Finally, good news from the e-books world… The first i-reader has emerged - the iRex e-reader - which will be finally shipped tomorrow to the European market.

The U.S. e-reading fans can only buy a plane ticket or to order it, as it is said that there is no value added tax coming over iRex reader manufacturer's recommended retail price, so it could cost you approximately $740 including shipping costs.

IRex Technologies' iLiad Reader includes the same features as Sony Reader, the main difference being the fact that the protection of the E Ink layer is made of glass and not plastic, because the latter is not waterproof and the E Ink sheet can be easily damaged. The iLiad Reader includes a power supply, an RJ-45 (Ethernet) and USB port, so that the user can recharge the Lithium-Ion battery and exchange files between the device and a PC.

Also, the device has a round button that synchronizes the iLiad with the iRex Technologies Delivery Service (IDS) via the built-in wifi connection.

Sony Reader, on the other hand, is able to display not only eBooks (average storage size - 80 eBooks), but also PDF documents, personal files, blogs, newsfeeds or images. In addition, the new device will come with an USB, Memory Stick and SD memory card slots, offering both wired and wireless Internet connectivity.

The manufacturer guarantees for the Reader's performances, saying that reading from the Sony Reader is a unique experience, as "paper technology" provides clarity and resolution that can rival with paper itself.

Sony's Reader has a 6-inch screen, the content being as easy to read in full daylight, as indoors. Also, the device can enlarge the text page by more than 200%, the user being able to read from any angle he chooses.

Sony Reader is also smaller and lighter than hardbacks, a full battery lasting for about 7,500 page turns, allowing you to charge it in only 4 hours, using an AC adapter.

You can download thousands of eBooks from Sony's CONNECT Store, an online service offering a wide range of titles - fiction, non-fiction, business, self-help and more. The user will purchase any given title at a lower cost than a print version.