Barnes And Noble eBook Reader To Challenge Amazon Kindle (VIDEO)

In a move that promises to intensify the "ereader wars," book retailer Barnes & Noble is planning to announce the release of its own brand of ebook reader, reports the Wall Street Journal.

According to Barnes & Noble (see video below), the reader will be manufacturer by Plastic Logic and will feature a color screen approximately the size of a paperback book.

The device is expected to come with a wireless connection, run through AT&T, that will enable users to wirelessly download ebooks. No price has yet been announced.

The release of a Barnes & Noble reader would increase the competition for Amazon.com's Kindle and Sony's E-Reader device when it arrives on the market, which is likely to be by spring 2010, Gizmodo reports.

WATCH:

Comments

[ESerafina42]

B&N also has free e-reading software that works on several different devices. I hope that will continue - I don't really care to be blackmailed by ANYbody into buying their single-use device.

[kmac23va]

Agreed, I have the software for my Mac and iPhone, so if this is just a device that does the same thing for those without an iPhone or other portable device, that's cool. It should be able to share the same purchased books between devices.

[glesslib]

I love to read and might be interested in a Kindle or this thing IF

1. You can adjust the size of the type as you get older and need bigger lettering.
2. THere is a backlight so that you can read in bed without disturbing your bed partner.

What do you experts know about these two things? And what's the price?

[ConstitutionFirst]

The kindle allows you to change font size, but you need an outside light source to read just as you would with a book.

[tploomis]

I like that Kindle is not backlighted. It makes it easier on the eyes to read for longer periods of time. The ability to change font size is a great feature. The reader chooses the size that works best.

[tploomis]

It's an electrifying experience!

[CoconutLime]

Get a Petzl LED headlamp and you can read a Kindle in bed to your heart's content. Doesn't bother my wife at all...

[Fabini]

Can you read ebooks in the bath?

[ConstitutionFirst]

Yes, you can. Placing the reader in a plastic bag can ensure that it is dry and doesn't decrease the ease of reading at all.

[tploomis]

It's an electrifying experience!

[Fabini]

Bookshops in my area already have their own readers, they're called customers, and thier own readable technology, they're called books.

[ESerafina42]

Actually the technology is built in to the readers. It's called eyes and hands, works with all formats, and you don't have to pay $200-300 - unless you need glasses, but you can use them for all kinds of things and you need them for a Kindle too.

[Valle]

I bought the kindle when it first came out. I still have it and I can't imagine life without it. A color screen? Nah, not for me. Kindle fan all the way, but then I think people tend to stick with what they went with first.

[booker52]

With the Sony e-reader you can download free books from various sources and your local library. Will this one from B&N have this capibility?? The Kindle doesn't.

[Fabini]

How many times will you download The Brothers Karamazov? That's not a poke at you Booker52, I just wonder how many books in the public domain do people really want to read.

[ConstitutionFirst]

The Brothers Karamazov is in the public domain. It is available at no cost for download to the Kindle and presumably will also be available on the B&N reader.

[ConstitutionFirst]

Kindle does. I've pulled many books from manybooks.net in the kindle format at no cost.

[morefromLA]

Not a whole lot of information from the B&N rep. I believe Plastic Logic will use e-ink but he didn't say. I also assume the device will not have back lighting (to enhance comfortable reading) but he didn't say. I assume the device will have direct connection to B&N store but not other internet access but he didn't say. Will it have text to speech. I dunno and I suppose he doesn't either. Color is a really big deal. How will it effect battery life? I dunno and I suspect he doesn't either. I have two of the machines made by another company (KINDLE) because they make the best e-reader. But if Plastic Logic makes a better mouse trap, I'm ready to support progress.

[CraigR]

I'm the only one to comment on this? Wow...how sad is that for me.

[CraigR]

I've been considering a Kindle...but now I think I must wait until next spring!