"The Gutenberg project releases books in a standard
text format. Volunteers convert a subset of the text to HTML and
PDFs and to a few other less ubiquitous formats besides.
"Other support sites such as manybooks.net give you even more
choice of formats including compressed formats for palmtops, iPod
and Java-based telephones. These sites are mostly free with the
option to make a small donation. The Gutenberg project has
delivered to the world the base material for serious and
progressive Edutainment. Started back in 1971 by Michael S. Hart,
the project has blossomed with numerous affiliated projects. The
project’s great success is measurable with a body of around
100,000 available texts--and rising.
"The Gutenberg project has delivered to the world the base
material for serious and progressive Edutainment. Can software help
bring to life plain text files? Alternatively, are we doomed to
wander the world carrying sheets of paper and waiting for the next
advance in smart reader technology and potential commercial vendor
lock-in?"
