I bought a Sony Reader when working in the US. Brilliant piece of kit I have to say. I could travel with my entire library (from the Sony Store) working offshore. BUT, once again, we in the UK cannot purchase books for this device. So I'm looking for an alternative. BeBook may be it.

Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK

There is a great little second hand book shop near me, where I can pick up some incredible reads for really cheap prices, I hope to god this thing doesnt kill off the need for these shops like mp3 is killing off the need for indie record shops. It's all getting a bit boring now.

Jon, Edenbridge, England

If you know where to look, you can download any ebook you like for free. Devices like this will pretty much destroy the traditional publishing industry model, just as mp3s have killed the music business. It's only a matter of time.

Alastair, Alicante, Spain

As a confirmed technophile I am in favour of any advances wich benefit humanity. However, the durability, in every sense, of this article, is a real problem. Once committed there will be new, better models regularly produced. Lack of robustness, battery, firmware, software & hardware failure

Bill Q, Derby,

If you don't want a Kindle,why not try an iLiad, Cybook or Hanlin, all available online in the UK. These are not tied to any content provider and there is plenty of fee content available if you look.

OC, London,

Paperbacks are smaller and more portable. And, apart from really new books, you can generally buy them 'used' on the net for less than the download price of an ebook.

I'd consider buying an ebook-reader that was smaller, cheaper and not tied in to a single network provider.

Mike A, Seaford, UK

Maybe the Kindle will become the new mobile internet screen, to replace the mobile phone? Even if everyone wants smaller and smaller devices, the human eye still wants a nice big area to look at. A light, fashionable, portable and brilliantly lit screen is what is needed!

iain carstairs, bedford, uk

Amazon are like the Tescos of the book trade. They squeeze publishers dry and the proprietary nature of Kindle proves it. It won't kindle my fire. An ebook is, like an mp3, just data, and a book like music is more than that.

ian Whiteman, Granada, Spain

Yes the purchased books will be restricted. But on a positive note there are tens of thousands of classic books already available on line in text format you can read for FREE.

Just imagine the use for research, business, students, doctors, law - hundreds of books and documents all in one device.

daz smith, bath, uk

potentially nice, but way over-priced

christopher, manama, bahrain

To HC

Not only Britons enjoy reading in the bath, a few of us Americans do as well.

Turns out, the Kindle, nestled in zip lock bag, works just fine.

I was skeptical but I must say I love my Kindle.

Dave Bufkin, Leesburg, VA

I suppose they've restricted the Kindle from sharing or exchanging your books with friends and family?
Furthermore, people will not be able to buy used books on the cheap.

jayil, london, uk

Although I have never considered myself a Luddite; I am concerned this technology may limit one of my greatest pleasures - reading a book in the bath!

HC, London,

I live in Shanghai China and got my Kindle within weeks of its debut.

I had to have it shipped to my father's house in Oregon first.

I also have an American credit card on file with Amazon to buy content for the Kindle.

I download books by using the USB drive. Fast and easy.

Steven Schwindt, Shanghai, China

You may have been sucked into Amazons marketing engine here. Why, if it's such a success, do they refuse to tell us how many they have actually sold.
In addition it only works using a US style modile phone network feature.
The ebook is coming but the Kindle is the finished product it should be.

M Dignan, Oxford, UK

"The ipod of ebooks" indeed. Amazon keeps on saying what a success the Kindle is but it refuses to say exactly how many have been sold. At $400 for the device, excessive prices for downloads and DRM restrictions that prevent you downloading from any other sources I don't expect many sales.

Ian, Frederick, USA

Please tell us the source of the assertion that the Kindle will be launched in this country later this year.

Last week Amazon UK stated that there were 'no plans' to release the Kindle in the UK or anywhere else outside the US.

David Lawrence, Watford, United Kingdom