Donald Bell,
Senior Editor
October 2, 2008
MP3 players have quickly become the medium of choice for listening to audiobooks. Compared with CD and cassette players, an average MP3 player is much smaller and has the capacity to hold many hours worth of audio. There are four main features to consider when buying an audiobook-friendly MP3 player: file compatibility, battery life, storage capacity, and bookmarking.
To figure out which supported file types are important to you, think about where you'll be getting your audiobooks. Audible is one of the most popular formats for purchasing audiobooks online, and all of the players listed here are Audible-friendly. If you're using your local library as a source for audiobooks, however, many of them rely on services such as NetLibrary and OverDrive, which use a protected-WMA format that won't work with the iPod. Libraries and digital audiobook services often include a listing of compatible MP3 players, so be sure to do some homework before you buy.
Next, consider battery life. Audiobook fans typically listen in long stretches and you want to make sure your MP3 player can go the distance. If you like listening in the car, find out if there's an in-car power adapter for the MP3 player you're considering.
When you're thinking about storage capacity, consider that audiobooks average around 140MB--which can eat up memory in a hurry. For most users, 4GB to 8GB of space is adequate, but if you want to fit your entire music, video, and audiobook library onto one device, high-capacity players such as the iPod Classic and Zune 120 are the way to go.
Finally, there's bookmarking. All of the MP3 players shown here should automatically resume audiobook playback where you last left off, but some MP3 players (such as the Creative Zen) will allow you to manually set multiple bookmarks within an audiobook. The capability to manually insert multiple bookmarks is handy if an MP3 player is shared between different people, or if you want the capability to quickly jump back to specific passages. We also have a separate list just for MP3 players with bookmarking.
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| Price | $199.95 to $262.99 | $244.97 to $369.95 | $159.99 to $164.99 | $69.99 to $124.95 | $56.99 to $73.98 |
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| Review date | October 01, 2008 | September 17, 2008 | September 14, 2007 | March 12, 2008 | October 08, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. Few can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface. | The Zune 120, with a unique focus on music discovery, is a fierce competitor to the iPod Classic. The Zune's substantial storage capacity combined with its Zune Pass music subscription makes it an ideal solution for restless music fans with large appetites. | We're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features. | The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value--a slim design, simple interface, plentiful features, memory expansion capability, and solid sound quality all come with an easy-to-swallow price tag. | The SanDisk Sansa Clip is an incredible value that's set to edge out the competition with a user-friendly interface, gym-worthy design, and great sound quality. |
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| Features | |||||
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 2.4 in x 0.4 in x 4.1 in | 2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in | 3.3 in x 0.4 in x 2.2 in | 1.9 in x 0.3 in x 3.1 in | Info unavailable |
| Resolution | 320 x 240 | 320 x 240 | 320 x 240 | 220 x 176 | Info unavailable |
| PC interface(s) supported | Hi-Speed USB | Wi-Fi Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB |
| Weight | 4.9 oz | 4.5 oz | 2.3 oz | 2.1 oz | Info unavailable |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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