Best MP3 players for audiobooks

MP3 players have quickly become the medium of choice for listening to audiobooks. Compared with CD and cassette players, an average MP3 player is small and has the capacity to hold many hours worth of audio. With download-only audiobook vendors offering a relatively inexpensive alternative to purchasing or renting audiobooks on CD or cassette, there's more incentive than ever for travelers and book lovers to take a listen.

If you're looking to purchase an MP3 player that works well with audiobooks, keep in mind that you'll probably be using a download service like Audible.com, iTunes, or more recently, eMusic. Both iTunes and Audible use their own unique file formats that can be played only on certain devices. eMusic's audiobooks are free of file restrictions, but their selection has yet to match the magnitude of the competition's. If you're confused by all these options, you're not alone. Part of the iPod's appeal is that it works with nearly all of the popular audiobook formats.

iPods aren't cheap, however, and if you only want an MP3 player for audiobooks, an iPod is overkill. A less expensive alternative would be purchasing audiobooks as unprotected MP3 files from a retailer such as eMusic, and playing them on an inexpensive device that supports file bookmarking. A list of MP3 players with bookmarking capability can be found here. The iPod also does not work with NetLibrary eAudiobooks, which are increasingly being offered by local public libraries (for free). For a NetLibrary-compatible player, check out the NetLibrary resource page (the non-iPod MP3 players shown here should also work).