New $149 Nook and Toshiba eReaders

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Barnes & Noble launched a new WiFi version of its Nook eReader while lowering the price of its current $259 Nook (with 3G + WiFi) to $199. The newer “Nook Wi-Fi” comes in a step below at $149.

At the higher end of the spectrum Toshiba showed off a combination notebook/eReader with dual LCD screens due in the U.S. later this year.

Other eReader updates are expected from Amazon and Sony later this summer.

The new Nook offers many of the same features as the current model. The design has the same E-Ink screen (6-inches) on top and a smaller color screen LCD (3.5-inches) below it for navigating, as the current Nook. It also has new 1.4 software that provides a WiFi connection at no charge to AT&T’s full WiFi hotspot network. Current Nook owners can also download the new 1.4 software.

The Nook Wi-Fi also gets the LendMe feature for loaning eBooks to friends for up to 14 days.

You can purchase the Nook Wi-Fi online today at bestbuy.com as well as nook.com for shipping later this week. Select B&N and Best Buy stores will offer the Nook Wi-Fi later this month but the full roll-out to all stores will occur later this summer. The current Nook 3G remains in stock at both stores.

The new 1.4 Nook software also provides a Go To Page feature, that lets readers jump to a specific page number. It offers faster “book opening” and an extra-large font size.

Toshiba’s new Libretto W100 is an eReader in portrait mode or a clamshell notebook PC in landscape.

The Libretto has dual 7-inch LED LCD touch-screens that “offer the display equivalent of a 10-inch wide screen,” said Toshiba. When in PC mode, the device displays a haptic keyboard on the lower screen and when in eReader mode (held vertically), it looks like an “Entourage,”-type eReader. It weighs only 1.5 ounces and has WiMax, Bluetooth and 1 MP camera. The drawback seems to be in the battery life which is 2 hours (or 4 hours with a high capacity battery pack).

No U.S. price was offered but it will launch in Japan at the equivalent of $1,320, said Reuters.

Sources: Toshiba, Barnes & Noble, Reuters
Photo: Toshiba Libretto W100 (shown below in both notebook and eReader modes)

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