There are few brands in the world where the product itself becomes a category of sort. When it comes to copying, there's Xerox. When it comes to cola drinks, Coca-Cola stands out. Google is synonymous to search. And when it comes to e-readers, Kindle is the name with the most brand recall.

Let me begin with a question to existing Kindle owners. Have you, ever since you have bought your Kindle, felt the need to upgrade? Well, chances are that your answer is No. And, Amazon is desperately trying to turn that answer into a Yes.

E-readers have been around for some time... There was the Nook, a few by Sony, a few Kobos and of course Kindle by Amazon. There have been several along the years and currently there are four different versions...

Petite size; Stunning display; Bundled-in case; superb battery life

3G version almost as expensive as an iPad

A typical iPhone or iPad is capable of doing damn near anything you need it to-so long as you don't need to do it in direct sunlight. And while those devices certainly become more energy efficient over the years, heavy users like me still find it difficult to get through a full day without having to...

The base model of Amazon's latest and best e-reader, the Kindle Oasis with Wi-Fi, costs $290. The Oasis version I tested, which supplements its Wi-Fi adapter with a 3G connection (so you can download e-books while on the go) and that doesn't present you with "special offers" (Amazon's euphemism for...

The Kindle Oasis is the best Kindle ever made. But it's way too expensive for most people, especially when cheaper models offer the same sharp display and backlighting.

There's a lot to love about the Kindle Oasis, even if many of the core features are available on the significantly cheaper Kindle Paperwhite. But that's missing the point – and if you've got this far we'd bet that won't bother you.

Expensive; 3G version is even more; Needs more case choices

Expensive; 3G version is even more; Needs more case choices

Lots of book capacity

Limited other than book capacity plus it's only black and white on screen

However good it is, US$290 is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on an e-reader. Obvious, isn't it? Not, it seems, to Amazon, which has released the Kindle Oasis as part of a new wave of products that can actually turn a profit rather than be loss leaders.

There's no doubt that the Kindle Oasis is technically the best eReader you can get. Amazon has done a great job with the new design which is impressively small, light and ergonomic. The cover is a nice touch too and adds additional battery life to boot.