GigaOM Pro

Hot on the heels of the cheaper, globetrotting Kindle’s debut come reports that Barnes & Noble is getting ready to launch an e-book reader of its own in the spring. Reportedly, the device will be outfitted with a 6-inch color display from Plastic Logic and will have touchscreen capabilities. Depending on how well all the pieces fit together, and how Barnes & Noble aligns the new hardware with its online and in-store selling strategies, the device could become pivotal in helping the bookseller avoid getting “Netflixed.”