Thanks to the fine folks behind Project Gutenberg, we have access to hundreds of classic novels and public domain documents. And for a while, it was enough. I really enjoyed reading The Picture of Dorian Grey on my Nino 320, and Colette read well on my Cassiopeia E-100, but like any good thing, I wanted more. I've always been a sucker for a good horror novel, and some of those Oprah Book Club selections looked pretty inviting. After all, man does not live by classics alone.

Librius.com
Enter Librius.com. Back in 1998, amidst little fanfare, Librius.com was launched. At the time, their plan was to produce The Millennium Reader, a sub $200 electronic book reader that promised to provide the solution for people who didn't want to spend $500 or more just to read the latest potboiler. But more importantly, Librius.com planned support for Windows CE and Palm OS devices via free software download.

Since that time, there have been a number of changes at Librius. A few months back, a decision was made to shelve The Millennium Reader in favor of supporting the established user base of Windows CE devices. Future plans include support for Palm OS, EPOC, Windows 95/98/NT, and the Macintosh operating system.

In order to prepare this article, the fine folks at Librius drafted me as a tester for the alpha version of their Windows CE software, eReader, and their online bookstore.

Using Librius' service is easy, and can be broken down into seven simple steps. Please note that the information provided in this article is based on using alpha software, and the screenshots and procedures may change or be altered prior to their actual launch. But the following steps are expected to reflect the final procedure.

Step 1: Establish an account
The first thing you have to do is go to Librius' bookstore site ,which is shown in Figure B, at http://www.books2read.com. Though Librius.com is still a month or two from opening the site to the buying public, you can preview their Books2Read bookstore.

FIGURE B

Here's a look at Librius' Books2Read site. Click picture for a larger image.

At the top of the screen, next to the shopping cart icon, you'll find the words Your Account. Members need only click on the icon, and then enter their user name and password to gain access to their own personal library. Librius.com keeps track of all purchases, and stores them in a personal library. Once you've purchased a book from Librius, you can download it as many times as you like from your personal library.

The first time you log on, you'll be directed to establish an account.

Step 2: Download the free eReader software
After signing up and establishing a user name and password, you can download the eReader software. The program is relatively compact, so the download is pretty quick. I didn't time it, but with my 28.8 modem, it took no more than five minutes.

Step 3: Copy the eReader software to your Windows CE device
Now that you've downloaded the eReader software, you'll need to copy it to your device. Minimize the Books2Read site so you have access to your desktop. Put your Windows CE device in its cradle and establish a connection with your desktop computer.