Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet Details Leaked

A few weeks ago Amazon.com announced it would be stepping into the tablet arena with an adaptation of its popular Kindle e-reader. Now, it appears that Barnes & Noble will be releasing a similar device, which has been a major rival for the Kindle for the last few years.

Details about the Nook tablet were leaked to the media this past week. Some of the specifications are impressive, though it appears the slate will retail for slightly more money than its major competitor. (Source: slashgear.com)

Nook e-Reader Hardware Specs

According to reports, the upcoming Nook tablet will house 16GB of internal storage capacity. There will also be an external microSD card slot which would allow users to add an additional 32GB of storage space.

Battery life is said to vary, from four hours (with WiFi functionality on) to eight hours (with wireless turned off). Like the Kindle Fire tablet from Amazon, the Nook will only connect to the Internet through a WiFi connection and will not use 3G technology.

The newly revised Nook will feature a 7-inch screen, similar to the Kindle Fire. The tablet is also extremely light at 14.1 ounces.

Improvements to the Nook formula go beyond hardware, however. Buyers will also get access to Hulu Plus, Rhapsody, MOG, Pandora, and Grooveshark. Music fans will be pleased to see that Pandora comes pre-installed. Other apps include Real Simple and The New Yorker, as well as Scrabble.

Nook Tablet $50 More Than Kindle Fire

It's expected that Barnes & Noble's tablet will be formally unveiled today and that the device will cost approximately $249 -- about $50 more than the Kindle Fire from Amazon. The Kindle Fire is due out November 15, 2011. (Source: computerworld.com)

Both the Nook tablet and Kindle Fire will compete directly with the iPad, thus lowering its price.

"We believe that Apple will get more aggressive on price with the iPad eventually but not compromise the product quality and experience," said Barclays Capital analyst, Ben Reitzes. (Source: eweek.com)