The only reason I'm considering an e-book as an author/publisher is that I'd want one as a
consumer. The main reason for me to buy an iLead (I've promised myself that the first 649 euros of proceeds from my book will go directly to iRex
) is not to read fiction/literature, but for my professional career as a software architect.
To me, having my entire professional library with me at all times,
searchable even, is definitely worth the price of the iLiad.
Also, there is a lot of stuff you need only temporarily, like spec sheets, white papers, etc. I always hesitate to buy a pbook on a subject which I know will be obsolete in a few years, because it just feels like a waste to me. I'd gladly pay for an ebook version of such literature, so it won't take up shelf space. Throwing away pbooks hurts my soul (even if I'm
certain I will never look up anything anymore in my "Complete ZX Spectrum ROM Disassembly" book). Keeping ebooks in a tiny corner of my hard disk would solve that issue.
As a publisher however, nothing convinces more than "You'll make more money offering ebooks."