I travel often, and part of my baggage problem is that I pack a lot of books no matter where I'm headed. And, these days you never know I could sit on the runway for at least 5 hours. I've held off investing in the Sony Reader until now, released this week my own Sony PRS500 Portable Reader System has arrived, and it's stunning.

This Reader utilizes E Ink Display technology, which depicts text as clear as if it were on paper, but the screen can be magnified up to 200% (perfect for anyone prone to headaches or if you want to loan it to your mama like me). I've found that the brightness of any room does not have a negative impact on the high contrast/high resolution screen. The Reader weighs just under nine ounces and is super slim at less than a 1/2". Leave no word behind, carry-on multiple books without over-packing your bags with those fiction/non-fiction bricks you know you won't get to read. The battery life boasts up to 7,500 pages per single charges.

The internal memory 3 slot is perfect for removable memory cards, so take your books, documents, photos, and MP3s with you wherever you go. You can also upgrade your purchase to include optional Memory Stick storage or SD memory card. And, while there are numerous free e-books online, there's also Sony's Connect eBookstore.

Phenomenal technology, I'm a convert! And, finally my chance to stop annoying people on the subway with my bad book/coffee balance and intrusive (well-clumsy) page turning.

Price: $272.84 at Amazon.