It is not always a good idea to go strictly by reviews, most of the reviews on items like this are done even before they are released to the public, or at least soon after they begin to sell. Those reviews are based on those early original models and of course the release price. Most of these type devices will have many updates to them just like windows gets updates, these fix the bugs as they are discovered. So if you are reading an early review that is saying something does not work right or complains of something it likely has had an update that fixed that problem. If I had gone by only the early reviews of the Pandigital Novel I never would have got one, and that would have been a huge mistake because it is a great device. I take the reviews as one part of my purchase decision. Now when you introduce a super low price like this special sale is that really makes a difference, because to me for $49 it is definitely worth picking up and trying because of course if I find it is not what I was hoping for I can bring it right back. So when looking at reviews of any tech item I pay close attention to the date that the review was written. Knowing that an old review is just that a review of an old device not the most recent version. I put a lot of weight on my decision when I can get direct word of mouth from someone that actually owns the device too. To each his own process.

There are already rumors about Kindle Fire having free 3G in the future. If this comes true - this will be a major revolutionary move. This is something I can see Bezos doing, as he has become a "Disruptor." Here you go Teresa: iPad - Apple's "tablet" computer. It is just a touch screen, and you can purchase a separate keyboard for it. You can load it with applications that you download from the Apple app store. notebook, laptop, netbook - these are all computers where the screen is on one side and the keyboard is on the other and the thing opens and closes like a book. Started out with laptop, then got smaller and smaller and called themselves notebooks and netbooks. tablet - what iPads are, and everyone is now copying - touchscreens with no separate keyboards. If you want to type - a virtual touch keyboard appears onscreen. pda - personal digital assistant like the old Casios, then Palms. Pretty much obsolete since the features (mostly address books and notes) are now added to cell phones. smart phone - cell phone with computing features. ereader - electronic book readers. You can read electronic books on any computer, tablet and smart phones now. But ereaders like the non-tablet Kindles have a special screen that makes reading easier on the eye.

The site is actually a companion to the publication, and an attempt by CR to stay viable in the publishing business. The method being used is called a "hook". You review the free limited information with the hope a viewer subscribes to the site, or the magazine for total access. Just recently CR offered me a discounted publication subscription renewal along with a free gift subscription for anyone of my choice. And, this is not the first time one of my subscriptions has done this. Right now on the desk next to my monitor is an offer from Smithsonian Magazine. They are offering me a reduced renewal, and two free gift subscriptions. The "hook" is being directed towards both myself, and in the future the new readers. It is obvious to me the Internet is rapidly effecting the publication industry. Finally for myself when I am spending money, as I did just recently on a new SS refrigerator and a SS range, I am more concerned as to the quality and reliability of the information rather than as to whether it is free or not. You get what you pay for as nothing is free in life. DA

I have a Kindle, which I love. Just a regular Kindle. At the moment I have 10 "pages" of samples saved on it. I love that I can hear about a book somewhere, grab a free sample on my Kindle, and just have it saved there so when I'm ready to read a new book, I have a huge selection of choices. Of course, usually by the time I get to a book, I can't remember WHY I saved it (where did I hear about this book? from a friend, book review, what?) but then I can just click on the description to remind myself. I also have an Ipad. DH does too, and that's where he does all his reading. I seem to have ADD brought on by perimenopause, so I'm afraid if I read books on my iPad, I'd be constantly stopping to go check my email, pop into this forum, check the weather, etc. So I don't read books on my iPad. Also, I take my Kindle to the beach, in its leather cover, slipped into a gallon size ziplock bag (sounds weird, but I can read through the bag!). I think I'd be worried about doing the same with the iPad because it seems more delicate, and also more expensive to replace if something goes wrong.