Power User Monday Tip of the Week
Read Free eBooks on Your PalmOS Device
9244 reads 
I like to read, but I can't carry around an extra book if I already have my PalmOS device stuffed in my pocket. So, I compromise by downloading my favorite eBooks and installing them on my PalmOS device for easy and convenient reading, and I do it all for free. Just follow these steps, and you'll be on your way to easy, convenient, and free reading on your PalmOS device.
Required Materials
1. Palm Desktop Software (Free, included with your PalmOS device.)
2. Access to Project Gutenberg (Free, regular internet usage fees may apply.)
3a. (Mac Users) Palm Doc Converter (Free)
3b. (PC Users) DropBook (Free)
4. eReader for Palm OS (Free)
Step 1: Find an eBook
"An eBook is an electronic (or digital) version of a book." eBooks come in a variety of formats and prices. Tracking down an electronic copy of a recently released book is difficult. Typically, recently released books are available, for a price, from an online eBook store. Fortunately, our culture is backed by thousands of years worth of literature. Enter, Project Gutenberg. "Project Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works." At this time, Project Gutenberg is home to over 15,000 digitized literature file (eBooks). Most of these are classic fiction novels, and some fall under the categories of reference, script, and modern fiction. All of the eBooks presented on Project Gutenberg are 100% free and distributed as plain text (.txt) files.
Step 2: Convert Your eBook
This plain text file will be readable on your computer, but not on your PalmOS device. Fortunately, with Palm Doc Converter, it's easy to convert this plain text file into a Palm Database (.pdb) file. PC users, try DropBook. This Palm Database file will be readable by eReader, one of the best eBook readers available for PalmOS. Now, launch Palm Doc Converter, go to File/Convert, select the plain text file (the eBook that you just downloaded from Project Gutenberg), and hit "Open". This will convert your eBook into a Palm Database (.pdb) file. Alternatively, you can also convert the plain text file by dragging it on top of Palm Doc Converter's icon.
Step 3: Install eReader and the eBook
Now it's time to put these files onto your PalmOS device. Launch HotSync Manager (typically in Applications/Palm) and go to HotSync/Install Handheld Files. Now, click the "Add to List" button and select both your eBook's Palm Database file and eReader's .prc file. These two files will be installed on your PalmOS device during its next next HotSync. You only have to install eReader once.
Step 4: Start Reading
After HotSyncing your PalmOS device, proceed to the eReader application (on your PalmOS device). As you can see, eReader is one step ahead of you. eReader will automatically search your PalmOS device for any eBook-like Palm Database files and add those to its catalogue of available eBooks. Now, select your favorite eBook and start reading!
Congratulations! Now, remember that your PalmOS has a limited capacitiy, so try not to read too many eBooks at once. Enjoy your eBook. I'll see you next time!
All personal comments should be sent to the author. All other discussion should be done in the Forums
[ Back to Power User Monday Tip of the Week | Sections Index ]