Microsoft Reader FAQs
What is Microsoft Reader with ClearType?
Microsoft Reader is a free software application designed to deliver an on-screen reading experience that approaches the convenience and quality of paper. Microsoft Reader is the first product to include patented ClearType display technology, which improves resolution on LCD screens by up to 300 percent to deliver a print-like display. Microsoft Reader also pays strict attention to the traditions and benefits of good typography. It offers a clean, uncluttered layout; ample margins; proper spacing, leading, and kerning; plus powerful tools for marking, highlighting, and annotating your eBooks.
What are the features of Microsoft Reader?
- ClearType
Patented ClearType® display technology provides the Great on-screen readability on multiple platforms. ClearType allows for improved display clarity by 300 percent on standard LCD screens.
- Bookmarks
Microsoft Reader lets you add electronic bookmarks and use them in powerful ways. Bookmarks appear in the page margin.Click a Bookmark to go to a page. A Bookmark is filled in when you are on the bookmarked page, otherwise only its outline is shown.
- Improved Navigation
Microsoft Reader 2.0 lets you move around in multiple ways using your keyboard or mouse. The new Riffle Control allows you to easily turn pages or skip to another page in an eBook. Display the Riffle Control by right-clicking the page number at the bottom of your eBook's page.
- Find
A powerful reading function unavailable with paper books, Find helps you search for words or phrases quickly and easily.
- Notes
With Notes, you can use your keyboard to add written comments, easily, to any page.
- Font Size
Create instant large print editions of any eBook! Microsoft Reader with ClearType lets you instantly increase or decrease font size from the Settings page.
- Drawings
Select from a dozen colors to circle words, underline text, or add any other type of mark to a page.
- Highlights
You can call attention to a word or passage by highlighting it with a stroke of your mouse, as you would with a highlighter in a paper book. You can also edit and delete highlights, and view a list of all the highlighted sections in your eBook.
- Dictionary
A Microsoft Reader dictionary is a specialized eBook that allows the user to look up word meanings through the built-in lookup functionality.
What are the advantages of using Microsoft Reader with ClearType?
Electronic reading software offers benefits of portability, storage, and additional digital features such as the ability to find a specific word or phrase wherever it appears in the text as well as an easy way to look up definitions instantly. Microsoft Reader for Windows-based PCs and laptops, laptops, and Windows Mobiles can hold as many eBooks as your device will store - possibly thousands! In addition, Microsoft Reader allows you to do many of the same things you do when you read a printed book, such as add bookmarks and make notes in the margins. You can then review all of your margin notes (as well as Bookmarks, Drawings, and Highlights) in one place. Plus, Microsoft Reader is the only reading software available that includes patented ClearType display technology, which makes the words on the screen appear almost as crisp as the words on a printed page.
On what PC platforms does Microsoft Reader run?
Microsoft Reader runs on Microsoft Windows® XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows NT®4.0 operating systems. Additional system requirements for Microsoft Reader are the following: Pentium 75 or higher microprocessor; 16 MB of RAM; approximately 19 MB of available hard-disk space (Microsoft Reader is 3,648 KB but additional space is required for installation); Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 with Service Pack 1 or later; VGA or higher resolution monitor, and video card capable of displaying 16 bit color; Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device.
Will there be versions of Microsoft Reader for the Macintosh, Palm, or Linux operating systems?
Microsoft has not announced plans to develop versions of Microsoft Reader for other platforms at this time.So till now Microsoft Reader is available for Windows OS only.
How much does Microsoft Reader cost?
There is no charge to download Microsoft Reader. It's available FREE as a download on this site and it comes preinstalled on most Windows Mobile devices.
How does Microsoft Reader protect copyrights?
For publishers, Microsoft offers a powerful and flexible digital rights management solution to enable the publication and distribution of eBook titles. You can read more about third-party distribution solutions in the Partners section of this site.
On what other devices can I read my eBooks?
With Microsoft Reader, you can read your eBooks on multiple devices, including laptops, desktops, Windows Mobiles and some new Windows CE consumer devices coming to market.
What is the average size of a Microsoft Reader eBook file?
Microsoft Reader titles are quite small and range from 200 KB for a short to medium length eBook to 600 KB for a longer work. For example, a 300-page novel is approximately 250 KB as a Microsoft Reader file. The file size depends on the complexity of the content. An image-based eBook could be significantly larger.
What types of media does Microsoft Reader support?
Currently, Microsoft Reader supports text, images, and audio functionality. Support for HTML and HTML links is also provided. Look for additional media formats, such as streaming video, to be supported in future versions.
I already have Microsoft Reader installed. Should I uninstall it?
No, you do not need to uninstall Microsoft Reader, but you do need to activate it using your Microsoft Passport. To review activation process and other system requirements for Microsoft Reader, click here.
What is 'activation'?
Activation is required to purchase eBook titles that have been encrypted for distribution through the activation process: it's a quick registration process that identifies your computer as yours alone, allowing you to purchase commercially-published eBooks. If you already have a Microsoft Passport, activation will take less than two minutes.
Click here if you want to activate!!!
Do I have to activate Microsoft Reader?
Yes. Activation upgrades your copy of Microsoft Reader to let you read premium eBook titles that are copy-protected by publishers at the "Owner Exclusive" level. When you activate Microsoft Reader, you identify yourself as the person who will be using your reading device.
If you don't activate, you won't be able to buy and read a lot of great content. To help protect copyrights, most commercial eBooks use innovative technologies to help ensure that they're available only to the purchaser.
How do I activate Microsoft Reader using an Microsoft Passport?
To activate Microsoft Reader using an Microsoft Passport
- When you first open Microsoft Reader, you are prompted to activate your device. Click on the Activation link to complete the activation process. You can also choose to activate your device at any time from the Microsoft Reader Activation page at:Microsoft Reader Activation
- If you do not have a Microsoft Passport account, you will need to create one in order to sign in and start the activation process. Click the "Get one" link to create a Passport account, and continue with Reader activation.
If you already have a Microsoft Passport account, click "Sign in to start the Activation process".
- Enter your Microsoft Passport sign-in name and password.
- You will be directed to the activation page, where you can activate your device. Pocket PC devices must be tethered to activate. Click the "Continue" link to initiate the Activation process. The length of time needed to complete activation will depend on the speed of your internet connection.
How do I activate my Windows Mobile device?
Point Internet Explorer to the Microsoft activation site, log in with your Passport sign-in name (any Hotmail, MSN, or Passport account will do), then, click the Activate Your Pocket PC button. You must activate through a tethered desktop or laptop connection.
