keith, if you really want to pursue this discussion, i can provide a wide-ranging response throughout, but for right now, let us just cut to the chase, ok? while you're certainly entitled to your opinion that the kindle and the ipad are overpriced, which gives an explanation for your decision not to buy either, i hope you would also understand why some people _might_ consider your opinion to be "uninformed". let me put it this way: millions of people are happy -- quite often _deliriously_ so -- with their kindles. this includes people who thought they would hate it, but who received it as a gift, and learned otherwise. in a similar vein, _millions_and_millions_ of people are happy with their ipads -- many to a degree that surprised them, or even shocked them, even though they had expected that they would like the machine. (you can chalk me down as an ipad happy customer.) imagine that... happy customers. not just "satisfied", but _happy_! customers who feel like they got their money's worth, and more. in 2011. unbelievable. who'da thunk it? would i like to get twice the machine at half the price? well... sure i would... obviously. really, who wouldn't? but do i think i've been "overcharged"? not by a mile. so will i buy at least one kindle as a christmas present? yeah, as a matter of fact, i most certainly will do that... and will you see me standing in line to buy an ipad3? well, no, you won't, because i don't stand in lines, but as soon as i can walk into an apple store and buy one and carry it out with me, you can bet that i will do that. -bowerbird