You CAN read eBooks on ANY mp3 Player...Right Now!

I know every once in a while, I like to go off on a tangent and talk about my Zune. Now, I've never had an iPod before, and maybe that's where I am a little bit sheltered, but I am constantly finding good things to do with my Zune. An mp3 player is not just for music, videos and pictures. I don't accept the official party line that neither the Zune nor iPod supports PDFs or eBooks! So, I did a little trolling around the internet. I found a nifty little program that WILL let me read eBooks on my device. Yes, you can do it on the iPod or any other device that reads picture files too. Here's how.

I recently downloaded Suze Orman's Women and Money, after Oprah gave it away for free the other week. Since I don't spend too much time on the computer, I haven't read it yet but would like to. I spend a lot of time in my car....waiting...running errands...then waiting in line...doctors' offices....wherever...waiting. Up til now, I've been listening to some of my favorite talkshow personalities and hosts via podcast, as well as watching some documentaries and movies I had downloaded to take along. Now, I do like to look around and smell the roses and take in the scenery too, don't get me wrong...but, I just can't get away from sinking my teeth into a good book every now and then along with these little electronic stimulations. I am like my father, in that everywhere I go, I either have a newspaper or book in tow. I can't even go to sleep at night without reading...anything, even if it's a package label if that's all there is...but again, I am digressing and getting off topic!

I have about ten eBooks on my computer, from various sources, darn it...that I'd really like to read, and I am NOT buying another electronic device, ala Amazon's new Kindle. I found and downloaded some free software called eBook to Images. The gist is that this program converts every page in your eBook (in whatever format it is originally in, to include PDF images) to bitmap or jpg files, your choice. It won't convert any pictures in the book, just the written word, which is the most important part anyway.

Here are some screenshots of the program, as well as some photos of how your eBook can look on your device. You can even add page numbers, change the orientation, image size/resolution and a few other things. At first I thought the letters would be too small to read, but the Zune has such a nice large screen (larger than the iPod), that so far, I have no sign of any eyestrain.

When converting your eBook with this software, be sure to use the settings below to get the best possible copy.

• Screen width and height should be 320 x 240.

• Click "page numbers" and "rotate 270 deg".

• Keep the black background and white lettering; I've found this leaves nice and crisp lettering and is easier to read.

• Font no smaller than size 10.

• Click "ignore trailing returns".

• Click "Convert to images" to start the process.

• Once the software is done, click "Show Results" to see where the folder was deposited on your computer. On mine, it was put in the "My Documents" folder.

• For the Zune, put this converted book folder (I renamed mine with book title and author) into your "My Pictures" folder. When it is time to sync with your mp3 player, you should see the book folder listed there along with all the other picture folders you have.

• When viewing in your mp3 player, make sure you have your shuffle feature turned off and view each jpg in order, page by page.
  

It's just a little annoying seeing the original book page numbers mixed in with the new page numbers the converting program put in there, but otherwise, I enjoy being able to read my eBooks away from the computer.

How do you read your eBooks? Do you have a PDA or do you read them on your computer? Or do you not even do eBooks? Now I'm wondering what else I can do with my Zune....what is your favorite gadget? Do you have a favorite little program that makes your gadget perform even better?