QUE proReader hitting Barnes & Noble retail stores in 2010

In a rather odd unfolding of events, it seems as if Barnes & Noble is finally clearing up the mystery behind that Plastic Logic e-reader slated to hit its retail locations by Spring of 2010. After making said announcement, the book seller then went out and introduced an e-book reader of its very own in the Nook, and only now are we learning that the Plastic Logic-built QUE proReader will also be splashing down at the outfit sometime next year. In a brief release posted today, we're told that the recently teased big-screen reader (8.5- x 11-inches) 10.5-inch will be sold throughout B&N's retail footprint and on its website; makes sense given that B&N is powering the proReader's online e-book store, but the fact that it'll be placed prominently near the outfit's own (somewhat competing) device is certainly interesting. We're expecting to see more come CES 2010, and seriously, with the rate at which these readers are hitting brick-and-mortar locations, Amazon might want to consider implementing some kind of physical trial in order to not go overlooked in its corner of the web.

Update: Plastic Logic rather dubiously lists "large 8-1/2 x 11-inch shatterproof display" on its specsheet. A bit of digging into the Barnes and Noble listing, however, reveals the following spec "Display (viewable area): 10.5-inch diagonal, 944 x 1264 pixels at 150ppi, 8 gray levels." Sneaky.

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QUE™ proReader by Plastic Logic to be Sold in Barnes & Noble Stores

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA and NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 27, 2009 – Plastic
Logic and Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller,
today announced that QUE™ (pronounced "Q"), the first proReader designed for
business professionals, will be sold through Barnes & Noble's nationwide
network of stores and online at Barnes & Noble.com (http://www.bn.com).

The distribution agreement marks an expansion of the relationship between the
two companies. Earlier this year, Plastic Logic and Barnes & Noble announced a
strategic partnership through which Barnes & Noble will power the online store
for QUE, which is coming in 2010 (information can be found at
http://www.QUEreader.com). QUE will also be featured near the recently
announced nook™, the Barnes & Noble eBook reader, on free-standing displays
with signage offering Barnes & Noble customers choice based on their reading
needs.

Scheduled to premiere January 7, 2010 at the Consumer Electronics Show in
Las Vegas (Central Hall of Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth 11840), QUE is
the first eReader designed to support the lifestyle of modern business
professionals. More than an eReader, QUE means business.
"We are very excited to name Barnes & Noble as our first retail distribution
partner and to have QUE featured prominently in its stores," said Richard
Archuleta, CEO of Plastic Logic. "QUE was designed from the ground up as a
tool for busy business professionals, expanding the eReader market as its first
and only proReader."

QUE provides access to a file cabinet's worth of documents, ranging from
business and professional newspapers, periodicals and books - with over 1
million eBooks available through the QUE store, powered by Barnes & Noble. It
supports the document formats business users need (including PDF, Word,
PowerPoint, Excel documents and more). Extra thin, lightweight and wirelessenabled,
QUE is the size of an 8.5 x 11 inch pad of paper, about a 1/3 inch thick,
and weighs less than many periodicals. QUE stands out in a crowd because it's a
business reader, but it's also unique for its shatterproof plastic display, which is
based on Plastic Logic's pioneering plastic electronics technology. QUE also
distinguishes itself with the largest touchscreen in the industry, an intuitive
touchscreen user interface, and powerful tools for interacting with and managing
a range of content.

"We're excited to expand our relationship with Plastic Logic to include not only an
eBookstore, but also a physical presence in our bookstores nationwide and on
BN.com," said William J. Lynch, president of BN.com. "QUE is an incredibly
innovative product and a great device for business professionals. Carrying nook
and QUE allows us to provide consumers a one-stop destination in Barnes &
Noble stores to demo and buy two of the best eBook readers on the market. It
also supports our digital strategy to offer customers choice, expand the market
overall, and deliver on our promise to provide any book, any time, anywhere."
Full product specifications, availability and pricing of QUE will be announced on
January 7, 2010 at CES.