MP3 players forum: Best, current MP3 player for audio books......

Wow! you just saved me a headache. I went to the Cowon website and got a bit suspiscious when you can't order from them. No retail stores in the area. I was just about to order the Cowon from Amazon when my computer crashed - when I rebooted there was your message. My kids love their Ipods too, despite the proprietary issues - so perhaps I will visit the Apple store. Does the Nano work with NetLibrary? I use that and Audible. Many thanks,
Linda

How well does it handle bookmarks within a playlist? Say my book is 6 - one hour files. I stop halfway thru file 2, set a bookmark and shut down the player. Here's what happens with Creative:

Scenario 1: If I turn on the player, it resumes playing file 2, which is identified as file 2 of 6. When I come to the end of file 2 the player automatically begins to play file 3.

Scenario 2: If I use the bookmark to select my stopping point in file 2, the file begins to play at the bookmarked spot. BUT my file 2 is identified as 'file 1 of 1' and when I come to the end of file 2 the player returns to the main menu.

I understand Cowon's bookmarks work like scenario 1: in that the playlist of 6 files is maintained when you use the bookmark. Sadly, Creative's bookmarks work like scenario 2.

Thanks for any info!

Thank you for detailed description of how the D2 handles bookmarks and folders. It sounds like the player of my dreams. Wish it weren't so expensive. I'm pretty sure I'll get one, either 4G or 8.

I got my D2 in June and haven't had any problems with it. You can experience a white screen depending on the firmware version you received. Mine came with 2.54, and I have since updated to 2.57 - This was done very simply, using the website directions, even written in Korenglish. (And there's a dedicated forum with nice helpful people - no offense, CNET!)

I have since also downloaded a new theme (like a skin), which improved its legibility (in the car, in sunlight). There are lots and lots of user created themes and Flash skins - ipods don't have that (my son has one of those). I don't know about the samsung, but it doesn't appear that it would help its display.

As to bookmarking, the D2 brings you right back to where you stopped. I use it for books, and only bookmark when I decide to listen to music - like when I'm riding with others in the car. Otherwise, pausing and powering the D2 off allows me to resume from where I stopped with no problem. You can set it to fade back in, so you don't blow out your ears.

There many other features that are pretty cool, but once I set it to my personal preference, getting back into my book is a as simply as click on, touch the screen three times and enjoy.

Of course, anyone can have problems with any piece of technology. I swear my wife lives in the Bermuda Triangle when it comes to electronics. And I had her electric can opener disintegrate in MY hand, just trying to get it out of the charger. So, consider this opinion as worth as much as the rest.

What is full time stamping ? I don't know what this feature does on an mp3 player. Thanks for your help .

I definitely would not use a Creative product with audiobooks from Audible.com. In most cases you will need to download firmware from either Audible or Creative to allow Audible.com content to be played on them. Two of the three times I have done this, my Creative devices have crashed. That happens with other brands occassionally as well but if you need product support you are S.O.L. with Creative. They have pretty pathetic customer support. Thec. support is not toll-free so you frequently will be on hold listening to their advertisements on your dime. If device problems are fixable by their web page automated support you might be ok, if you need a human, you will be reduced to tears of frustration before that happens. I have 2 sound cards, 1 x-mod device, 2 Zen plus, 2 MuVo devices to testify to that.

I would stick with SanDisk products for Audible.com. Not because their devices are any better but their customer support is way better. For the same reasons, I would also never use iRiver, archos, Cowon. Same problems as Creative with customer support. At least Archos frustrates you with a toll-free #

I like my new red Sansa Fuze. I can use it for radio, music, audio books from the library's "Overdrive", pictures, and even video. If you turn it off while listening, it will remember where you were and start up where you left off which is very handy for audio books. http://www.sandisk.com/sansa/#/product-3/

My daughter likes the look of the Fuze. I was thinking of getting one . . . I do have one question. If you pause the book to go to music, can you come back to your spot in the book? My daughter is more into music with an audiobook mixed in here and there. Her current (older model player - my hand-me-down) will not allow that. If you leave the book and go to music, you have to scroll back through the entire book to find your spot when you return.

I also purchased a Sansa Clip. It's smaller, lighter, and I like being able to clip it to a jacket when I go for a walk. I only have a 2 gig but there was plenty room to put two books on it from the library. You can delete files from the unit also. The bookmarking is similar to the Fuze as you can turn it off, pause it, or charge it and it will rememember where you left off. I have not tried to listen to music and come back to the story but my bet is that it won't work. I still love it. The battery has a good life too.

Netlibrary uses copy protected WMA files. Windows Mobile and PocketPlayer works great. PocketPlayer has bookmarks, and allows you to resume where you were last listening with WMA files.

Netlibrary is free with our library.

A great place to find <a href="http://www.emusic.com/audiobooks/index.html">audio books</a> available for download would have to be emusic. I have gotten most of my downloads from them and I have been really impressed with their website.

I would like to know what kind of an MP3 player I need to listen to a book being read while I take a walk. I don't know beans about this.

I am 80 years old and need to walk a lot to keep in condition. I get so bored I don't do it. But I love books. Could I combine the two?

I need something I can buy on Amazon for under $50. Used might be OK. But do I need 2g? 4g? and what else does it need to be? Can I find where I left off?

(I think there is a place I can dl books for free, too.)

I don't think I need an iPod do I? Isn't there a Walkman type thing that uses MP3 and not casettes or aome old fashioned thing?

Any help would be great. Thanks

I second it with the Clip. I listen to audio books from our library. It's small enough and clips onto your jacket or whatever you are wearing as you walk or exercise. I love mine, better than the Sansa Fuze.

I see the Sansa Clip is a solid choice for listening to audiobooks. I am an avid listener to Netlibrary books. These are books you download from a website and are very large files. One problem with these files is that if you lose your place or forget to bookmark it can be a problem to fast forward 6 hours into a 12 hour book. However, I just read a review that says the Sansa Clip has a progressive fast forward which means it speeds up the longer you hold it down. You will find that a wonderful feature. I still love my Cowon D2, with its progress bar so you can jump to a particular spot in a book, but it is around 140 and much costlier than the Clip. It also has great battery life, and pretty rugged, since I have dropped mine a couple of times. You will love listening to books on an MP3 player while walking. Netlibrary has a pretty good selection and the best part is its free.

I own both a Cowon D2 & a new Sansa Fuze. The Cowon D2 is hard to set-up, I still cannot get an audio book to play correctly, & the print is very, very small. I does many more things then I need for audio books But I bought it because of its bookmarking, sleep timer & expansion capabilities. I'm sure I'll like it once I figure it out.
The Sansa Fuze in comparison is extremely simple to set up, the print is a nice size,& you can expand it. There is no sleep timer(a bummer) I could download Overdrive books and get them to play right away. It pauses & will resume where you left off & all the buttons are easy to use. Good luck and happy walking. You'll find you really can do 2 things at once.