Can most e-books be read on a computer?  I have a few on my desktop computer that I've read as pdf files, but I sit here enough just working on the computer... I don't like to sit here & stare at the screen to READ.  However, I'm looking into buying a netbook and might be more apt to read on that.  Also, I'm going to NY for a month and last year I literally brought a BOX of books along with me.  Ridiculous, but I read 3-4 books a week.  Maybe if I bought some e-books and put them on my computer, I wouldn't need to bring my entire TBR shelf along with me.

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Until I got my Nook, I read all my ebooks on the computer.  Like Allie said, both Kindle, B&N and Sony all have software you can download to read their books.  Adobe Acrobat reader is free, just download it for most PDF files.  Some websites even give you the option of downloading books in  doc or text format.

You can read most if not all on a computer, although you might get eyestrain from the backlighting.

If you go to Fictionwise, they have a good selection of books in pdf format, which you can even store on a flash drive for when you get a break at work and want to read a little.  Fictionwise does run quite a few specials and rebates too, and you can get short stories in the mystery or sci-fi magazines from them. 

I'd also recommend downloading the reader software from the companies that sell readers.  There are free books available all the time, although it can be a rolling inventory.  I've gotten books for free one week on a limited offer, and seen them selling for full price the next, so you get a chance to stock up if you work ahead a little.

I read e-books on my computer too. I use Adobe when places like eharlequin are giving away free e-books. I downloaded the e-reader from B&N to my laptop & desktop so I can read any ebooks purchased there on either computer. B&N has had some pretty good prices on ebooks. Not so much on authors like Nora Roberts, James Patterson, etc.. but on authors like Lorelei James,Shelly Laurenston and a few others I'd had on my WL for a while I thought the prices were good.

I read ebooks on my computer long before I got an ereader!  I used Adobe Digital Editions and had no problem with PDF ebooks.  As long as the ebooks are DRM free, you can read any format on Calibre.

I think I had over 50 ebooks before I ever got an ereader last Christmas.

amazon, B&N etc also have reader software you can download for other devices like iphone, blackberry, ipad....

Thanks so much everyone!