Audiobook Obsession 101

My idea of the perfect afternoon is curling up on my couch with a huge mug of tea and a paperback romance novel. Recently, though, I've become obsessed with audiobooks, and while I'm not tossing the tree-derived contents of my overstuffed bookshelves in favor of mp3s, I am acquiring a healthy audiofile collection. Here's a little info on audiobook players, for all you tech-savvy bibliophiles out there:

Apple iPod family: $79 - $249
Love 'em or hate 'em, Apple and the iPod are the biggest players in the game when it comes to mp3 players and audio downloads. Ranging from the $79 1G Shuffle to the 160G iPod, Apple offers a large variety of options. The biggest benefit to purchasing one of these is Apple's customer service. (Users that don’t live near an Apple store can still contact their phone support.) On the downside Amazon and Barnes & Noble have restrictions (DRM) on the files you download that will not allow you to play them in iTunes.

SanDisk Sansa Clip: $59-$72
Of all the options in this price range, the SanDisk Sansa Clip is the only player with a display screen. (They also include an FM radio and a voice recorder.) This is a great pick for any gym rats that you know - there's nothing like needing to hear the last few pages of a story to keep you on the treadmill.

Creative Zen Stone: $39
This would be an ideal choice for the mp3-player shopper on a budget. The 1G Creative Zen is a great, no-frills basic player, with more than its fair share of style. It boasts solid sound (particularly for the price), and a battery life of 10 hours. Throw in a gift certificate to audible.com and you'd have a great holiday gift.

Sparkling Sony E-Series
The Sparkling Sony E-Series is still limited to Japan, and (as far as I can tell) it doesn't seem to boast any technological innovations. This sequin-encrusted little puppy is all about style. If you're as tempted by those sparkles as I am, try checking out Sony Japan’s online store.