We've talked about eBook products like the Amazon Kindle before, but there are other options to read books electronically that don't involve buying an expensive proprietary e-reader.

Google Books is a fantastic resource that almost noone uses (yet!).  Search for "Jane Eyre" and you can find the complete Oxford Univerity Press edition online.  Cover-to-cover, with all of the text and page formatting intact you can enjoy the whole book for free.  And of course, because this is Google, there's a bunch of other resources as well: information on the book, reviews, popular passages and links to buy a paper version at any number of online retailers.

Not all of the books available on Google Books are complete, however.  Due to copyright many publishers only allow portions of their books to be published online.  Even then, what a great way to try-before-you-buy without having to look like a jerk by thumbing through paperbacks at your local Barnes & Noble.

The latest Tom Clancy may not be complete, but most all of the classics are available in complete form on Google Books.  Hit the jump for Jane Eyre and do some searching yourself.  It's a great and convenient way to enjoy books paperlessly.  (Is "paperlessly" a word?  It is now! :P)

» Jane Eyre (Oxford University Press) at Google Books