According to a recent article in the New York Times, eBooks are nothing new. Just their popularity is:
"Electronic books have been available since 1968 and have gained broader attention at least since 2000, when Stephen King sold 600,000 copies of "Riding the Bullet," an electronic-only thriller, in two days. Now, however, "we're finally at the tipping point," Ms. Reidy said."
That said, the article continues with insight from Kindle creator Jeff Bezos:
"Even Mr. Bezos said he does not expect electronic books to replace bound paper versions anytime soon. "Anything that lasts 500 years is not easily improved upon," Mr. Bezos said. "Books are so good you can't out-book the book."
As this year's Book Expo America did focus a lot of attention on digital publishing, I still witnessed thousands of people clamoring for galley copies of new titles from their favorite publishers. It was, in fact, a feeding frenzy.
All of this is further testimony that the issue isn't as much about a superior format as it is about publishers and authors connecting with their audience by whatever means possible.