for sale in USA or Canada' this may also be due to pricing differences.

I was lucky enough to receive a Kindle 2 for my Christmas the year before last. Luck that is if you exclude the dramatic price drop since then. It is a wonderful machine, much more versatile than Amazon suggest. Apart form reading books one can use it for annotating documents, checking googlemail - free, storing photos (OK only B&W) holding maps and travel directions, storing online confirmations for ferries (I tried it with Ryanair, they were not amused), listening to books and music (bit tinny on the later), a dictionary, accessing google and wikipedia - Free.

what i don't use it for is buying books. My library currently runs to 455 and I'm not likely to run short of top-ups. So far I've not bought a single book, naturally, all I read is in the public domain.

Amazon charge about thirteen dollars for a recent novel and they only lend it to you. You are not allowed to swap it, loan it out, give it away and probably not even read it out loud. Like any regular reader I've been buying and selling, exchanging and giving away books for years. Frankly, I couldn't afford to read as much as I do if I paid the new price to borrow everything. In my view Amazon are encouraging piracy with their greed.

One benefit of sharing books on the web is that I now read many books i would never previously have considered trying. If the book costs nothing one is more inclined to try something unusual.

As for reliability, I read in bed, usually until I drop the book and waken the wife. Nothing has changed; my Kidle hits the stone floor with monotenous regularity and has not given a moment's trouble. That is, if one excepts the near disaster on Christmas Day when I discovered the Kindle does not like champagne, I imagine it's not keen on being left in a pool of any other liquid either.

All in all the Kindle has done for reading what Napster did for music. I wouldn't be without it. Current UK price, by the way is £111.

Notified of dispatch yesterday and has arrived with my friend in the UK today. Totally impressed.

get a cover for it, and a protection film for the screen, cheap enough on e bay.

Now it is back to what cover to get. Also protection screen is that separate from the cover?

It's personal choice really.

Lots of people like the book type ones that close as they protect the screen as well plus some have built in lights for night time reading...but I prefer gel cases which are like a skin. The reason being is I only need to use one hand to hold it, there's no cover to flap over the screen and get in the way, if you are lying on a sunbed on your front you can lay it flat on the floor next to the bed and still read easily, they don't add much bulk or weight and the gel bounces well LOL

Negatives are you get lots of fluff/sand/bits finding their way into it so every so often you have to take it off and have a clear out and it's hard to see the page turning buttons (there should ideally be a cut out on the side mine doesn't have this).

The book type covers range from £10 - £60 and the gel cases are about £4.

Avoid silicone cases, they are too sloppy, too soft and not very protective.

I have a screen protector on mine just for safety but they are better without as the protectors reflect where as the normal screen doesn't. However for me with 3 kids I don't want to take the chance

G

Thanks for the advice taken on board................don´t really sunbathe on my front as the boobs get in the way!

I unfortunately have no issues on that front (excuse the pun) I guess there are some benefits of being flat chested!

Yep.

Okay got the Kindle - instructions please how to find all these free books on Amazon.

You won't find them on Amazon. there are several sites which provide public domain books but for the modern novel one must be a little more inventive. This is not a subject for an open forum but if anyone is interested in cooperating to create a book exchange by email count me in.

? There are plenty of free books on Amazon

Go onto the Amazon website, I find it easier on your computer, under the 'shop all departments' select Kindle eBooks from the Kindle Store, scroll down a bit and look over on the RHS you'll see two tabs 'top 100 paid' and 'top 100 free' books, click on the free tab or scroll down and click on see all bestsellers they are then listed as paid or free.

G

Thank you, I am still struggling just to get it registered!!!!!!

Strange, mine was already registered when I received it.

Anything I can help with just shout.
G

And ours, it normally sets up an account for you