Each time I log on to Amazon, I’m presented with offers to buy the Kindle. It’s a cute ebook reading machine that admittedly makes it a breeze to enjoy ebooks. The fonts are large. The display is clear. And it lets you read in portrait mode, just like you do for regular book.
I’d be tempted to plunk out some cash the same way many of my friends did- but the thing is, it costs almost the same price as a Netbook. I have two of the latter already! What’s more, all the Kindle can do is read ebooks. It therefore made no economical sense to obtain one.
Are you tempted to get the kindle? I you have an XP-based netbook, I urge you not to. You can, with some tweaks, obtain the same functionality without having to lug another device in your briefcase. Here’s how to transform your eeePC into a “better-than-Kindle” reading device.
Download Microsoft Reader over at microsoft.com/reader. Alternatively, you can e Adobe Digitl Editions. Neither would cost you and both will let you read PDFs and ebooks.
Go Portrait Mode because reading text horzontally can be a strain. You want to read your tomes the same way you read real books- in portrait mode. The easiest way to do this is access Display Settings from your mobile control panel, then check then Enable Rotation. Tick the 270 degree radio button and press apply. Presto! You can now hold your netbook the same way you hold a regular book. You won’t have to scroll so much anymore to finish a page. Just be wary that you don’t squeeze the screen when you hold it. The LCD pixel may get damaged.
Grab a Ton of Ebooks. You can use bitorrent to find ebooks or you can visit Project Gutenberg (www.guttenberg.org) which stores thousands of classics. There are enough ebooks there to last you all the long haul flights for the rest of your natural life!
Enjoy!
