[Prestidigitweeze]

Like the OP, I find the placement of the page turning keys on the Kindle 3 inconvenient. It's completely obvious why they're in that position -- because that's where one turns a physical page -- but the problem is that we turn pages while holding a book open, and the position of the Kindle in the hand is like that of a book which is closed. The conceit's too literal, I think, and the turn keys should be closer to the center -- if indeed we get such keys now that the Tablet has impacted Amazon's sense of industrial design.

I like the touch-screen layer on the Sony because it more closely imitates the page turning of an open book, and because you don't inadvertently turn to page forty while using your other hand to fish for your keys. That's because the turn happens within the borders of the screen, which for the Kindle would translate to inside left and right buttons, which wouldn't get triggered repeatedly when you held the edges of the device.

On the other hand, I've read complaints of fruit flies turning the pages on people's Sonys, so E ink with a touch screen might not be the best solution for some people, either.

I do think having a cover on one's Kindle makes page turning easier.

Personally, I love my M-Edge Antique Jacket. It also prevents me from turning pages on my K3 by accident.

The OP might benefit from owning a platform case -- what do the rest of you think, h-m-m-m-m?

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One thing, though: If I criticize the Kindle, it doesn't mean I'm bashing Amazon or Kindle users or the device itself or trying to tell people what to do. It only means that, in my Incredibly Humble opinion, virtually any device can be improved.

After all, we haven't seen the perfect e-Reader yet and might never see it, since E Ink seems to be transitional tech. (I'm hoping for a Mirasol reader in 2012.)