Reading a book on the iPod touch — if you've got a cat, it sure beats the paper

Long story (precisely 256 pages, exclusive of acknowledgments) short: It works.

What I like about it:

• Portability (obviously) — though I've only got two Kindle store books on it now, there's room for plenty more.

• Accessibility — a consequence of portability; anytime, anywhere, whenever the mood strikes, you can read your book. So far I've done so in line at the post office and supermarket, dentist's office, vet, waiting for people, etc.

• Privacy — no one knows what you're reading. All books look alike on an iPod touch, to anyone watching.

• Readability — nice, crisp font, sized for the device so as not to attempt to cram a full book page onto the screen all at once.

• Versatility — bright, backlight white screen with black type makes reading in dark or poorly lit places a non-issue.

• Speed — free Kindle reader app and Kindle store for iPhone makes downloads very fast (the book appears on your device ready to read within seconds of buying it. Of course, that's with WiFi. I can't speak about 3G.

• Affordability — $9.99 for the Kindle editions I've purchased, as with most books available; cheaper than buying the actual book from Amazon.

• Availability — feel like reading a certain book, or bored and in search of a diversion, or just heard about a book you want to perhaps read? Instantly you can get the first chapter free via the Kindle store and decide if it's worth buying the book. That, to me, is the most powerful thing about it: a 24/7/365 bookstore no matter where happen to be (with WiFi). And even without, you've still got your downloaded books anytime you want them.

Pet-ability — most evenings I read for hours on my favorite couch, with my legs elevated on a pile of cushions and pillows and a blanket on my lap. Gray Cat oftimes joins me, walking in place on my belly for a while before settling down for a nap. Reading newspapers in such circumstances is problematic at best, since the pages need to be kept clear of her highness's slumbering self and the noise from turning the pages and folding them flat must be annoying, judging from the occasional opened eye and accompanying glare.

At such times, switching to a book has been my habit, but this past week I've used the touch instead. Much, much better, for this reason: I can hold the device with one hand, sliding to the next page silently, while petting the cat as is my wont. I call this win-win. Plus, if I fall asleep, as sometimes happens, dropping the book won't startle the furry dreamer.

Oh, I almost forgot: along with your backlit mini-Kindle reader you also get a free pocket netbook that lets you do the things you do with a computer plus access a zillion great (many free) apps.

Not bad for $217.