Review: Over the last few years Apple have made it a habit to not only release a new product onto the market, but to transform that market out of all recognition. This is precisely what happened with the release of the original iPhone, and now the iPad looks set to deliver a completely new mobile computing experience.

Even as the technical specification of the iPad leaked out, the eBook community could see that the device was the kickstart the whole eBook industry was waiting for. Here was a compelling computing experience, but also potentially the best eReader yet developed. On its release, the iPad certainly seems to have delivered on its promise, as the eReader that all other developers have to beat.

Apple could see that eBooks would be a central reason for consumers wanting to own an iPad. Industry pundits foresaw the iPad and its iBookstore, doing for literature what iTunes did for music. The free iBooks app looks gorgeous on the bright high resolutions screen. Books can be easily browsed and bought just as you can effortlessly do with music and films via iTunes. And Apple also realized that they must also support industry eBook standards in the shape of the ePub format that most eBooks are now available in.

But for the user, the iPad also offers much more than this. PDF material opens instantly thanks to the iPads A4 chip that is custom silicon that Apple have engineered. And the iPad is also a window into other eBookstores as well. Amazon quickly made their Kindle application available for the iPad, instantly giving each user access to the vast Kindle eBook library that at the moment at least, outstrips the iBookstore that Apple have created.

Clearly the price of the iPad simply as an eBook reader doesn't make economic sense, but once you pick up an iPad and begin to use it, reading eBooks is only one of a myriad of tasks it can help you complete. If you're looking for a compact eReader that could in some cases replace your notebook or netbook PC on your next business trip, look no further.

Review: Before Apple released the iPad, Amazon had begun its own revolution in electronic publishing. Much rumor surrounded the Kindle before its release that would in effect single-handedly create the market for dedicated eBook readers.

Using E-Ink technology on its six-inch screen sporting 16 levels of grey, the reading experience from the Kindle was very close to that of the printed page. The fact that the Kindle is a dedicated eReader allowed Amazon to ensure eBooks looked their absolute best on screen. For text only reading, the Kindle is very hard to beat. Many of the other eReader that rely on a backlit screen can often lead to eyestrain if used for prolonged periods.

The original Kindle was also small and lightweight offering the perfect platform to enter the world of the eBook. The built-in keyboard also allows easy access to search features and the ability to look up words in the dictionary that the Kindle is also equipped with.

For travelers that want to take several books with them, the Kindle is ideal. Weighing in at just over 10 ounces, and with enough memory to store 1,500 eBooks, you'll never run out of something to read no matter how long your flight is delayed. Moreover, with the wireless integration with the eBook store on Amazon.com, over half a million eBooks can be purchased instantly.

The six-inch version of the Kindle is the perfect device if you are looking for a dedicated compact eBook reader. Yes, you can play MP3 files and view other digital content such as PDF's, but the Kindle excels at just being an eReader and nothing else. And if you have the space in your luggage, Amazon how has the DX version offering a 9.7-inch screen. Lastly, if you love the Kindle eBook reading software, it is now available on every device from BlackBerry to Android smart phones, and of course the Apple iPad.

Review: Sony was relatively late to the eReader market. When they finally released their take on the dedicated eReading device, they actually released three to choose from. The Touch Edition as its name suggests embraces the current propensity to control all devices via a touch screen; but Sony have opted to use a stylus that isn't the most elegant of solutions these days.

Using the same technology as the Kindle, the E-Ink screen real estate measures six inches, but only sports 8 levels of grey unlike the Kindle that has twice that. All popular media formats are supported including the ePub standard, with storage via 512MB internal memory (enough for about 350 books) and an SD card slot. But the Sony Readers fails on the connection front with only USB for file transfer. In an age of wireless connectivity, this is a serious oversight.

Battery life is, however, excellent with a single charge lasting several weeks even with a few hours use each day. Like the Kindle, you can search a built-in dictionary that can be easily accessed. Sony also allow you to make notes right onto the page of the book you are reading, or use the readers as an electronic memo pad, and of course bookmark your current page location.

The Sony Reader is certainly a well-crafted device as you would expect from this company, but its touch screen isn't as responsive as you might like, and with the need to be tethered to a computer to load your books onto the device, this may well be too much hassle especially when there are more elegant solutions available.

There is no denying that the Sony Reader is compact and would not become a burden on your next business trip, but the lack multitasking that is becoming more widely demanded since the release of the iPad, makes the Sony look like an poor alternative to the other readers that are available. But at this price point, if you just need an eBook reader without the frills, the Sony is worth trying out. But do try the reader before you purchase it to ensure you're happy with the touch-screen and the interface.

Review: Not to be outdone by their rivals, Barns & Noble entered the market last year with what they hoped would be a Kindle killer. Sharing many of the same technical specifications as Amazon's eReader such as a six-inch screen and a 16 levels of grey via a similar E-Ink display, the Nook quickly became the eReader to watch, especially as it also sported a 3.5-inch color touch screen that the Nook uses for navigation.

There is no denying that the Nook is well designed. Barns & Noble also moved away from traditional operating systems for their eReader instead opting for the Android platform that is now finding it ways onto the latest models of smart phones and giving Apple some cause for concern as the cell phone market hots up once again.

For the traveler that wants to take an eReader, the Nook looks slightly smaller than the first generation Kindle, but is thicker and heavier, which may be an issue weighing in at just over 11 ounces, but this isn't too heavy if you want to read while waiting in line for a prolonged periods. The Nook also has a full complement of sockets including SIM and microSD that are easily accessible. And the Nook is well equipped with storage with 2GB onboard. And with Wi-fi also included you can update your collection of eBooks next time you are in a hotspot. Also, as the ePub format is supported you should have plenty of books to choose from.

Clearly the color display that sits under the main screen is what sets the Nook apart from other E-Ink readers. The navigation of your eBooks and other documents is achieved here, as well as accessing the other features the Nook has to offer. The use of the virtual keyboard is very iPhone like in this respect. However, there can be a time lag between an action and this appearing on the larger E-Ink screen that could be annoying.

The Nook is a welcome addition to the growing band of eBook readers. The additional color screen is a novelty at the moment, but all eReaders will shortly have color E-Ink screens that could take the shine of the uniqueness that the Nook currently offers. But this is a capable device that looks great and performs well if with a few operating niggles.

Review: At first glance the phrase 'cheap and cheerful' comes to mind until you see the asking price of course. The COOL readers entered the market last year with the hope of providing a dedicated eReader without any frills whatsoever. Unfortunately the drive to keep costs down has delivered a device that may be usable, but is unlikely to be desirable for the discerning business traveler that wants a high quality and capable eReader.

The COOL ER Reader is certainly able to allow you to read eBooks, but it is the implementation that lets the whole package down. The operating system is clunky and doesn't deliver the iPod for reading that the designers may have been aiming for.

In addition, the reader can also play MP3 files and also has an SD socket for external storage. No wireless connectivity is included so you will have to tether your reader via USB to load any new titles. Official titles are limited, but you can access Google Books that offers over a million public domain titles if this database contains the book you want to read of course.

Also, the controls of the eReader are certainly adequate, but you won't have any of the additional features that are now becoming standard on other eReaders. If you just want an eReader without all these added features then the COOL ER Reader could deliver this. It's just that the whole package feels less well engineered than the Kindle for instance, and light years away from the iPad.

The eBook reading market certainly needs a low-cost eReader that is compatible with the ePub standard, but users will expect a certain level of build quality and also a user experience that is seamless. The COOL ER Reader, at least not in its current format, delivers neither of these things. Its small form factor and lightweight (an amazing six ounces) plus its excellent page turn speed bode well for the future. At the moment, though, it's difficult to recommend this reader to any traveler certainly not at this price.