B&N to sell Plastic Logic Que along with Nook

(Credit: Plastic Logic)

Plastic Logic and Barnes & Noble announced on Tuesday that Plastic Logic's Que proReader will be sold through Barnes & Noble's retail stores and on B&N's Web site in 2010. The Que is Plastic Logic's long-awaited e-reader that is not set to be officially unveiled until January 7 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but both companies continue to promote the device vigorously as Barnes & Noble gets set to launch its Nook e-book reader in November.

While Plastic Logic has yet to show a full profile image of the Que, it has provided some details. The device will feature a larger, "shatterproof" 8.5-inch by 11-inch e-ink display with an integrated capacitive touch screen--it's unclear whether the touch screen is a separate, smaller color LCD like the one found on the Nook or whether the entire display will be a touch screen--and have Wi-Fi and AT&T 3G wireless capabilities, like the $259 Nook does.

The slim Que (one-third inch thick), which is geared toward mobile professionals, is supposed to be able to handle PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents as well as having tools for "interacting with and managing the content." Most pundits expect the Que to a more sophisticated e-reader with more processing horsepower than existing models and a higher price tag--we're guessing at least $400.

Both Barnes & Noble and Plastic Logic suggest that as such the two models won't really be competing against each other even if they'll be on display near each other in stores. The news release notes that the two readers represent a choice for Barnes & Noble's customers "based on their reading needs." Just as importantly, the additional device also helps Barnes & Noble foster the impression that its e-book platform has a strong foundation with multiple business partners.

What do you think? Is it a good strategic move or will having two readers on display at stores be confusing for potential buyers?

[parallelrhymes]

Completely irrelevant side note:
Outside of the guy that gets to wipe down female models with oils and other various products before photoshoots, I would have to say that being a professional hand model would be the way to go in life

[FakeSilentBob]

I love the idea of commoditizing eBooks.

More eBooks available = lower prices for eBooks
Lower prices for eBooks = higher eBook sales
Higher eBook sales = more people seeking content for eBooks
More people seeking content for eBooks = Stronger demand for REASONABLY PRICED content from the greedy publishers.

[Slick1of2]

I was just about to write the same thing. More is better unless you are a stuck up type and want to show off your status with a super expensive tech device.

[OVIL200]

Yeah, like having mutiple TVs in Wal-Mart is confusing....oh wow, there is a slight level of choice, I'm SO CONFUSED!!!

[8blue]

^ This is why other countries laugh at us.
Walmart does not have a brand of televisions, they just sell the televisions of other companies. Barnes & Nobles is the company that made the Nook, so them selling the Que is different from walmart selling multiple brands of televisions.

[lissathecocoa]

^Not really, 8blue. Wal-Mart - like many retailers - develops and manufactures their own brand of many items they sell in stores and sell these items alongside other brands. No, they don't make their own brand of TV, but a store like Target does (TruTech). I think the point is, it's not "confusing" to people to have more than one option when it comes to something like an electronic reader - unless you assume that the average consumer is a moron. People buying e-readers presumably know how to read and will read the specs on the device they're planning to lay down at least $200 for before they buy it.

[sshappyjack]

I think it is a good strategic move because the two readers seem to offer different feature sets, so they won't be competing head to head. Also, the more people that Barnes and noble can entice to buy an ebook reader, the more sales of ebooks they will have.
Really, I think the only reason they even have readers is so that they can get the maximum number of people locked into their system of ebooks.

[zyxxy]

Except that they are using an open standard format, ePub, and PDF. So you aren't locked in. I wonder if the QUE will have the same capability to stream B&N content while you are in the store? They (B&N) obviously view this as a tool to sell content.

[CMOutsider]

I am reading this after a B&N employee mentioned that they would be offering a "business" version of the Nook. As a consultant who lives in coffee shops around the globe, I am intrigued. I read frequently for my job and during client meetings, I take notes on an old-school paper notebook. I look the idea of Nook since it allows me to put my books and periodicals on one device, carry it all with me, and be able to reference key sections anytime, all the time. If I can add the ability to ALSO write my notes during meetings and reference them, I will no longer need my paper. Bring it ON!

[lissathecocoa]

Confusing to consumers? I think it's good that retailers don't assume that consumers are stupid. Even the less technologically savvy ones can pull aside a knowledgeable customer sales representative and ask about the differences. More logically, B&N can use packaging and signage to clearly highlight that the Nook is a consumer model and that the Que is a more business-oriented model, just like any other retailer who sells business v. consumer models. Also, the difference in price tags will be a huge signal. Just like business consumers are willing to shell out for an $1800 computer whereas the more general consumer spends more like $500-1000...so it will be with e-readers. Most people looking for an e-reader can evidently read and can read the specs on the reader and realize they don't need the features on the Que.

Personally, I'm really excited about the Nook. It seems to combine all of the best elements of the biggest e-readers out there - native PDF support but a large selection of books on an already-established online bookseller. I was going to buy a Kindle, but I'm going to wait an month.

[Yabasa]

One thing I don't see mentioned.... Will the Que use the same ebook library as B&N's Nook? If so, that alone would keep me from purchasing the Que. Because the ebooks in B&N's ebook library cost an average of 50% more than Amazon's ebooks.

There's no excuse whatsoever to rip off consumers on the price of ebooks. The costs associated with producing a paper book are not the same as producing it in electronic format. Amazon realizes this. B&N, not so much.