There are a number of free e-book reader apps available for PCs, including Mobipocket, Sony Reader, MS Reader, and Stanza (yes, the iPhone app... I just found this out). And you should be able to find a lot of free content just waiting to be downloaded for them. As it happens, during Read an E-Book Week, a number of places are going to make catalogs of free e-books available... check out the
Read an E-Book Week website for details. I'm making one of my novels available for free this week, too.
By the way, if your laptop is a fairly new Windows-based machine, it may come equipped with ClearType, a system that smoothes the edges of fonts on screen, making them easier on the eyes. (It would be in your screen settings.) It makes a huge difference!