diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index db4bb5c754..34f9f57161 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@ from PyQt4.QtGui import QFileDialog, QMessageBox, QPixmap, QFileIconProvider, \
 ORG_NAME = 'KovidsBrain'
 APP_UID  = 'libprs500'
 from calibre import islinux, iswindows, isosx
-from calibre.utils.config import Config, ConfigProxy, dynamic
+from calibre.utils.config import Config, ConfigProxy, dynamic, JSONConfig
 from calibre.utils.localization import set_qt_translator
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata.meta import get_metadata, metadata_from_formats
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import MetaInformation
 
+gprefs = JSONConfig('gui')
 
 NONE = QVariant() #: Null value to return from the data function of item models
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
index f85a19da24..6cbae7f7b0 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from calibre.utils.ipc.server import Server
 from calibre.gui2 import warning_dialog, choose_files, error_dialog, \
                             question_dialog,\
                            pixmap_to_data, choose_dir, \
-                           Dispatcher, \
+                           Dispatcher, gprefs, \
                            available_height, \
                            max_available_height, config, info_dialog, \
                            available_width, GetMetadata
@@ -518,7 +518,21 @@ class Main(MainWindow, Ui_MainWindow, DeviceGUI):
         self.connect(self.library_view.model(), SIGNAL('count_changed(int)'),
                      self.tags_view.recount)
         self.connect(self.search, SIGNAL('cleared()'), self.tags_view.clear)
+        if not gprefs.get('quick_start_guide_added', False):
+            from calibre.ebooks.metadata import MetaInformation
+            mi = MetaInformation(_('Calibre Quick Start Guide'), ['John Schember'])
+            mi.author_sort = 'Schember, John'
+            mi.comments = "A guide to get you up an running with calibre"
+            mi.publisher = 'calibre'
+            self.library_view.model().add_books([P('quick_start.epub')], ['epub'],
+                    [mi])
+            gprefs['quick_start_guide_added'] = True
+            self.library_view.model().books_added(1)
+            if hasattr(self, 'db_images'):
+                self.db_images.reset()
+
         self.library_view.model().count_changed()
+
         ########################### Cover Flow ################################
         self.cover_flow = None
         if CoverFlow is not None:
@@ -1008,7 +1022,6 @@ class Main(MainWindow, Ui_MainWindow, DeviceGUI):
             return
         self._add_books(books, to_device)
 
-
     def _add_books(self, paths, to_device, on_card=None):
         if on_card is None:
             on_card = 'carda' if self.stack.currentIndex() == 2 else 'cardb' if self.stack.currentIndex() == 3 else None
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/config.py b/src/calibre/utils/config.py
index 697cfbe388..a0e5632cb7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/config.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/config.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ __docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
 '''
 Manage application-wide preferences.
 '''
-import os, re, cPickle, textwrap, traceback, plistlib
+import os, re, cPickle, textwrap, traceback, plistlib, json
 from copy import deepcopy
 from functools import partial
 from optparse import OptionParser as _OptionParser
@@ -564,23 +564,31 @@ class XMLConfig(dict):
     data types.
     '''
 
+    EXTENSION = '.plist'
+
     def __init__(self, rel_path_to_cf_file):
         dict.__init__(self)
         self.file_path = os.path.join(config_dir,
                 *(rel_path_to_cf_file.split('/')))
         self.file_path = os.path.abspath(self.file_path)
-        if not self.file_path.endswith('.plist'):
-            self.file_path += '.plist'
+        if not self.file_path.endswith(self.EXTENSION):
+            self.file_path += self.EXTENSION
 
         self.refresh()
 
+    def raw_to_object(self, raw):
+        return plistlib.readPlistFromString(raw)
+
+    def to_raw(self):
+        return plistlib.writePlistToString(self)
+
     def refresh(self):
         d = {}
         if os.path.exists(self.file_path):
             with ExclusiveFile(self.file_path) as f:
                 raw = f.read()
                 try:
-                    d = plistlib.readPlistFromString(raw) if raw.strip() else {}
+                    d = self.raw_to_object(raw) if raw.strip() else {}
                 except SystemError:
                     pass
                 except:
@@ -618,11 +626,21 @@ class XMLConfig(dict):
             if not os.path.exists(dpath):
                 os.makedirs(dpath, mode=CONFIG_DIR_MODE)
             with ExclusiveFile(self.file_path) as f:
-                raw = plistlib.writePlistToString(self)
+                raw = self.to_raw()
                 f.seek(0)
                 f.truncate()
                 f.write(raw)
 
+class JSONConfig(XMLConfig):
+
+    EXTENSION = '.json'
+
+    def raw_to_object(self, raw):
+        return json.loads(raw.decode('utf-8'))
+
+    def to_raw(self):
+        return json.dumps(self, indent=2)
+
 
 def _prefs():
     c = Config('global', 'calibre wide preferences')