Barnes & Noble Introduces Nook Wi-Fi in their latest Release

Barnes & Noble have released a new WiFi-only version of their Android-powered nook eReader at the very enticing price point of $149.99. Essentially, the only difference between this and the original is the connection.

This release, version 1.4, has three key components.

Extended AT&T Wi-Fi Hotspot support — FREE and seamless connection to AT&T’s entire nationwide Wi-Fi network including restaurants, hotels and additional locations, and wherever you see an AT&T Wi-Fi sign.
New extra extra large font size
Go-To Page feature allows users to go to a specific page in their eBook

Nook and the Kindle, two of the world’s best-selling e-readers, have dropped their prices to below $200 — down to $149 for the Wi-Fi Nook and $189 for the Kindle. It’s bad news for e-readers that recently placed themselves at low price points to compensate for fewer features (like the Kobo I just reviewed), but of course good news for everyone planning on buying an e-reader soon. When I considered secondary features and the possibility of “bulk” e-readers, I concluded that these devices would survive but find themselves marginalized both in price and market share.

That seems to be just what’s happening, though of course the tablet market is still emerging, and Google may have a few cards up its sleeve. The brief age of “premium” e-readers is ending.