Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS | PowerRating), the world's largest bookseller, today announced that it has developed an integrated software solution for the higher education market. Called NOOKstudy, the feature rich, free software application is the ultimate study tool, enabling students to manage all their digital content -- eTextbooks, class materials, and notes -- on the computing device they rely on most, their PC or Mac. NOOKstudy, developed with input from students and leading higher education institutions, delivers a superior digital reading experience and is the first digital textbook application that enhances the academic experience through unique and customizable study features. ...Very smart. Software-driven rather than device-driven approach. Also note that B&N, via its college textbook/wholesale division (founded by my late father-in-law, by the way), dominates the college textbook market, bringing a great deal of clout and preemptive penetration to the distribution equation.
Meanwhile, it seems - according to a recent survey - that 50% of U.S. college students plan to acquire an e-reader of some type before the start of the autumn term.
