“This amounts to a bailout of Barnes & Noble so potentially transformative that it’s extraordinary Microsoft didn’t get a larger equity stake. In principle, Barnes & Noble should have strong prospects in the e-book market. It has a decent device, a brand people recognize and associate with books, and longstanding relationships with book publishers. Its problem is that the other two major e-book sellers—Apple and Amazon—are cash-rich, growing technology companies. ” – Matthew Yglesias, Slate.com