It was only ever really a matter of time before eBook Readers hit the mainstream market.

In fact if anything, we should be suprised that it has taken this long. Since iTunes was launched with such success in 2004, other forms of media have quickly climbed on the digital bandwagon deciding that it is the best way forward.

Television is currently in the middle of what is being described as the great “Digital Switch Over” meaning that by 2012 all TV services in the UK will be provided digitally. Even radio has got in on the act, with DAB radios offering high quality audio at very affordable prices.

So why shouldn’t the written word get invited to the party too? Well the good news is that with the arrival of the Sony Reader, the invitation has not just been sent out. It has been well and truly accepted too.

The Sony eBook Reader is by no means the only Reader out there, but the cash involved in its launch has raised awareness of the new technology and what it can offer those who enjoy reading on the move.

For the first time people are contemplating being able to take a whole library with them whilst travelling. And it’s not just books that can be enjoyed either. The iRex iLiad, for example, allows users to download RSS feeds as well as entire newspapers meaning that your eBook Reader can be enjoyed on your trips into work … and not just when you’re off on holiday. The same machine comes supplied with a stylus too which allows the reader to go one step further and save their own personal notes in the text simply by writing onto the screen. This opens up a whole new world to professionals such as architects who can now make all the notes and drawings that they want on their eBook Reader without having to worry about lugging around a huge sketchpad.

It’s my hope that eBook Readers catch the imagination of the public in the same way as digital music did. They certainly deserve to. They’re a great way of allowing people to take a wide range of literature with them in a handy portable form … and with most eBooks a fraction of the price of your average paperback, they offer great value for money too.

It may have taken a while for literature to make an appearance in this new, digital age. But now that that it has, I for one, hope it makes its self truly indespensible.

Mortimer is the proud owner of the Sony eBook Reader that goes everywhere with him