Free Barnes & Noble Nook... with a catch

If you don't have an iPad or some other tablet computer by now, you may have tablet envy every time you see someone using one.

But chances are you don't have the $200 to $500 you'll need to buy one.

Then what if the tablet was free?
 
New offer from Barnes & Noble

That's exactly what Barnes & Noble is doing, with a new offer it's running through March. It will give you a Nook Simple Touch free of charge, or you can buy a Nook Color for half price.  

But it comes with a catch. And unless you love the New York Times , tech critics are saying the catch may not be worth it.

Here's how it works.

    --You can get a $99 Nook Simple Touch free.
    --Or get a $199 Nook Color for $99.

The catch: you must sign up for a one-year subscription to the New York Times online. That's a big "if". A Times subscription is $200 a year, and it will automatically renew unless you cancel.

This can be a great deal if you are an avid New York Times reader. If not, you'll end up paying more than you would by simply buying a nook.

But tech sites look for more and more promotions like this in the future, from the Nook, Amazon's Kindle, and other lower priced tablets.

You have to decide if the subscription is what you want, so you don't waste your money.

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