If you don't have any animations and it is just straight text and images, you could always save it as a PDF file

 I've created many PPT presentations for a resource library. This particular
 client doesn't have PPT on his laptop. I sent him the link for the PPT
 reader, but isn't there a different file type I can use for the presentation
 so that anyone can read it, with or without PPT or the PPT reader? Thanks for
 any insight you can provide.

You can package the presentation as an exe file, which will include the ppt
viewer. Check this out:
"Make a standalone EXE that runs a PowerPoint presentation"
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00575.htm

Here are some suggestions for you:
If you want to send your PowerPoint to someone else, but you don't
sure if they have PowerPoint program intalled or they have a computer.
1. Burn Your PowerPoint to a DVD disc. You can learn how to and
advantages on this website:
http://www.ppt-to-video.com/support/knowledges/why-burn-powerpoint-to-dvd.html
Acoolsoft PPT2DVD is a professional PowerPoint to DVD conversion tool
which helps you easily burn PowerPoint to DVD, or converts them to
MPEG Video.
With 3-Click simplicity, you can burn your PowerPoint presentations on
DVD with transitions, animations, sound and movies retained. You can
even create flexible DVD Menus for your PowerPoint presentations to
play on TV with a DVD remote control.
2. Convert PowerPoint to Video, and then send it directly to your
target audience.
Learn the advantages and tutorials from here:
http://www.ppt-to-video.com/support/knowledges/convert-to-video-for.html
Acoolsoft PPT2Video Converter is a PowerPoint to video converter which
helps you easily convert PowerPoint to video formats such as MPEG,
AVI, FLV, MP4, WMV, 3GP, MOV, ASF, 3GP2. It is very convenient and
efficient, requiring only a few mouse clicks to create fully featured
video with sound track.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexander Smith is an expert in E-learning who concentrated to give
you the best solution of PowerPoint to Video and PowerPoint to DVD,
also include some tips and tricks about presentation which will make
your life and work easier. Want to learn more about PowerPoint to
Video and PowerPoint to DVD with him? Visit the website now:
http://www.ppt-to-video.com/
Alex can be reached at alexbear88#gmail.com
(c) Copyright - Alexander. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

As mentioned, PDF is a pretty good choice.

Or you could save it as a web page and choose Single File (MHT) which puts
everything into one file.

-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ:  www.pptfaq.com
PPTools:  www.pptools.com
================================================

A good way to view a powerpoint presentation without Powerpoint is converting
it to videos or flash, which can be played on any PCs. There are many
conversion tools out there. You can search powerpoint to dvd, ppt to video
and ppt to flash on google. Here is a good article introduces some famous
this kind of conversion tools:
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/can_i_create_powerpoint_slides_on_my_pc_and_play_th
em_on_a_dvd_player.html

good luck!

I have also been able to save-as-web-page and send my presentations to people who don't
have PowerPoint or the viewer.  Some of the rendering is not very clean, however.
                        joe

Joseph M. Newcomer [MVP]
email: newcomer@flounder.com
Web: http://www.flounder.com
MVP Tips: http://www.flounder.com/mvp_tips.htm