Hi Lorna, To be fair, *no* eReaders are backlit - even the Sony ones. The eInk just doesn't let light through. You can get a book jacket with a built in light. The more I play with it, the easier it gets. The menus aren't as intuitive as other readers, but they're pperfectly adequate. Having played with the Sonys, I can't say that they're radically different. I agree that they should have working models on display. It's unfortunate that they won't take it back - but, much like any product, "caveat emptor". Thanks for the comment. T