While researching audiobook players to choose those I consider the best players available at this time, I read several articles claiming dedicated MP3 players are becoming obsolete. The reasoning? We’ll be joining our listening habits with either our phones or our tablets so a device that only does one thing is passé. To me that’s like saying the quality of the camera in a phone or tablet is good enough?? There are some things that serve better when made to accomplish certain tasks rather than trying to accomplish a little bit of everything. For me a camera and an MP3 player are two of those things. Thinking that the above mindset could come to pass makes me want to stock up on refurbished Sansa Clip+s and Nanos until my office looks like this one.
I have audiobooks on my small phone but eating up the battery listening to them is counterproductive in my mind. I also have audiobooks on my tablets but I don’t see doing the dishes or walking the dog with one wedged in my waistband. And what about the gym? Just a few examples of where a small sized MP3 player tucked in a pocket or clipped to the right spot of clothing are a must for me. Long live dedicated audiobook players!
Brenda
I recently started listening to audiobooks, and this is only becaus I got a Sansa Zip Clip for my birthday. As you said, so easy to clip on and move around with. I can’t imagine using something bulkier, so for my part, no, not obsolete at all!
I agree that I can’t imagine not carrying around my iPod classic with all my new and “keeper shelf” audios.
I love listening to audiobooks on my MP3 players!
My iPhone is for talking, texting, emailing, googling, a few games, etc. It is NOT for listening to audiobooks although I have certainly done so. I put a lot of wear and tear on my dedicated MP3 player. I can’t imagine putting my phone through that – carrying it around all day, probably dropping it multiple times, rather than just my very small clip-on Nano that makes listening all the easier. And, yes, I’ve listened on my Kindle. Inconvenient is only the beginning of my description of that experience.
oh, well, I’ll be the dissenting voice! I don’t even know where my ipod or sansa clip are anymore. Ladies – grab your bluetooth headsets! I use the iphone for audiobooks pretty much exclusively although I have been known to switch to the ipad once or twice. Nope, haven’t dropped it once. And since I got the iphone 5 with it’s pretty amazing battery life, I haven’t worried about battery use either. I take it to the gym. I take it in the car. I take it on a walk. I take it to work. (I was so tempted to rhyme that one ala Dr Seuss) Me and my iphone…. la la la la la la la!
I used the Sansa when I was getting library downloads a lot – the ones that don’t work with Mac/iPhone. I never could quite get the hang of the Sansa controls – I kept skipping through files instead of fast forwarding, stopping when I meant to do something else, stuff like that.
And hey, it’s one less Thing to carry around and worry about and find a place to charge up. If someone calls, my iPhone pauses my book and lets me answer. Win win. No brainer. (I like my iPhone 5 camera pretty good too)
Melinda- If you already have an iPhone or other smartphone with good battery life it would make sense. Those of us with dumb phones obviously don’t have that option. ;-) And for a lot of smartphones battery life is a problem, especially once they get a little long in the tooth.
Anyway, a smartphone isn’t on my “want” list. I like my dumb phone just fine and have no desire to pay for a data plan I’d rarely use. I hope dedicated m3p players live a long, long time! I have my iPod Touch, and just bought the Sansa clip+, so I’m hoping for many years of audiobook listening untethered to phone, tablet or computer!
PS- my husband uses his Android smartphone for audiobook listening. ;-)
I guess the point of the articles Brenda saw is that in the future we may be moving away from “dumb phones” and lots of dedicated 1-function devices. Bonus for me: One. Less. Thing. To. Carry. Around. I hardly ever use it as a phone, either! I call it my little computer in my pocket. At the gym, it’s playing my audiobook and keeping track of my heart rate, my steps walked, my weight and timing my workout. In the car, it’s my map/GPS and – hey, it’s playing my audiobook! and sometimes I take a hands-free call on it too. I can even read my ebooks on it (and do). And get this: I just learned it controls my TV too – I just find the tv listing I want, and click and the tv changes to that channel! I can also watch tv on it! Who knew?
I saw a great meme on Facebook where someone was explaining to a time traveler from the 1950s about having this tiny device that lets you access enormous amounts of information and fits in your pocket, that is mostly used to look at pictures of cats. Cracked me up!
Wow, that is very impressive! I had no idea phones could do all that, and at the same time. Well, maybe someday I’ll break down and spend the money for a smartphone. Maybe after my beloved Touch dies. I’m not an apple fan, but I do love my iPod Touch!
I saw that on facebook, too. I had to laugh because it seems so true!
Paying for a data plan I don’t need is the biggest deterrent I have in discovering the wonders of an iPhone. Great battery life and wireless headphones would cover most issues outside of the sheer expense of one. :o
When Straight Talk can integrate an iPhone with Verizon service (the only cell phone service we get in these mountains) the way they have with the AT&T capable iPhones I may consider one as my all purpose audiobook player… but never as my camera. :D
I use a Creative Zen & a Creative Mosiac to listen to wma files dowloaded from the library and Audiobookstand, and an ipod touch 32gb and iphone 5 for itunes and Audible. I agree the cost of a data plan is too high but I share it with my husband so it figures to $15 each from Verizon.