14 DAY TRIAL // Barnes & Noble is quite a big brand in the US, having chains of dedicated stores for book enthusiasts. Not only that, the company also sells eBooks, eReaders and tablets.
But ever since 2012, the company has been trying to penetrate the UK market, where the likes of Amazon and Kobo rule supreme. B&N brought its host of tablets and eReaders to the country, but the interest in the devices was minimal.
Now, after almost two years without having offered anything new, B&N is giving it another go by officially launching the second-gen GlowLight eReader for just £89 / $150 / €112. The eReader is available for pickup from several popular UK retailers, including Argos, Currys/PC World, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s or ASDA.
The second-gen NOOK Glowlight arrives with a 6-inch E-Ink display, which has been significantly improved compared to the first generation. It’s light and bright and aims to take on popular choices like the Kindle Paperwhite, although it fails to do so in some parts.
B&N says that the NOOK GlowLight is 15% lighter than the Kindle Paperwhite, and while this might count when you’re packing to head out on a trip, it might not be all that matters when you decide what eReader to pick.
The NOOK GlowLight can be fun and friendly, and B&N lets you swap its grey silicon trim with additional rose or violet ones (although you’ll have to pay extra in order to do so).
However, several reviewers have found that the speed and touchscreen responsiveness of the GlowLight don't match the one of the Paperwhite, but in the software department they are quite matching.
Albeit being a household name in the US, the company has experienced a lot of issues with managing to maintain itself in a favorable position within the market.
Back in February, it was rumored that the book giant was apparently looking into making some drastic changes in the NOOK department.
According to insider sources familiar with the matter, B&N had laid off its entire NOOK hardware engineering team, after letting its VP of hardware, Bill Saperstein, go.
However, the rumors proved to be a little far-fetched, as the company soon assured supporters of the NOOK line that the company will continue producing its “award-winning” products.
In its struggle to attract business, B&N continues to offer these products at extremely attractive rates. However, most digital reader enthusiasts continue to be quite skeptical when it comes to abandoning the rich Amazon ecosystem.
