As is being discussed in
this thread, I think the publishers may be forced into providing e-books based on public demand, given the right circumstances.
For instance, if an e-book (not released in print) turns out to be incredibly popular, garnering praise and discussion in traditional book circles, reviews publications, Oprah, etc, increased public demand for e-books could force publishers to respond to the market. They could even be pushed from behind by their authors, wanting in on the new market, when it becomes painfully apparent that there is one.
In another example, the afore-mentioned prospective color reader for magazines and/or textbooks could become a very popular item, then drive the demand for more material to be bought for it, putting similar pressure on publishers. I've predicted elsewhere that a good reader, and a single popular magazine optimized for it, could draw many other magazines in, as well as more people buying readers to take advantage of the new form factor (imagine being a teenaged girl able to carry around your entire collection of
People magazines! <teenage squeal>
Eeeeeee!</teenage squeal>).
Anyway... you see my point: Publishers may be dragged kicking and screaming into the e-book market, given the right e-product, and/or the right reader.