Portable devices are becoming lighter and more appealing. Books are being (1)_____ into digital form. by the thousands. The most important (2)_____ forward may be in 'digital ink,' the technology used for (3)_____ letters on a screen. A small company called E Ink has created a method for (4)_____ tiny black and white capsules into words and (5)_____ with an electronic charge. Because no power is used (6)_____ the reader changes the page, devices with the technology could go (7)_____ 20 books between battery charges. The text also looks just as (8)_____ as ink on a printed page. Sony is the first major player to take (9)_____ of the technology. This year. it will market the Sony Reader, which uses E Ink and closely (10)_____ the size, weight, and (11)_____ of a book. The Reader will sell (12)_____ about $400. Sony also will offer roughly 10,000 book (13)_____ for download from its online store, (14)_____ news stones. Other players try to catch the opportunity, too. At least two (15)_____ companies are introducing digital readers this year. And scores of companies, from Google to Random House Inc., are planning other ways to (16)_____ from digital books. All this (17)_____ to the influence of Apple Computer Inc.. With its iPod, Apple has (18)_____ that millions of people are willing to carry around digital devices with their favorite content, (19)_____ music, why not novels and nonfiction? According to one CEO with a large publishing company, the iPod led the way in getting people comfortable with a similar device for books. Such things are not only (20)_____, but a good idea.