Did you know you can read eBooks on your computer? You don’t need a separate handheld eReader or tablet.

I was talking to a friend last week who had seen an eBook on Amazon that he wanted to buy, but he doesn’t have a Kindle device, so thought he was stuck.

Amazon.com make it easy. Go to this web page to download free software for your computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sa_menu_karl?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

(If you don’t have an account at Amazon.com already you will need to set one up.)

Once your software is installed, you can try some free eBooks to get used to reading books on the screen. Go to Amazon’s Kindle store here: http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=154606011 and enter Free in the search box.

Pick a book, click the orange “Buy now with one click” button on the right and you’re away!

Amazon’s eBook format is called Kindle. Most other eBook sellers (e.g. Kobo, Apple’s iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony) provide eBooks in the ePub format.

You can download free software to read ePub books on your computer here: http://www.adobe.com/products/digital-editions.html

When your Digital Editions software is installed, visit https://www.smashwords.com/ click the free option in the price range and choose some books. Sign up for a Smashwords account and download your books.

You may also find that your public library lets you borrow eBooks. My local Wellington City Library offers a big range of ePub format eBooks here: http://www.wcl.govt.nz/downloads/

Happy e-reading!
Philip