The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is on sale now at Barnes & Noble Stores and online.

The transition is complete. Three years after Barnes & Noble first entered the LCD tablet space, Samsung has absorbed the bookseller’s tablet business and delivered a new Nook, based entirely on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 4.

Barnes & Noble CEO Mike Huseby took the stage at the company’s multi-floored Union Square store to unveil and demonstrate the new(ish) hardware.

“We’ve joined together to bring to life the very best Nook yet,” said Huseby. “It’s the first-ever full-featured Android tablet that’s optimized for reading.”

Huseby was joined on stage by Samsung President Tim Baxter. “Anyone familiar with Samsung tablets will recognize our core competencies shining through,” Baxter said, noting that the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is the first Nook to feature a forward-facing camera.

As expected, the latest Nook, which handles books, music, movies and games like like competing tablets, is smaller and somewhat less powerful than the last Nook Barnes & Noble brought to market.

But you may not mind the slightly diminished power: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook will list for $179 (after a $20 rebate) and Huseby said it will come loaded with $200 worth of content. As with previous Nooks, owners can access free Wi-Fi in Barnes & Noble stores and read books for free while in stores. The company is also promising to continue to offer free in-store customer service for Nook set-up and support.

 
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