Free Downloadable Audio Books Versus Traditional Printed Books
Welcome to Round Two of the battle of the century: Free Downloadable Audio Books Versus Traditional Printed Books. In the first round, audio surprised everybody by securing a 2-1 lead over print. Will they be able to carry that momentum into the second round of this bout? We'll see.
But before we begin, here's a recap of the previous round:
1. Storage (Winner: Audio)
2. Convenience (Winner: Audio)
3. Pace (Winner: Print)
Keep in mind there are only three categories left, and the overall winner takes the crown. That said, let's get this show on the road!
4. Requirements.
What exactly do you need to be able to get your hands on downloadable audio books? Well, you'll need a personal computer or a laptop, and either of which must be capable of connecting to the Internet. While most people already have that set-up in their homes, it's not really a given.
To play the audio books you downloaded, your PC or laptop has to have a Digital Audio Player, which most PCs or laptops already have. But on the off chance that yours doesn't, all you need to do is download one from the Web. If you plan on playing your audio books away from home, however, you'll require a portable player – one that has enough memory to store and play the files.
Many of us wouldn't have a problem meeting these requirements, since we already have them. Those who aren't lucky enough to have them, on the other hand, are bound to have a hard time enjoying downloadable audio books. Fortunately for them, all printed books require is for you to sit down and read them.
Winner: Print.
5. Price
Generally speaking, this is how print and audio is ranked from cheapest to most expensive: paperbacks, downloadable audio books, hard covers, and finally, audio books on CD. Just by looking at this short list, you'll see that opting for printed books is much more economical than jumping on the audio book bandwagon. Until you consider the fact that there are countless free downloadable audio books out there for you to take advantage of, that is.
Yes, though the news may come as a surprise to some people, there are lots of free downloadable audio books available all over the Web. If so, then why do others still insist on buying their downloadable audio books? That depends; it's possible that websites that offer free downloads don't have the titles they want or that these people simply feel more secure getting their audio books at an official website.
Granted, there may be websites looking to scam their visitors with false claims, but as long as you veer on the side of caution, you're sure to find websites where you can download audio books without worry and without cost.
Winner: Audio.
6. Timelessness.
Timelessness means that something is unaffected by time. No matter how many years go by, it will still remain the same. This is not to say that audio or printed books are immune to the rigors of time, as wear and tear will surely wreak havoc on their physical quality. But staying in physical prime isn't the point of concern here.
Rather, will these books endure the test of time by remaining relevant throughout the ages? Audio, being new, has yet to prove that. But print already has, just by staying relevant despite the emergence of a worthy rival.
Winner: Print.
We're tied at 3-3, but despite the dead heat, there will be no tiebreaker. It seems that in this battle between free downloadable audio books and their printed counterparts, neither is ready to lose. Perhaps that only means both of them are winners.