[cferneyh]

Can somebody please explain what the deal with Gmail is, why people get "invites", and why it's worth picking them up? Is this not normal e-mail that just anyone can sign up for?

Thanks...from your local neighbourhood technophobe...

This should answer your questions:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/about.html">http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/about.html</a><!-- m -->

As for invites - right now it is only in the testing stages so to get an account you need to have someone who already has one "invite" you so that you can set up your own account.