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<DIV>Of course this was written for those who are not able to use the Talking
Book Library. </DIV>
<DIV>Still, I know many of you don’t rely solely on the T B L for your audio
books.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<H1><FONT face="Times New Roman"><A
href="http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33153_7-57371611-10391733/five-ways-to-save-money-on-audiobooks/">Five
ways to save money on audiobooks.</A> </FONT></H1>
<DIV><SPAN class=author><FONT face="Times New Roman">by </FONT><A
href="http://www.cnet.com/profile/rickbroida/" rel=author><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Rick Broida</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman">
</FONT></SPAN><TIME class=datestamp><FONT face="Times New Roman">February 4,
2012 9:57 AM PS.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time on
long drives. Audiobook prices, on the other hand, are a great way to drain your
wallet.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">For example, want to listen to the Steve Jobs
bio? It'll cost you $29.95 at iTunes. And Stephen King's latest, the wholly
engrossing "11/22/63," runs $44.95.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Fortunately, good listening material doesn't
have to break the bank. Thanks to various resources and services, you can slash
your monthly audiobook bill while actually increasing your consumption. Here are
my five favorite options:</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT face="Times New Roman">1. </FONT><A
href="http://www.audible.com"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Audible</FONT></A></B><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman">If
you like audiobooks, it's hard to go wrong with an Audible subscription. It
starts with a free book as part of a 14-day trial. After that, you can sign up
for a Listener Gold plan at $14.95 per month (or $149.95 annually, which is like
getting two months for free).</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">That gets you one credit per month, which is
good for one audiobook--and big discounts on others. Audible apps are now
available for </FONT><A href="http://www.cnet.com/android-atlas/"
section="luke_topic"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Android</FONT></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> and iOS, which makes for easy listening on the
go.</FONT><BR></P>
<P><B><FONT face="Times New Roman">2. </FONT><A
href="http://www.audiobooks.com"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Audiobooks.com</FONT></A></B><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Kind of like Netflix Instant Watch for audiobooks, this
service now offers an all-you-can-hear subscription option. Pay $24.95 per month
for unlimited access to its 10,000-strong audio library, which includes the
aforementioned Jobs bio and popular new releases like "Bond Girl."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">The books are streamed--not downloaded--to your
PC, </FONT><A href="http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/" section="luke_topic"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">tablet</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman">, or
smartphone browser, so if you're planning to listen in the </FONT><A
href="http://reviews.cnet.com/car-tech/" section="luke_topic"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">car</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman">,
Internet-deprived rural areas could be a problem.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Also, automatic billing kicks in after the free
seven-day trial, and you need to call the company if you decide to cancel. Even
so, Audiobooks.com could be the answer to a prayer for heavy
listeners.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT face="Times New Roman">3. </FONT><A
href="http://www.simplyaudiobooks.com"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Simply
Audiobooks</FONT></A></B><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman">When it comes to
audiobooks, renting is often a much smarter option than buying. Simply
Audiobooks works on the old-school Netflix model: the service mails you CDs,
which you listen to and then mail back. Upon receipt, the next book in your
queue is automatically sent.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">That's a great option for folks who like the
simplicity of CDs or don't want to deal with an app- or browser-based solution.
The service boasts a library of more than 22,000 titles.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Plans start at $17.98 per month, which lets you
have one book checked out at a time. If you're able to turn around, say, one
each week, that works out to roughly $4.50 per book--a deal that's darn near
unbeatable.</FONT></P><B><FONT face="Times New Roman">4. </FONT><A
href="http://www.tales2go.com"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Tales2Go</FONT></A></B><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman">This one's just for kids, but what a great deal for
parents. For $9.99 monthly, you get unlimited access to Tales2Go's library of
more than 1,700 children's books--which includes titles for tweens and toddlers
alike. The Tales2Go app, currently available for iOS devices only, will download
the currently playing book into memory, so you needn't worry about Internet
access on the road.</FONT>
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<P><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B>5. Your public library</B><BR>An undervalued
and often overlooked resource, your local library probably stocks a decent
selection of audiobook CDs. Sure, you have to drive there twice, worry about
late fees, and maybe sit on a waiting list for the title you want. But you can't
beat the price.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">What's more, many libraries now let you check
out audiobooks online, and download them to your PC, MP3 player, or smartphone
for listening on the go. You may even have the option of burning a book to CDs,
which effectively gives you a permanent copy after the loan period has
expired.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">There's some software- and DRM-oriented
hoop-jumping involved in downloading and playing these audiobooks, and the
selection might be less than what the library stocks on its shelves. But, again,
you can't beat the price.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Have you found another good source of cheap or
free audiobooks? Tell me about it in the comments!</FONT></P>
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