As it happens...
...SWMBO went ahead and bought the Kindle (with the wifi bit) and is well pleased with it. She found it easy to log it into the network here and has successfully downloaded half a dozen books so far. She has used it whilst reading in bed and is now happy for me to put out the light on my side of the bed so that I can get to sleep. Hurrah!
She also couldn't believe the snippy tone of some of the p8sts above and asked "Is it like this all the time?"
The Ancient Mariner