Of course it's silly. I'm not about to read a book on my PC's monitor. Or on a dreadfully expensive electronic book. But then again, when a dreadfully insistent and technologically challenged editor gets really excited about something, guess who gets to write about it. The surprise? He may be on to something. (Oh, yeah, like kissing up isn't in your repertoire?)

The concept is a no-brainer. Download a free program--called a reader--that's designed to display a book on your notebook or PC's screen. The other option is to buy a dedicated device called an e-book reader, a cool device the size of a legal pad, only a little thicker. Then grab as many of the hundreds of free books as you want. Granted, lots of the books are stodgy classics--for instance, Moby Dick, Dracula, and Frankenstein. But there are also plenty of fresh-off-the-shelf books available from online sites for under $10.

Start With a Free Reader

I like Microsoft's Reader software because it's a simple, easy-to-use program. With a Reader add-on for Word 2000, I can save documents and pass them along to friends who can use the Reader to view them. Microsoft also gives you its Encarta Pocket Dictionary at no cost. Download the add-on, Reader, and Encarta.

Even if you're not interested in reading books on your PC, try the Reader just to experience ClearType. It's a technology that makes text easier to read on screen. I'm hoping ClearType will eventually be available for the everyday applications we all use on notebooks and desktop systems.

For details about how the Reader works on PCs and notebooks, head for Microsoft's Reader site. You can also learn more about how ClearType improves font sharpness on Microsoft's site. Then for fun, read Steve Gibson's exposé on what he calls a Microsoft non-invention.

Dig this: While you're reading, take a gander at the FBI's site. There are some gems available because of the Freedom of Information Act. You'll be amazed at the 56-page document about Amelia Earhart, UFOs in Roswell, Mickey Mantle's file, and original memos from J. Edgar's files (you call that sleeveless rag a dress?).

Adobe's Reader: A Distant Second

I wasn't enamored with the Acrobat eBook Reader. It works, sure, and it's as easy to use as Microsoft's Reader. But what's annoying (and so incredibly dumb) is I had to uninstall Ontrack's SystemSuite 2000, my utility program, in order for it to work. Download the eBook Reader from Adobe.

Dig this: The SodaConstructor is an online toy that lets you build and play with things made out of masses, springs, and muscles. I promise, except for reading this column, it's more fun than anything else you'll do today. [Bass: You've obviously got too much free time on your hands. Let's talk-Ed.]

You might be struggling to decide which of the readers to use. There's a nifty comparison chart on the Barnes & Noble site.

BTW, if you're using a Palm, take a gander at "Adobe Puts PDF Support on Palms."

The Book Biz Buzz

To read about new book offerings from a major bookseller, check out "Barnes & Noble Helps Books Go Digital."

You might be interested in how the electronic book biz is shaping up. Read "Book Industry Takes Lessons From Napster."

Download an E-Book

Want to try an e-book? Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com both offer tons of them. Amazon has a hefty selection of freebies. And Barnes & Noble sells hundreds of e-books for under $10, with many at $2 and $3.

There are two other places where you can play around with free electronic books and text. The Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts has an assortment of public domain docs. Grab, say, Jack London's White Fang or The Call of the Wild for the price of a download. Then whiz over to the University of Virginia Library's Etext Center for an even bigger collection of books.

A Portable Reader for Gadget Heads

I had a chance to play with a Gemstar eBook reader for a month. They call it a "dedicated electronic reading device," and it looks like a thin tablet with a screen. You download books from the Web using a built-in modem, then read your mystery novel from a color screen (or monochrome, depending on the model). Both versions store about 20 novels, or more if you add a memory card.

It's a nifty gizmo, and I love it for traveling. I mean, stick two or three novels on it and I can fly to Timbuktu with plenty to read. But it's mighty expensive, with no discounts, and nothing I could afford on my salary. The REB1200 Color model lists for $700; the REB1100 monochrome (and the one I'd buy if I had the bucks) is $300.

We have lots more to say about the device. Read "Book Addicts to Get New E-Fix."

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