I was unhappy with Google Reader, so I built my own web-based RSS reader called Feed Fiend (http://feedfiend.com). It is simple, without all the useless bells and whistles-- just news. It also has a one-click subscribe tool that makes it easy to find new feeds. So yes, this is my own site, and yes, I do plan to make money from it. But if you want an alternative, it is available. I have been up all night telling people about it, because I sincerely believe it is a great alternative. Go give it a try. Aaron Wright FeedFiend.com

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Blio. Sure, it isn't available yet, but based on the demos of it, it looks promising. I think I will wait until Blio becomes available, then try it out on my netbook. If it stinks, then I will go out and get a dedicated e-book reader. But with color diagrams, embedded video, highlighting, and the ability to read out loud, I think it will be pretty cool, especially for textbooks. The only concern I have is whether or not the books will be locked with DRMs. I haven't heard anything about that yet.