Juswt read a story that the Kindle will be available outside the US
(SMH story) and had myself wondering if I would or not want to get one.

What are the screens like? Is it like looking at a computer?

I didn't realise that newspapers and magazines were available but I do wonder how far behind are ads in the books (or are they already there?). I also didn't realise how the 'books' were delivered to the Kindle - I thought it would be like a iTunes kind of thing, not a mobile phone set up.

So who has one? Or who wants one?

No, and no.

Reading a book without the solid feel of rectangle in my hand just isn't right. And there would be no book smell. I love book smell. If they made a perfume I would kidnap every guy that wore it and smell them all day

That aside...it just wouldn't feel right.

I can't see using it. I'm a big user of alternate ways of reading - probably half the books I "read" are books on tape - but this is just reading on a small silly screen. I've got a big purse, I just carry a paperback.

Absolutely. If they ever come down in price to a reasonable figure AND let me load the ebooks I already have from my voluminous library, I'll get one yesterday. But $300 US is really just too much for what you get.

From what I understand, the Kindle reading experience is really much better than trying to read text on an LCD screen.

I can see the need, or want of one, but not for me. I read a lot, and books are prized possessions.

I have more books than I have room, but I wouldn't change that.

Copago, although I don't have a Kindle, and no plans on getting one at this moment(very low-tech gal here ), I read the article you posted, and all 15 comments on that link. Don't know if you managed to read all the comments but there were some eye-opening posts from consumers there.

Extra download charges, Kindle not enabling the entire list for d/l in Australia, alternate readers on the market one being one that expects to make Kindle obsolete, and so on. Also a link re Kindle's DRM policy (wotevah that is) that I didn't read, but the poster made it look pretty gruesome.

Lots of happy purchasers too, but reading the not so happy ones made me realise that should I ever join the 21st century and buy one of these gadgets, (which I have idly thought about from time to time) I'd be smart to do a LOT of research before I plonked down big bucks.

Can you get a big wooden shelf and put all your Kindle books on it when you're done?
No
Can you pull out the more pretentious of your books to read in public places?
No
Can your cat find itself between you and the Kindle so it glares at you whenever a page is turned?
No
Are there smelly second hand Kindle stores where you can stumble upon rare signed copies for fifty cents?
No
Can you leave it lying around for other people to enjoy when you're done?
Yes, but how stupid would that be?

I'm not in favour of buying by the way.

It has its place though. For example, where I live, it's hard to get English books, and when you can, they are terribly expensive. I can see the use for it.

I like the feel of a book in my hand. I saw three Kindles for the first time last week. I had no idea they came in different sizes. One is about the size of a hard cover book, the other two, each different designs, were about the size of a paperback. No, a book on the shelf is much better. I agree with quogequox. Oh, one other thing - dusting a bound book is much better dusting a rectangular piece of plastic.

I would LOVE an eReader. My house is overrun with books and my local library doesn't have everything that I want to read. Bookstores aren't that close. I love the idea of ebooks that don't take up space and don't need trees.
My job is a private duty nurse at school with a boy. I have lots of downtime for reading but I also have to carry around a fair bit of stuff. EReaders are so much lighter and easier to carry around.
The other issue is my aging eyes. You can adjust the font size and are less dependent on the quality of light available for reading.
Now if I just had a few hundred extra bucks lying around.

I wouldn't get a Kindle. There's a myriad of reasons but the biggest one I think is that I like the feel of books. I like to turn the pages, granted sometimes I can't turn them fast enough to suit me but I don't think I'd like Kindle.

Books are a bit part of my home decor, so no matter what, I think I'd still always have them.

I wonder if books will become antiques some day - like rotary telephones. I can see in the future children who have never seen or held a real book, only an e-book. There are people now who never knew what life was like "before" computers - "A typewrite?" What's that! "A book?" What's that! Ick -- can't stand thinking that may be the future and we'll only see books in museums.

Well my collection wont die. I plan on getting all of the Enid Blyton books from my grandparents as well, for my children to read eventually.

Nor mine, my books collection is the decor of my house, well that and maps. Enid Blyton haha I bought a friend the faraway tree collection last year for their kids. Last week I bought( and this may before your time lioness) Bottersnikes and Gumbles a Aussie kids classic, I probably will never read it again but I like having it in the shelf!

AAAAHHHH!!!
WHERE did you get it??
I read that as a kid and a few years ago wanted to get it too, same as you, just for the shelf, ... searched in every bookshop I came across and just kept getting blannk looks. Although I was asking for "bottlesnikes" which may not have helped. Will have to go searching again.

Bloody hell, Q. They aren't cheap $200 for a first edition!

and just to make it on topic ..

I wonder if they'll ahve it on Kindle. LOL

I absolutely LOVE mine. I used to have to pack several books when I traveled. Now it's all I take, and if I run out of books, I just flip on the wireless and it takes me right to the Amazon store where I can quickly download my next choice. I can even read portions of the books to see if I want them.

It fits right in my purse so I always have a book with me. I find that I read much more now that I have it because I can pull it out whenever I have spare time.

I too thought I'd hate the idea of not feeling a book in my hands, but it's so convenient that I don't mind at all.

Ever so glad that my daughter bought it to me ;-)

Oh, did I mention the "search" feature? You can type in a word or phrase, and it will find all occurrences of it in the book -- very convenient when you're trying to look something up. You also have the ability to add notes or bookmark certain pages -- I use these features a lot.

I'll still buy books, but most of my reading will be done on the Kindle.

I found it on ebay! I've got it right next to me S.A Wakefield is the author, gthe cover is four Gumbles standing on a Bottersnike whose ears are naturally turning red. Hehe cool.

Just checked the prices, crickey! My cost ten dollars with postage.

Would you enjoy it on Kindle?

LOL nah.
It would be cheaper to visit you and read it.

I'll throw it in the air next big wind.

Sorry, despite all the practical plusses, I'm just not tempted. I love books, physical, paper and bound books, books with inky print and crinkly paper, to read curled up in a cosy corner, under the lamplight.

A stark LCD illuminated screen just doesn't do it for me. I have a PC for that. I have tried it on my Palm pilot, and I know I wouldn't be interested in the Kindle or similar systems.

Just call me old-fashioned