I recieved my Kindle about a month ago, and must admit, I hated it! I thought it looked very cheap and it was so frustrating to use! I kept pushing the next/previous page buttons. I even wrote in to get a return authorization to send it back! By the suggestion of another Kindle ownner, I took their advice and used it for "a week, then decide" So I did, and now I simply Love it. It does take some getting used to though, But it is Awesome. I have read more books in the last month, than I had in the entire year. And because of the cost savings on books, I have saved over $60 in the difference! It won't be long before it simply pays for itself. I would, and have, recommended it to anyone that will listen! It is simply the best thing I have purchased all year.

I have not had a day that I am not without my Kindle since I first pre-ordered my Kindle last year. I enjoy the convenience of having my library of books and the ability to download anything from books to music to viewing various websites. All of this at no additional charge on Kindles WisperNet system that is cost free and available anywhere that cell signals are located.
I love my kindle and highly recommend it to anyone that is an avid reader. It is so very easy to use and carry around. You can change the text size to any size to accommodate your eyesight and visual preference. And don't forget that it also has a comprehensive American Dictionary for any word you need defined. With hundred of thousands of books, blogs and newspapers to receive on your Kindle, why ever destroy another tree for paper again. Be green and reduce your CO2 imprint on this planet by going paperless.
Dr Jamal Fakhoury

I love the kindle. I've had it for about weeks, and it's amazing. I take it everywhere with me, I tell everyone about it. It has sparked my interest in reading again. I love it's light weight, crystal clear screen and I could litterally, read for hours without getting tired. I can lay in bed, see the screen at any angle. I especially love that it appeals to left handers! As a lefty, NOTHING is made for me. Everything is on the right side and it seems as though nothing is made for lefties. There are both page forward button and a page back button on the left hand side. It's great! The cons: The buttons are too sensitive. It took some getting used to and I find myself always bumping those buttons. 2) There is no back light. I went to target and bought a book like for 5 dollars, and now it's perfect. Wish it had a back light. Other than that... love it!

Great device. Here are some additional cool features you may not know about, that I use my kindle for:
·Emailing word documents and pdf files to my kindle account, which are then automatically downloaded to Kindle within a minute or so. Pdf files with complex symbols (e.g. math/science equations) don't always render properly, but in general it does a good job for standard text. But the ability to store lots of word docs & pdfs electronically is an added bonus.
·Checking my email. I'm somewhat surprised how little kindle's internet capability is mentioned in these reviews, but kindle does allow you to browse the net & check webmail. It's not a fully capable browser yet, and I try to stick to less graphics intensive or mobile sites, but knowing that I can check email def makes the device worth it.
·Wikipedia searches - wikipedia is rendered well, and I use it all the time to look stuff up.
·Playing music - Yes, it can play mp3 files, albeit only in a "shuffle" mode. And actually, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the built in speakers sound. There is also a headphone jack on the Kindle...
·Storing lots of extra books, music, & docs on an inserted SD memory card

Well, I agree with all the nice things (and some of the criticisms) of the e-book capabilities - but beyond that Kindle has several other really cool features that make it a worthwhile investment.

When I first heard about the release of the Kindle, I wondered, "Why would anyone want that?" Now, after carrying a Kindle everywhere with me during the past week, I'm a convert. I can't believe how easy it is to whip it out and start reading, with my place saved, whenever I have a few minutes. Even better, if I finish a book, I can turn on the wireless function, even when I'm not in a hot spot, and download a new book in less than a minute.

The screen is gray with black type to address complaints about early e-readers causing eyestrain and to give the Kindle the look of paper. I would have liked a brightness or contrast function to adjust it in different lighting situations; for this reason, you might want to purchase a reading light to go with it. The type can be adjusted from small to large, six sizes in all, which makes it perfect for people who need larger type, especially since large type books can be more expensive and more difficult to find than standard ones. With a Kindle, it all costs the same and is equally available. You can also download and listen to audiobooks, although the titles are more limited.

As others have noted, the most annoying design issue is the large buttons on either side of the screen which are easy to inadvertently push, thus losing your page as you handle the Kindle. I do like that the buttons are positioned for both lefties and righties; they are just too big. Of course, this disadvantage is also an advantage when reading since flipping pages takes little effort.

Potential buyers should also realize that not all books can be downloaded, nor does the purchase of an electronic version of a book give you the ability to also read it on paper. Unless you read only best sellers, you will still want to buy real books, just not as often.

The Kindle provides the biggest advantage when traveling, as it allows you to take several books on vacation without weighing down your luggage. It also saves space on the bookshelf, although, with limited memory capacity, you can't browse, say, the titles of a hundred of your books the way you can scan your shelves.

All in all, this is an excellent device that mimics the look of a real book.

-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann