The Nook

Barnes & Noble Nook.

An e-Reader from a bookseller sounds like a natural and that's probably what prompted Barnes & Noble to introduce its Nook.

The e-Reader measures 7.7"x4.9"x0.5" and weighs in at a paltry 12.1 ounces. It's a paper-white screen with a 3.5-inch color touch segment at the bottom that offers you fingertip command and control of the device.

According to Barnes & Noble, you can read for up to 10 days without needing to find a place to recharge your Nook -- if you keep the Wi-Fi radio off. (Its Wi-Fi implementation is 802.11 b/g -- no 802.11n right now -- and you can connect for free at any Barnes & Noble store.) It's also 3G enabled through AT&T.

While you can use your Nook as an MP3 player (you can fill it with about 26 hours of music), when it comes to books, the Nook's 2 GB of internal storage will hold about 1,500 e-books. Normally, if you run out memory you run out of luck, but the Nook has a card reader slot and you can use relatively inexpensive microSD cards to fatten your e-library. With the Nook selling at $259, its card expansion makes it one of the least expensive e-reader alternatives.

If you have a smartphone, Mac, or PC, and your device is supported under Barnes & Noble's e-reader digital lending program, you can share a book with a friend for up to 14 days (typically). Imagine surprising your best bud with a high-school favorite like James Joyce's Ulysses! The outpouring of gratitude would surely be unique.

Specs:    Nook

Display  6" e-Ink/ 3.5" color LCD  Size  7.7"x4.9"x0.5"  Storage  Approx. 1,500 books + microSD memory card slot Connectivity  Wi-Fi + 3G  Wireless Coverage  Global

Rotating Display  No  Price  $259.

Review by Information Week - April 2010