I predicted Barnes and Noble will survive —
in a rather different configuration — maybe a
combination of a much - expanded Starbucks café and an Apple - like outlet,
displaying a
variety of Nookish products, X-boxy things, coffee - related paraphernalia — and one book.
Other ostensible benefits include an on - card
display (usually
of the e-ink
variety, a la a Kindle), the ability to «lock» your card remotely or via proximity to your phone
in the event that it's lost or stolen, and some
combination of a classic magnetic stripe card, the newer chip model, and near field communication (NFC) payments like you might find on a smartphone.