I participated in the other thread, but I'll add to it here.
I've had my latest generation Kindle since September. It's my first "eReader". So far I'm very happy with it, but there are some things to remember:
First, the Amazon is very eager to protect their sales (and their client's copyrights) so they encrypt the books you purchase. That means you can't buy the latest best-seller then copy it for your friends, or even just give it to them. The next firmware revision <span style="font-style: italic">will</span> have a way for Kindle owners to "loan" their books to friends though. The loan period will be 14-21 days (depending who you listen to), and your copy of the book will not be accessible on <span style="font-style: italic">your</span> Kindle until the loan times-out.
Next, also as a result of their business model and programming you can't get eBooks from libraries and pop them in the Kindle - at least not terribly easily. There are ways to download those products and unlock them (as well as the locked Kindle materials) but it takes some effort and may not be particularly legal.
The Kindle, Sony, and current B&W Nook readers have exceptionally good displays for reading text. The "e-ink" style displays have no back lighting so the general feel is that of the printed page. The "ink" is created on a high resolution matrix of dots so monochromatic images and text can be displayed with usually pleasing detail and can be viewed under any kind of light source without any need to adjust contrast or brightness (the screen has a light matte finish so reflections are minimized).
That style display goes far toward achieving pretty good battery life too. The display isn't an "active" display like TFT, AMOLED, or even monochromatic-LCD. Those displays require a constant battery source to both keep the graphic points of the display "on" and/or backlight the screen. E-Ink displays are powered up long enough to change what's on the screen and that's it. An iPad or Android-Tablet may last several hours or a day if left on constantly, while the Kindle will last for weeks under normal reading use (the wifi/3G card will naturally drain the battery though, so most people leave the wireless features off until they need it).
The Kindle has some features not a lot of people talk about too... You <span style="font-style: italic">can</span> do web browsing on it so you can even check your email (using a web interface) or visit forums. With the 3G version you can even use that web access on the road completely free of charge. It's not a "holy cow" experience though: the screen isn't huge, e-ink has a slow refresh rate, and the keyboard isn't designed to type on - but you <span style="font-style: italic">can</span> use it if you want/need to - for free.
They also have several games available for the Kindle - most of them are free. Nothing spectacular, but they're good time wasters for passing time in the airport, etc.
And, speaking of being on the road, you can have people email documents to your Kindle. That service isn't free, but it isn't terribly expensive either. If you're on the road and someone needs to get a document to you and you don't have your laptop handy or don't have a 3G card for it - there's always the Kindle (there are some caveats to that too, but the service is available).
Amazon pushes as a feature that you can buy and receive a publication from them in "60 seconds", and you can. You have to set up a "1-click" Amazon payment, but after that ordering new books directly from the Kindle is very quick and easy. While I said earlier you can't (at least not easily right now) borrow library books with it, you <span style="font-style: italic">can</span> download tons of older books from a variety of sources on the 'net for free - including Amazon. You can also upload books in .pdf format directly to the Kindle - the reading "experience" isn't remotely the same as a regular book, but the .pdfs are sharp and clear.
Amazon has an application for nearly all the major portable devices too, including the new Android-Tablets, iPads, and computers so you can store/read anything you've purchased or downloaded through Amazon on <span style="font-style: italic">any</span> of those devices (at the same time too I think). I've got several books loaded into my Android "Kindle", on my laptops, and my desktop machine.
Alternatives are the Nook and Sony readers which have similar e-Ink displays, and the iPad and the new Android Tablets. While they're neat devices, I just can't see spending several hundred bucks on an iPad or Tablet just to use it as a reader - but at $139 for the Kindle, I don't feel too badly about tossing it in my overnight bag or backpack.
The new color Nook might be something to look closely at though (even with the lower battery life), it's running on Android and should be around $250. Still more than I'd pay for a reader, but I'm sure it'll end up being a pretty versatile tablet at a decent price.
Hey Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
