As expected, it runs the -backed , version 1.5, and comes with a dual screens, with an E Ink Vizplex display above a smaller color touchscreen to do searches via a virtual keyboard, the company said in a statement on its www.nook.com Web site.

Gartner Inc. analyst Allen Weiner for the e-book market, one he said "will force Amazon's hand..." Amazon makes the most popular e-reader, .

Nook weighs 11.2 ounces and is 7.7 x 4.9 x .5 inches in size. The upper electronic paper display with 16 levels on a gray scale is 6 inches diagonally, while the lower color LCD display is 3.5 inches.

A first in e-readers will be the ability for users to lend their e-books for up to 14 days at a time. With LendMe technology, an e-book can be shared to a friend's Nook, iPhone, iPod touch, and some BlackBerry and Motorola smartphones, possibly the upcoming , which is based on Android. Desktop and laptop PCs with Barnes & Noble eReader software can also receive the books being lent.

Users can also listen to songs uploaded through a computer to the Nook as well as audiobooks and podcasts, using standard headphones.