The lower part of the screen on my Nook stopped working replaced with vertical and horizontal stripes.

Neither reboots (including removing the battery) nor updating the software to the latest version made any difference.

After a brief search on the nook related internet forums I have learned that this is a well-known problem with Nook’s e-ink screens and I better bring it to the nearest Barns and Noble store for technical evaluation and possible replacement.

Nearest BarnesAndNoble, though, informed me that my warranty have expired 2 month ago and, thus, there is nothing they can do for me, except to sell me a new Nook. (Yeah, right. Another $200 gadget that lasts for about a year)

I just started thinking of buying a new Nook touch, attracted by the color and newer Android platform, but I am glad that this have happened before I wasted another $250 of my money on a Barns and Noble product and will now replace my defective Nook with a Kindle.

Needless to say that all of my books and music purchases will now go to Amazon.com as well.