Friday Fun Fact

Barnes & Noble just keeps making it better.
This morning I got a notice that all their stores will now offer free Wi-Fi. Sweet! And for all you other businesses who don't offer it, pony up! We know you've got internet, go buy a darn router, already. I'm staunchly refusing from this day forward to stay in a hotel which charges for internet access, too. C'mon already. It's like charging for TV!
Incidentally, this B&N message also had lots of face space regarding their new venture into eBooks and their reading software.
B&N just might pull themselves out of that downward spiral after all.

Lovely weekend, all.

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Things That Make You Go "Hmmm"

I'm a bit amused (albeit happy) to see how gung-ho Barnes & Noble has suddenly gotten about ebooks. The company just last year totally shunned the electronic format (once did a search on their site for "ebooks" and got a message along the lines of "B&N no longer sells ebooks" with the basic attitude of been there, done that, not worth our time).

Now, not only do they sell ebooks, but my Inbox is bombarded with notices regarding their own ebook reading software, pimping its use on iPhone and Blackberry, and they now have over 700,000 titles available. Including bestsellers! This, mere months after purchasing Fictionwise, the online ebook retailing giant.

They aren't just getting their feet wet - they've dived right in.

Ya think maybe they did some market research and watched the sales numbers for ebooks skyrocketing?

I'll just bet it's not long before B&N either come out with their own ereading portable device or attach themselves to one already on the market. Well, I hate that they avoided ebooks for so long, but I've gotta love that they are now onboard.

Would be way rad if my Fictionwise membership could somehow cross over and be used to get B&N discounts, too. I know. Always the dreamer.

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!