books in its internal memory (with slots for further storage), it comes with WiFi connectivity so you can keep up-to-date with news feeds, and its stylus allows you to annotate. Most importantly, the screen works in direct sunlight and, since it's not backlit, it's not as tiring to the eye as a computer monitor.

E-Books are available from Mobipocket (an Amazon subsidiary with almost 50,000 titles), or you can choose from more than 20,000 free (out of copyright) classics from the remarkable Project Gutenberg.

The iLiad's only rival is Sony's Reader, but for all practical purposes this device is restricted to users in the States and Japan. So while the former is expensive (at £433), it has no credible UK competition. It doesn't, however, roll or fold.