Barnes & Noble Introduces nook™, its Wireless eBook Reader with E Ink® Display & First Color Touch Screen for Navigation

First Device to Allow Readers to Lend eBooks

Most-Connected eBook Reader Offers Free 3G Wireless and Wi-Fi Access to Over One Million eBooks, Newspapers and Magazines; Wi-Fi Enables Free In-Store Browsing of Complete eBooks

“Reading Now” Technology Provides Seamless Access to Content: Forget Your nook? Pick up Where You Left off on Your iPhone, PC or Mac

Taking Pre-Orders Now for $259 at nook.com and in Barnes & Noble Stores; Device Will be Available End of November

New York, New York – October 20, 2009 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, announced today the launch of nook, the Barnes & Noble eBook reader, which marries innovative technology and sleek minimalist design with access to the company’s digital store of over one million eBooks, newspapers and magazines.

nook features many industry firsts as it is the first Android™-based eBook reader and the first to offer a color touch screen for navigation along with a best-in-class E Ink display for an immersive, enjoyable e-reading experience. For fast connectivity, nook is the first eBook reader to provide, at no additional costs to customers, both 3G wireless access on AT&T’s mobile broadband network and access to Wi-Fi for Barnes & Noble in-store browsing and enjoyment.  And to help friends share their joy of reading, nook is the first eBook reader to offer digital lending for a wide selection of eBooks. 

“We asked our customers what they wanted in an eBook reader, and specifically designed nook to be the most full-featured, fun, stylish and easy-to-use eBook reader on the market,” said William J. Lynch, President of Barnes & Noble.com. “With our nationwide footprint, Barnes & Noble customers can see, touch and hold nook. Our 40,000 booksellers are ready to help customers discover how easy it is to download and read eBooks on nook, and what a pleasure it is to have access to their favorite eBooks, magazines and newspapers any time and anywhere.” 

nook:  The Device

The centerpiece of Barnes & Noble’s strategy to deliver any book, any time, anywhere, nook was created expressly with the reader in mind, with features and functionality to create an immersive, seamless and fun experience:

Over One Million eBooks, Newspapers and Magazines

As part of nook’s introduction, Barnes & Noble has further expanded its wide selection of content to satisfy every reader.

Experience nook at Your Local Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble’s nationwide network of stores enables its customers to see nook and get hands-on demonstrations from its booksellers.  Furthermore, nook owners get added benefits.

Availability

nook, the Barnes & Noble eBook reader, will begin shipping at the end of November with a price of $259.00.  Barnes & Noble is taking pre-orders now at www.nook.com and in stores starting tomorrow. In celebration of nook’s launch, Barnes & Noble will also offer a free eBook of Malcolm Gladwell’s widely acclaimed best-seller, “The Tipping Point,” for the first 10,000 customers to pre-order nook.

To learn more and experience nook, visit www.nook.com. Follow our eBooks and other updates on www.bn.com/twitter. To learn more about the free Barnes & Noble eReader software and Barnes & Noble eBookstore apps, visit www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), a Fortune 500 company, is the world’s largest bookseller and the nation’s highest rated bookselling brand.  The company’s operations comprise of retail bookselling, college bookstore management, online retailing and book publishing.  As of October 2009 the company operates 774 retail bookstores in regional shopping malls, major strip centers and freestanding locations in 50 states and 624 college bookstores serving nearly 4 million students and over 250,000 faculty on college & university campuses in 50 states.  Barnes & Noble conducts its online business through its web site Barnes & Noble.com, which offers direct home delivery of millions of books, music cd’s and DVD’s.  The company sells eBooks and digital content from its web site and from a wide range of platforms, including the iPhone, iPod touch and select BlackBerry® and Motorola smartphones.  Through its Sterling Publishing subsidiary, the company publishes over 500 titles annually, under a variety of imprints including Sterling, Sterling Children’s Books and Barnes & Noble Classics.