Choosing between Free Downloadable Audio Books and Traditional Printed Books
It's been going on since audio books first came out on the market. To the lover of words in all shapes and forms, it's a question whose answer seems to change with the times. Some consider it a question of tradition, others see it as one of inevitability. Whatever the case may be, it seems the answer just came a whole lot closer with the advent of free downloadable audio books.
The question in question? When it comes to books, which among print and audio will be the last one standing?
Let's break down the battle, and see if free downloadable audio books will finally be able to dethrone the defending champ.
1. Storage.
Traditional printed books shouldn't take up much storage space unless a) you're an avid reader, or b) you've been reading for a while. Either of these two conditions are met, however, and you'll have a hell of a time trying to find enough closet space for your favorite readings and enough room in the shelves to stuff everything else. And that's already in the comfort of your own home. Can you imagine having to travel while lugging all the books you want to bring along? Good luck to you.
With downloadable MP3 audio books though, storage space comes easy. Just save the downloaded files onto your computer and keep it there. Chances are you'll have enough memory to stock your own personal library anyway. Traveling with audio books is even easier, since you can save a couple books or so in an MP3 player that fits in your pocket.
Winner: Audio.
2. Convenience.
If you're like everyone else, you'd probably want some time to yourself to kick back and relax with a good book. Just one problem: with everything going on in your life these days, you can't seem to find that time. It's simply too much of an inconvenience to put away precious time to focus and enjoy that book you've been dying to read.
Free downloadable audio books should fix that problem. All you need is a couple of minutes to download them from the Web (you don't even have to keep watch during the downloading process; you could busy yourself with more pressing matters), and another couple of minutes to transfer them to your MP3 player when they're ready.
Once you have the books on your player, you're free to listen to them at your convenience: on the way to work, during your coffee break, at lunch, and so on.
Winner: Audio.
3. Pace.
Downloadable MP3 audio books aren't perfect, though. They, too, have their flaws. One of which is that you aren't really the one reading them. Narrators dictate the books for you, and it's all too possible that you won't appreciate the way they read the books, or you'll find the pace is too fast or too slow. Not a problem with the average paperback novel, since it's always the reader, and the reader alone, who sets the pace.
Winner: Print.
The score is 2-1, in favor of audio. At this point, it seems that free downloadable audio books are finally gaining the upper hand over their esteemed rivals. But we're only halfway through, and the reigning champ might still be able to redeem itself. Stay with us for Round Two.