[f00l]

I came here after a google search for Kindle reviews. I never really wanted an e-reader device before, since I really *like* physical books so much (I suspect I have that in common with most or all of you. (Except for the storage problem we all have :>)

I am so taken with the quality of your discussions that I have decided to join.

I *might* buy a Kindle, or perhaps something else. Amazon....of course one worries about giving them too much power and market share, seeing they have already become the "Microsoft" of the book trade, if not of publishing.

But I have always been happy buying books from Amazon. Perhaps 20 or so a year, usually hard-to-find stuff.

I am not in a tearing hurry to choose what e-reader to buy, since I have so many unread books and unlistened-to audiobooks and audible.com purchases waiting for attention and piling up in the office. I understand the logic of "buy whatever and use it now", but I also have several palms, several computers, several Ipods (my 4th and 5th, and I adore them), in addition to the piles of books and audiobooks I trip over every day.

I actually buy most of my books that get shipped here either off Ebay.co.uk or off Amazon.co.uk, rather than Amazon.com or Half.com, as I am partial to BBC (Chivers) versions of audiobooks over the locally published versions, even when the US publisher uses a native of the UK as the narrator. Esp, the unabridged Le Carre novels narrated by Michael Jayston.

(I will make an exception about US vs UK versions for the astounding Jim Dale narrated Harry Potter series, even tho I think the Stephen Fry UK versions are superb also. Both Mr Fry and Mr Dale are UK natives.)

I am also fortunate to be "local" to about 20 Half-Price Book stores. They are my official `favorite' places to shop and to there lose all sight of any budget. And since I am getting completely insane, I suppose I must brave the cost of gas and drive to Archer City to spend way too much $ at Larry McMurtry's Booked Up.

My house foundation complains. And I have lots of serious and less serious stuff to keep me busy. :>

Regarding e-readers:

I love the idea of Whispernet and constant access to wikipedia or online purchases w/out having to boot the laptop. That's the reason I started looking for reviews, tho I now understand using the Kindle this way will eat the battery. As for other issues - Kindle format vs others - can live with whatever.

Surely the Kindle format is hackable like every other format in history, for those who want to read on their 22" monitor or whatever....or xfer to another device. Come on, what hasn't been hacked so far? OK, it's prob against the license. But reading on the Kindle is nice enough that you would only want to hack the format if your Kindle was lost, stolen or damaged, or if Amazon stopped making and supporting the device. Or no? Since I don't own one, I am only guessing.

Is an extended warranty available for most of these devices?

Palm Centro or Treo as a reader: since I always have the Ipod handy, I only read on the Palm when I need something specific in text format. Screen too small, and uses up the battery. And a well-read audiobook is almost a whole new book, even for something I've read repeatedly.

Other issues: The Kindle, and every other device, needs to have a large library be easily navigable by the clueless user. And one possible reason to wait for purchase: to let more devices come out with 16-grayscale e-ink. (Given that I have lots to keep busy with for the meantime.)

Anyway, I love this site, hope to stay entranced by all of you. (You are keeping me happily away from my library *right* *now*!

Read forth :>

f00l