AfterDawn: News

Nook headed to Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart has said today that it will begin selling the B&N Nook at 2500 Super Centers and online starting on the 24th, greatly expanding the presence of the e-reader.

"The world's largest bookseller and the world's largest retailer are bringing e-reading to the masses," added William Lynch, Barnes & Noble's CEO.



B&N offers a $149 Wi-Fi-only version of the Nook and a $200 3G/Wi-Fi model. Wal-Mart will sell both.

The Nook is in direct competition with the Amazon Kindle and to a lesser extent, the Apple iPad. Wal-Mart just began selling all six models of the iPad in their stores.

"The Wal-Mart customer is a slightly different demographic than at Barnes & Noble," continues Lynch, via the WSJ. "This gives us access to a customer who we think grows the base of Nook customers."

B&N offers the Nook through their own stores and Best Buy.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Oct 2010 22:42

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• 1 comment

• Xian

  I am surprised by this move; once someone gets an e-book reader their purchase of paper books declines. I would think that would cut into Walmart's book sales, unless they are thinking of selling e-books as well.
  
  I still prefer the hardware of the Kindle - it is in it's third iteration, while the Nook is still hardware version 1.0. The page turns are faster on the Kindle and the contrast is better. The biggest advantage of the Nook is support for epub format which lets you buy from multiple vendors or check out e-books from libraries that have them. With the Kindle you are locked in to Amazon for your purchases, though many free books are available elsewhere.

  23.10.2010 11:42 #1