[jyl]

See previous thread about Kindle. Also various Kindle blogs out there.

I don't have one, but have been researching them and thinking about a purchase.

- Not practical for websurfing, browser is weak, screen is only grayscale, connection not speedy. You see, the wireless access is lifetime, no monthly fee, paid by Amazon, so they don't want you to use the Kindle for general surfing, that would blow up their business model. The wireless is meant for getting books and magazines etc.

- Kindle is not the same as netbook. Of course you can buy, download, and read e-books on any netbook or other PC, and you can go to a magazine or newspaper's website to read it online. The advantage of a Kindle is the screen is like paper and doesn't give you eyestrain, the battery lasts for days, the content shows up wirelessly from Amazon, the device turns on and off instantly rather than booting up, it displays a page at a time so no scrolling up and down, etc.

- FYI, a larger-screen Kindle is rumoured to be announced this week. Not as pocketable, but meant to display newspapers, magazines, textbooks, etc in nearly their print layout.