B&N's ebook reader

Monopolies are harmful. We have seen it time and time again – Microsoft in software, Google in search and Amazon in books.

Amazon changed the way ebooks were consumed with its ebook reading device Kindle. Kindle soon became immensely popular and Amazon will soon be shipping out Kindle DX. There has been a huge outcry from bibliophiles who complained that Amazon unrightfully deleted purchased ebooks from their Kindles. While the story is still hot, Barnes & Nobles has struck the iron by announcing its own ebook store.

Barnes & Nobles is trying to gain entry into Amazon’s untouched empire – the ebook market. Amazon has been making a nice change by charging $9.99 for ebooks to be read on Kindle. Sony has a nice ebook reader but nothing compared to the amount of books that Amazon distributes for the Kindle. A few days ago Sony partnered with Google Books to offer almost 5,00,000 books to Sony consumers.

B&N already has the distribution channel – its online store as well as the retail stores. B&N has also stated that they have partnered with Plastic Logic and plan to release an ebook reader by 2010 – a major competition to the Amazon owned Kindle.

B&N already has desktop software for Windows and Macs and mobile software for iPhone and Blackberry but the ebook device is what everyone is waiting for! B&N’s reader will be touchscreen a major feature that Kindle lacks with its clunky buttons.

If the reader wants to succeed against the Kindle then it has to provide more for less. Cheap reader, nice features, easy-to-use, extensive collection of ebooks at prices much lower than Amazon’s (B&N says they’ll be offering 7,00,000 titles for $9.99!!) and of course DRM-free content because consumers have seen enough of that. Support for PDF, ePub and other open formats will be a refreshing change.

It is still a fertile ground for anyone bold enough to change things for the good of consumers. Because it will finally decide the long-lasting war that’ll ensue once everyone chooses their device. The market just got too competitive for Mr. Bezos!

See the video demo of D7 Barnes&Nobles’ ebook reader by AllThingsDigital -

Related articles -

Barnes & Noble partners with Plastic Logic; Opens up; Targets Kindle -ZDNet

Barnes & Noble goes with Plastic Logic; supports EPUB; offers 6% affiliate comm. – TeleRead

Barnes & Noble Launches World’s Largest eBookstore – B&N