I am still looking for xc/ commute bike, buget has gone up to about £500 . The Blast looks a good bike has anyone tried one or have any opinions to alternative bikes probably buying this weekend if all goes to plan

I have a Y2k Blast but this years looks amazing aswell. Bloody good bikes Konas.

nice one I did look at a specialized hardrock but read that it weighed 35lb ish(can't remember)and I am also tempted to get one of those "jumpy" style konas (scab or something) but really it is probably impractical and more expensive . It's just as purchase approaches I worry about missing a top bike out there!
Can the Blast take a bit of abuse with it being an xc and all that (I fall of quite often! much to everyones ammusement)

Yes, the Blast can and will take abuse and its handling is so sublime. It has had excellent reviews also in the MTB press.

If you know enough about bikes then you could buy a mailorder bike, and you will find last year's bike for cheaper. However, if you don't know how to do jobs such as fitting a new cassette or changing the stem or v-brakes I would suggest you might be better buying from your local shop

Cheers Ben, I have been mountain biking for about 17 years now (christ am I getting old or what ?!) and a Local(ish) shop has knocked £60 of the price of this years model. I have a 1999 stinky under renovation but have decided to go back to a hardtail basically for its' efficiency and ease of maintanace. A thought though is I am still falling off regularly , Still learning , What a sport mtb is ! Oh , what you said did confirm my own thoughts and I ordered the bike today so thanks for the advice