E-books read well, but readers prefer paper

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - The number of people subscribing to newspapers may be shrinking as they flock to the Internet, but electronic book readers won't shred the market for ink, paper, glue and binding anytime soon.

After years of promises and false starts, booksellers and technology companies are diving into the world of digital books. Sony Corp is selling the Reader Digital Book for $299, while giant online shopping company Amazon.com offers the Kindle for $399.

New readers are lighter than the average hardback fiction bestseller, easy on the eyes and let readers carry around as many as 200 titles in hardware that weighs less than a pound.

But to some people, there's something missing.

"It's, I guess, the feel of holding a book that someone really put a lot of effort into writing, and you kind of lose that a little bit with a digital product," said Katy Farina, 21, of Montgomery, New Jersey.

Farina, a student at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, was browsing at the Borders bookstore near Madison Square Garden. As shoppers lined up at closing time, the subtle, comforting aroma of books permeated the store.

"It feels real, whereas (the reader) kind of separates you a little bit from the story," Farina said.

Harry Howe, who had picked up "Surrender Is Not an Option" by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, said he might use an e-book reader for blog or Web site material that he wanted to read while away from home, but not for reading a novel.

"It's just not a physical experience that I'm yet comfortable with," said Howe, 55, who teaches accounting at the State University of New York's Geneseo campus and lives in Rochester. "On the other hand, I didn't grow up reading things on various Web sites."

Farina said she would like a reader for traveling because she would not have to transport so many books. This is something that HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide Chief Executive Jane Friedman said is a prime advantage.

"To put 10 books on your Sony reader or on your Kindle is a lot better than carrying 10 books," she said.

“'Philadelphia Inquirer' To Launch Electronic Edition In January”

The Philadelphia Inquirer will launch an electronic edition of the paper in January, according to Pressmart Media Ltd., which has signed on to develop and deliver the eEdition.

"Pressmart will co-develop, host and electronically deliver the print-replica eEdition of The Philadelphia Inquirer on its New Media Delivery Platform," the company said in a statement. "Offering Web 2.0 features that include Blogs, Podcast, RSS, and Social Media integration, the electronic edition will be delivered on multiple distribution channels to individuals, enterprises and academic institutions."

The eEdition "will be an actual replica of the print edition and will be available at a regular subscription rate for current and potential Inquirer subscribers," Pressmart added. It is set to go live on Jan. 7, 2008.

Inquirer Publisher Brian Tierney said in a statement: “This new media digital distribution channel includes eEditions, Mobile Editions, and Audio Editions for Podcasts. We can now offer our current print subscribers as well as new subscribers a convenient same-day, same-as-print eEdition delivered to their laptops or PC’s.”