For pure reading pleasure, this is pretty near perfect.

Love it! For pure reading pleasure, I definitely prefer this to any color tablet. The e-ink is so clear and easy on the eyes, even in bright sunlight.

The experimental browser is a nice bonus, and with the free 3G, this proved really useful on a recent road trip when we needed to use Google Maps for directions on the freeway. We also enjoyed having children's books and the "read-to-me" function for our kids' use on that same road trip.

Downsides - the browser can be frustrating and slow to work with, esp. since you have no touch screen or mouse to navigate with. But the 5-way controller is a decent alternative.

There's no backlight for night-time reading, so you need a reading light (clip-on works great). Also, we would have liked the speakers to be louder for our kids' use in the car. But, it has a headphone jack too.

There is a microphone on this device, but there isn't any use for it yet. I think it would be awesome if Amazon would add a "voice memo" feature.

For just plain reading, this device is fantastic. Again, I much prefer it to a color, LCD-screen tablet. It is a much more soothing device for reading. It also can be helpful for basic on-the-go Web browsing. And if you have Web-based email and a Web-based calendar, it keeps them handy too.

I've enjoyed the ability to highlight and share passages on Facebook.

The keyboard is surprisingly easy to use, and the 5-way controller is a decent way to navigate around a page, though not as speedy as a mouse or a touch-screen would be.

I love how light and sleek it feels in my hands - or hand. It's very easy to read one-handed, or just set it on my leg and read hands-free (except for page turns, though you could use the 'read-to-me' function and eliminate page turns too).

And of course, it's awesome having so many books in one place, and tons more quickly & easily accessible through Amazon (a huge amount of public domain books including loads of classics are free!)

A feature I am excited about but haven't tried is the ability to send your own documents (.pdf, .doc, etc.) to your Kindle. For instance, I'm a songwriter, so i could store my song charts on this and bring it to performances. Or you could store recipes, instruction manuals, and other reference materials that you want to keep portable.

I also haven't tried loading mp3s onto the device, so can't comment on that. And I've never used a Nook beyond 10 minutes examining one at a B&N store once, so I can't comment on how Kindle & Nook compare.

I love the size - I can't imagine trying to read a book on a smart-phone-sized device; and I had been using the Kindle app on my laptop. The Kindle Keyboard screen is just the right size for readability and portability.

All in all, I am very happy with my purchase and would recommend it to anyone who loves to read!

Even for those who like the hard copy physical book

I love books- I love falling asleep with a book in my hands,the smell of books, bookstores,etc I didn't think I'd like having artificial books in an e reader format. But I LOVE it. I live in a foreign country where it is very hard to get books in English. So having this device allows me to buy books & download them in English. It eliminates having to haul lots of books to last me 7-9 months! But even if you live where books are plentiful this is a handy dandy little device to have. It is so easy to slip in a bag for travel or to the beach. Various font size make it customizable. You can order custom covers for it and put your own photo on the back & front from M-Edge. They even have a handy little light which slides into the cover.And far cheaper than Kindle's covers. Anyway if you like to read & don't like to tote books around, this is a nice little device to have. AND it has awesome battery life if you turn off wireless when not downloading books. This will not replace certain books for me such as large coffee table books & those with lots of pictures but it is great for those books you read quickly & certain reference books such as dictionary & language books you want to take with you. I cannot see it as a text book replacement for students unless it becomes available in color & is larger like the Kindle DX size- but that is expensive for kids.

More than we ever hoped.

Actually, we wound up with the white DX not the smaller size since the seller did not distinguish the difference but we were ecstatic it was the big one. As it happened the thing was an international model and we wanted it because we were going traveling overseas for a month. It had the overseas plug too. Well, we got more than we had hoped. The 3G feature enabled us to get our email for free everywhere we went without hassling the hotels and their charges or searching out internet cafes. We even got books while waiting between planes at international airports. The 5-way controller cracked for no reason, although it still worked. When we got home, Amazon exchanged it for the NEW model graphite DX for Free! To say we got the deal is an understatement. Way to go eBsy!

The Kindle Keyboard reader - proven technology that works without hassle!

After wanting a tablet computer, but not able to decide which one - I decided to try a "basic" reader. After doing some research, I wanted to go with an Amazon product with 3G and a keyboard. The ability to play audiobooks and text to speech was just as important. I also wanted storage to hold more than few books, so there really was only one option - the Kindle Keyboard w/4GB storage and 3G.

All the praise this device has been given is totally on target. It just works. No fuss, no hassle, and I'm able to hold and operate it with one hand (left or right). I'm also a page flipper - often going back to re-read or recheck something. The forward/backward buttons are logically placed and work quickly.

I recently was on a 5 hour flight, and I easily spent half the time reading. Battery life is as good as advertised, and once charged you can go weeks without worrying about power.

My only complaint is that I wish the built in web browser was quicker and didn't give so many "site page can't be read" errors, but it has no problem with the Amazon site (ha - no surprise there!)

Very good gadget

Most Advanced E Ink Display
Kindle's high-contrast E Ink display delivers clear, crisp text and images that you can read without eye strain. For extended periods of reading, E Ink displays deliver the best reading experience.

Read in Bright Sunlight
Kindle's E Ink screen reads like real paper, with no glare. Read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.

Two Month Battery Life
A single charge lasts up to two months with wireless off based upon a half-hour of daily reading time.

Free 3G Wireless
No annual contracts, no monthly fees. Download books anytime, anywhere. Learn more.

Global 3G Coverage
Travel the globe and still get books in under 60 seconds with wireless coverage in over 100 countries and territories. Check wireless coverage.

Built-In Wi-Fi
Connect to Wi-Fi hotspots at home or on the road. Includes free Wi-Fi access at AT&T hotspots across the U.S.