Barnes & Noble's 'Nook' said to cost $259
NEW YORK--Barnes & Noble's forthcoming electronic book reader will be called the Nook and sell for $259, according a report in The Wall Street Journal.
The Journal, citing a forthcoming ad for the product, also says the device will feature the ability to lend electronic books to others as well as a widely reported dual-screen display that features an electronic ink display and a smaller color touch screen.
The bookseller is expected to unveil the device at an event here on Tuesday. Leaked photos of the device cropped up last week. Also, as I noted earlier on Monday, Barnes & Noble has received FCC approval to start selling an electronic book reader.
The field, long dominated by Amazon's Kindle, is quickly becoming more crowded. In addition to a new crop of devices from Sony, a host of others have either announced products or plans for products that combine an e-ink display and wireless connection.
Plastic Logic said on Monday that its larger-screen Que device will be out early next year, while start-up Spring Design announced plans for a device that sounds a whole lot like the Nook, though a spokeswoman told CNET News that the company was not involved with Barnes & Noble's device.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
Well, I have a Kindle and I like books. I've also been using computers since 1982 so I'm certainly not afraid of them. There are people like me however who only want and need a dedicated book reader. My reading time is limited to my daily commute. That's the time I've set aside for reading and for nothing else. I currently have no use for a netbook, tablet, or smartphone. I get all the computer time I need at home and at work.
I agree, though that the price is way too high right now. I think if they really wanted to put them into the hands of readers, they would offer the device with book credits. So, you pay $200 but you get $200 in book credits to off set the cost.
But, I do think they have a future. The main reason is the publishers see a lower cost in making e-books. No printing, distributing and returns of books. All of this could cut the cost of a book by $2 to $3 dollars, not that the savings will be passed along to consumers, but the profit margin would be higher.
At the end of the day, consumers will need to decide on how many different gadgets they need. We have already seen mp3 players and low-end digital cameras loose their worth because more and more phones are doing that job. Will the same happen with e-readers and tablets? Maybe. However, there might be enough consumers for each standalone market.
After all, the reason I hesitate to get a Kindle is due to the closed eco-system of the Kindle system, which makes Amazon the gatekeeper in that case. I hope that is not the case with B&N's ebook.
The irony is that Amazon does have an awesome MP3 store that is DRM-free with a large selection and often good prices. Yet that is a completely open format, which is preferrable.
On the note about Amazon, I recently came across an interesting table that details the discounts on Amazon.
It is at http://www.uberi.com
Maybe someone will find it useful too. While you are there, I would suggest checking out the "Amazon Filler Item" among other things there when you get a chance. It's quite amusing.
Everyone has a PC or Mac to connect an e-book device. I already have a Cybook which supports various standards in particular Mobi Pocket, as I have been using a Palm top as a book reader for over 10 years using this format. I also have a Nokia N810, which is a Wifi tablet, this also makes for a good e-book reader. Paid £180 for my cybook and only £128 for my N810. Cybook battery lasts for a very very long time and is what I always use in good light. Even though cybook can read pdf, I tend to convert everything I read to mobi first.
Regards
Hans Christine Anderson etc etc. There really is something special about reading these older books, I read Bram Stoker 's Dracular several times. Now going through Jules Verne and all free.
The next device will be, IMO, a device using PixelQ's indoor/outdoor screen technology so that one screen does the job currently needing two screens. FYI, PixelQ is the one who made the full sun readable display for the OLPC XO device which also runs in full color mode too. I picture an Android based ebook reader where you swipe sideways and it goes into low power ebook monochrome mode with swipes up and down change pages. Another swipe sideways goes back to full color mode netbook mode.
- by lissathecocoa November 13, 2009 7:07 PM PST
- I don't know - I love books AND I love computers, and I am certainly not afraid of them. But I really want an electronic reader. I don't want to pull out my laptop or a netbook every time I want to read a book - I want to hold the device like a book, but have the option to read whatever I want at my fingertips right there. Plus I won't need the storage space for all the books in my tiny NYC apartment. But then again I also love gadgets, and laying down $260 for an electronic reader seems great to me, not a deterrent. I don't see these devices going any lower than about $150 in the near future though. Maybe if they come out with a low-end version with very limited capabilities (no wireless, just download the books on your computer and transfer)?
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