I’ll be honest, I’m posting this story for for both search engine traffic and because I know people will read it. This is a few days old, but I didn’t notice any other blogs or media pick up on it (unlike when Playboy announced their digital edition.) Yahoo carries a PRNewswire release of Penthouse’s press release:

The digital magazine has the same high-quality photography and layouts that the print edition has, but in an easy-to-use electronic format. Penthouse readers from Dubai to Dallas can buy a digital subscription, or pick up a single issue by going to: http://www.penthouse.com/digital . The subscription or single copy will then be delivered instantly via the internet through a download to a PC, laptop or Mac. Additionally, digital subscribers will automatically receive their copy every month and it can be read online or offline. If you’re overseas or live in a rural area, the digital format is highly convenient and reliable.

I know I’ve said it before, why try to emulate old media when the internet can do so much more? The Dupont Registry uses software that runs a flipbook animation everytime you change the page. Other than that, its nothing more than a webpage stripped of all its function. May I’m wrong and consumers really like this idea, but my gut says they don’t.