The IT Nerd

We live in an age where everyone has a smartphone or at the very least a digital audio player like an iPod. Thus if you wanted to listen to audiobooks, all you’d have to do is download it to your device. So, given that fact, why would anyone in their right mind want to come out with a single use audio player that only has one book on it?

Here’s why:

• Schools and libraries. They are perfect for this sort of device as they can lend it out like a book and they don’t have to worry about device compatibility.
• Those who don’t need or want a smartphone or digital audio player, but still want to listen to audiobooks on a device that’s easy to use. Seniors or the visually impaired for example.

Enter the Playaway Light All-In-One Audiobook. It’s a simple device that allows you to listen to a single book without having to go through gymnastics to do it. Here’s what comes in the box:

Everything comes in the box. Batteries, headset, and of course the Playway Light. It’s small and to give you an idea of how small it is, here’s a picture of it next to my wife’s iPhone 5:

Clearly this is something that is going to fit easily into your pocket. Now the Playaway Light only comes with a single audiobook on it and you can’t add anything else to it. That’s what makes it ideal for libraries and schools as you could have a selection (and there is quite a selection available). The one that was sent to me was Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman! which was written by Richard Feynman who is one of the world’s greatest theoretical physicists. Since my wife is the one in this relationship with the science background, she got the task of testing this out after I had a chance to look at it. Here’s what we collectively observed.

• You can skip between chapters and adjust the volume easily (though using the lock function on the device doesn’t stop the volume buttons from working). Another thing that we noted about the volume controls is that if you have it in your pocket it can be hit or miss as it may suddenly increase or decrease if it presses against something. If you have it in a purse it can be awkward to change the volume as you have to fish it out to do so. This is where a headset with a volume adjuster on the wire is handy.
• It has the ability to increase or decrease the playing speed. You get 5 speeds from -2 (slowest) to normal to +2 (fastest).
• When you turn the Playaway Light on, it automatically restarts where you left off.
• My wife found the headsets to be finicky. But when I briefly examined it, I did not notice that. I did use my own headsets rather than the supplied headsets, so perhaps that’s why I did not notice that.
• I found the sound quality (again with my own set of headsets) to be quite good. My wife found that with the supplied headsets it was difficult to hear in noisy environments.
• When you start the Playaway Light, the display (which by the way is very bright and easy to read) say “now you see me” and when you shut it down it says “see you later.” My wife found it to be cheesy. I really didn’t pay attention to it. But then I’m male so that likely accounts for that.

In terms of price, depending on the book you can expect to pay $34.99 and up for them.  This may seem like a lot for a single function digital audio player. But if you think about it, this is actually around what CD-based audiobooks cost, so you aren’t paying too much of a premium over the content alone.

Our verdict (seeing as both my wife and I contributed to this review)? Libraries and schools should take a look at the Playaway Light as this devices are perfect for them. It also will make a great gift for mom or dad as it’s very simple to use. Just pick the a book that they’d like and go from there.