Barnes & Noble Unveils 'Nook' E-Reader

Unlike Kindle, users can loan books to others for 2 weeks
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 20, 2009 6:01 PM CDT
Barnes & Noble Unveils 'Nook' E-Reader
William J. Lynch, president of Barnes & Noble.com, holds the Nook.   (jim Sulley/newscast)

Barnes & Noble unveiled its new e-reader today: the Nook. Like the Kindle, it's a wireless device that allows for instant downloads of purchases. Some details, via CNET, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, and PC World.

  • It costs $259, same as the Kindle, and will be out in November.
  • Unlike Kindle users, Nook readers can loan e-books to others for up to 14 days. They can be read on other Nooks, cell phones, or computers.
  • The Nook doesn't have the Kindle's text-to-speech feature, though it can play back MP3 audio.

  • It has a 6-inch reading screen and a smaller color touch screen for navigation and searches.
  • It has 2GB of memory, for about 1,500 books, but it can be expanded with a memory card of up to 16GB.
  • It has 10 days of battery life, shorter than the Kindle's 14, though its battery is removable and replaceable.
  • It weighs 11.2 ounces, 1 more than the Kindle.
(More Barnes & Noble stories.)

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