Ereader with audiobook compatibility

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by Leep

With the later versions of Overdrive Console, or Net Library (these are the library audio book equivalents of ADE) and an approved device (I use my iTouch) you will be able to access library WMA audio books. I use them all the time...but as I mentioned, be prepared to start the transfer and go and do something else for an hour. It takes forever.

The iTouch does do ebooks as well, but don't think I would recommend the small 3" screen for ebooks even though my husband doesn't mind it.

cheers

Yes, but it's not all library audiobooks, just those that the audiobook publisher allows OverDrive to convert. In my library, that's less than 20% of their WMA audiobooks.

[Leep]

Yes, but it's not all library audiobooks, just those that the audiobook publisher allows OverDrive to convert. In my library, that's less than 20% of their WMA audiobooks.

Wow...Very interesting. I haven't counted, but I would guess that my libraries would be the opposite - 10% or less that cannot be converted. So far, have actually not run across anything I wanted to checkout that could not be put on my iTouch.

cheers

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by boswd

the sandisk sansa clip+ is THE best hidden jewel in the mp3 world. It simply is the best.
Whenever I see anyone wanting to buy an ipod shuffle or even a nano, I just shake my head and think, people people there are soo many better choices out there. and the Clip+ is one of them.

Ditto

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by mmread

I will get the MP3 on BFday!! I see the Sansa Fuse with the 1.9" screen will be $60. I'm not sure if the 1.9" is even worth the extra $$.

It's only worth it if you need video and or AAC support. If not, then I would highly recommend getting the Sansa Clip+ 4GB. It's very versatile and supports MP3, WMA, protected WMA, Audible, Ogg, FLAC, FM radio, and mSD cards.

Prices range from $30 (Black Friday at Best buy & RadioShack) to $40 (frequent Amazon & Walmart pricing) to $50 (full retail).

[Yar-PocketBooker]

Please, lay your eyes also at PocketBook line, here: www.pocketbookreader.com Almost all models of Pocketbooks supprot MP3 files!

[mmread]

I was leaning towards the Aluratek because of the cost and I don't want to buy online.

I had put 2 audiobooks on request from the Digital library since late Sept that I am still waiting. They had burn to CD options which I was going to do originally but then I decided to go this route of ebook with MP3. The audiobooks are not MP3 but .wma files. So it seems the way to go on this is the Sansa way like most of you suggested above.

With reading all this info on "DRM" thingy, these audiobooks will most likely go away by the time I want to listen to them for my long drive vacation. Good thing we are not planning to drive anywhere for Thanksgiving because my audiobooks would not have been ready for me to download anyway.

So I checked to see about the books my husband would like to read. Most of these books were checked out. So it seems that if they are availbable now, it will be gone by the time of Cmas when he will have the chance to read it.

Then I happen to stumble across www.mobiles24.com. I guess these free mobile ebooks don't have a waiting period or a 3 week time limit. So maybe I should rely on my Epic (If I do get one for Cmas).

I didn't really check or understand how "hard" it could be to get any materials from the Digital Library. So now I am at a quandry if an ebook is really worth it. I can get the same "hard" copy readily available at the regular brick & mortar library than I can at the digital library site.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by mmread

With reading all this info on "DRM" thingy, these audiobooks will most likely go away by the time I want to listen to them for my long drive vacation.

This is a most logical deduction, but happily for us library users, it's partly wrong. OverDrive audiobooks (and I presume NetLibrary audiobooks?) expire on your PC. But the same audiobooks don't expire on most all MP3 players. So there's no problem* in checking out library audiobooks well ahead of the time you want to listen to them, as long as you load them onto the Clip+** before the expiration date.

*The ethics of keeping audiobooks for longer than the intended period is sketchy, as the publisher has a possible loss of revenue. But your case is different, and IMHO, perfectly fine.

**There are many MP3 players that work well with library audiobooks, but not all of them. You should post again if you are leaning to purchasing some other player so we can weigh in on whether it plays protected DRM and if it has resume or bookmarking (to continue where you left off listening).

[petechan]

I second what jj2me just said.

On my sansa (I actually use a battery operated 2GB version so I can recharge the device on the road if it runs out), the wma and mp3 files from the library do not expire. I have three on my device that has been there for months. (I don't take too many long trips).

The Libre will play mp3 files. I just borrowed one using overdrive from the public library and loaded it into the SD card. It also remembers the place where you paused it but cannot leave bookmarks. I don't think it will expire either.

[mmread]

I saw in the Jetbook forum that Ultimate Electronics has the white Aluratek with 2G card for $70 on clearance. There is no UE near me. I called my parents and asked them to buy it for me for my Cmas present. I emailed them my Radio Shack coupon that was $10 off $40. UE accepted the RS coupon. So my parents got it for $60. I hope that I won't have any problems with it because the nearest UE is 5 hours away. I won't be able to return it or exchange it easily.