Barnes and Noble reacts to iPad by wider

Barnes & Noble's retail e-reader plans were spoiled early today with a slip from Best Buy's inventory system. The retailer will be the first outside of Barnes & Noble itself to carry the Nook and is expected to carry it on April 18th. Its pricing isn't listed in the screen cap for Engadget, but it's likely to carry the same $259 cost.

The push to an outside store chain comes just as Amazon is ready to sell the Kindle at Target stores and supports notions that both of the e-reader companies are feeling pressure from Apple. With only their own official stores to sell their devices in the past, both have had relatively limited reach even if sales are still successful at their own locations.

Barnes & Noble's expansion would be particularly unique as it would pit the Nook directly against the iPad. Amazon's strategy would leave the Kindle relatively uncontested but would reach a different, more mainstream audience.

By Electronista Staff